Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Expected more

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is a portrayal of typical Americans who think the world owes them their misfortunes who have no care for other people. Why is it a big deal to care for your ailing family? That's what's family is for, to care for each other, it doesn't need to be shown on big screen making it look like the caretaker is a hero. Don't waste your money. Bad movie, lame actors.

James White (Christopher Abbott) is an aimless young New Yorker who drinks and parties with his best friend Nick. His estranged father had recently passed away. He's been living with and taking care of his sick mother Gail (Cynthia Nixon) for the last few years. James goes on a Mexican vacation with Nick where he hooks up with high schooler Jayne. He's struggling to get a writing job but he's struggling with darker demons. His mother is dying from cancer and hospice care forbids hospitalization.Honestly, the movie starts out slow for me. James isn't likable. He's self-destructive and a douche. As the movie develops, he shows more of his struggles and his inner demons. His manic effort in the hospital is heart-breaking. Abbott delivers a good performance and Nixon does some dying acting. These are intriguing characters and a compelling relationship. The movie does miss a definitive death scene although he does tell her to let go.

Watched this gem of an indie film the other night. From the plot summary and reading other critic reviews I kind of knew what I was in for. It was going to be a heart wrenching, realistic portrayal of one young man's downward spiral in experiencing death and dying of his closest loved ones.James White is a mid twenty something New Yorker with a taste for booze, drugs, and women. In the the wake of his absent father's death, James is distraught and self medicating to deal with his feelings of pain and anger. With no one really talk to, he is alone in figuring out how to navigate some very difficult life situations. As a 30 year old single male, I could really relate to James White.The core of this movie was between James White and his mother dying of cancer. The performances from the film's two leads are amazing and some scenes are just a punch in the gut. All James's mother wants is for his son to grow up and know he will be able take care of himself. Like many young adults, growing up and finding yourself is not always that easy. James White shows you how difficult it can be...I enjoyed the ending, but a lot of watchers will not.Without giving away anymore of this well written, directed and acted film, I will just say go watch it! If you are a fan of indie dramas then you will thoroughly appreciate this one.

James White (Christopher Abbott) is caught in an endless cycle of self-destruction. He has just lost his father and fears losing his ailing mother (Cynthia Nixon) who he has been taking care of for years. He spends his days drinking, sleeping around and lashing out at others, doing anything to avoid confronting his grief and emotions, which he keeps under the surface, bubbling and waiting to burst. Life has been unfair to him, and this behaviour that manifested sabotages any chance of career or personal growth. He might be using his mother's condition as an excuse not to step out of his comfort zone and try harder in life, which is reasonable to some extent, but he can't seem to change. In his prime, he is jobless and taking his mother's couch as a bed.This narratively loose drama doesn't offer anything particularly new in giving us a glimpse into the struggles, both internal and external, faced by James. There is not much closure or emotional reward to be given. This is summed up perfectly in one of the very few scenes in which we see James surrendering to his emotions, crying while repeatedly yelling "I don't know what to do".The best aspect of the film is the acting. Nixon gives an authentic, heartbreaking performance that's understated. Abbott, on the other hand, is given a character that requires patience and sensitivity to sympathize with. James internalizes many complex emotions throughout the film and what goes on in his mind is not always clear to the audience. It's a tricky act to balance but Abbott pulls it off. Their mother-son relationship is the only thing that's certain in their lives and is the core of the film.The film could have very well ended during its most powerful and stirring scene with James and his mother in the toilet. She can't get up, so they sit and talk about what their ideal life would be like and the future they had hope for. They feel at peace as both of them stay in this moment, still and smiling. This is when the bleak reality of the film truly sets in, as we see these people, both kind and full of dreams and desires, trapped in an unfortunate life.