Actor Paul Dano's directorial debut... is a complex, deep dive into the psyche of a broken family in an era where the veneer of happiness is prized above all.
If the drama feels somewhat studied - though it would be more accurate to say that it simply feels thought through - it is never airless or constricted. The story maintains a steady emotional pulse alongside its meticulous accrual of details...
In this evocative, melancholy adaptation of a Richard Ford novel, some terrific performances balance out an uneven script that's sometimes difficult to penetrate.
