A solid coming of age memoir that coasts mostly on the cast. The film meanders in a way, which is a positive and a negative, the positive is that it feels real, the negative is that doesn’t always make the best movie. But again the cast really makes it and it feels like something people would fawn over more if it didn’t have the Affleck or Clooney names attached.
Tender is right. This is a warm hearted film, with excellent performances throughout and some interesting characters. An enjoyable watch.
Absolutely wonderful movie! Excellent cast!
A surprise coming of age story. Ben Affleck definitely has a type cast, but the movie is a warm hearted, feel good movie. It's an 8.5, but usually round up unless really bad. The cinematography was really good, which was a surprise in itself. I wasn't expecting that at the beginning of the film when it showed George Clooney directing.
Someone said memoirs don't translate well. This does, but it's not really memoirs don't translate well into movies. In my observations over the years, memoirs that cut a little too close to home often leave the viewer off balance. Is that the viewer's issue or the movie's?
Didn’t know what to expect going into this one but I wasn’t disappointed at all! Great movie and even better soundtrack!!!
So very plain.
To be honest: I found 'The Tender Bar' to be a bore. I felt like I had seen this film before, such is the predictable and monotonous nature of the story. It almost felt like a (poorer) rerun of 2020's 'Hillbilly Elegy'.
I will say, though, that Ben Affleck gives a very good performance in this, to the point that I actually would've liked to have seen a story revolving around him and his character - as opposed to who this 2021 flick is about. Aside from Affleck, I didn't care for any of the other performances and therefore any of the other characters.
It's not even a bad film, it's just so, so boring - for me, anyway.
It's a sweet story and the individual perfomances aren't bad, but in the end I must say I was bored rather quickly. The age jump didn't work for me and felt a little rushed. Tye Sheridan fails to keep the movie at the level of the first part of the movie. That's not a surprise because Affleck is the one shining through the clouds.
Very good movie and worth watching.
8.5/10
As good as Ben Affleck is in this film, I don't think he could save it. Ben Affleck, along with Christopher Lloyd are the bright spots of the film. I thought the first half of the movie with J.R. as a kid was good. Unfortunately, I wish it would've lasted longer. After that, with Tye Sheridan taking over as J.R., with film just feels incomplete. Christopher Lloyd becomes invisible at this point. And any scenes without Ben Affleck aren't compelling. It felt like two different films. George Clooney's directing can certainly be hit and miss, and he definitely missed with this one.
P.S. The soundtrack was really good
By the way, Great Scott!
Great acting! Remember this is based a on a true story. Yes this is a must watch!
Best part of the film was the music.
Easy to like and hate the characters they want you to like and hate. This was a well done movie, but I still found myself losing interest in spurts. Still good, but could have been tighter in some areas. Enjoyed the acting from young JR quite a bit. 6.5
This movie does a fair job showing a young man trying to find his way in life by shaking himself free of the shackles (real or imagined) that bound him. Yes, much of his issue was resolving his feelings for his absentee father. The good news is that the acting is very good (Affleck has always been underrated and I've been a fan of Lily Rabe after seeing her star in Miss Stevens). The bad news is that while the movie is often sweet it is is not very compelling.
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Review by SkinnyFilmBuffVIP 8BlockedParent2022-02-19T22:34:41Z
I think slice-of-life films have a disadvantage over those that are structured around more linear and external dramatic narratives. In murder mysteries for example, the plot alone might be enough to keep viewers invested, as they try to anticipate the twists and turns and identify the culprit. On the other hand, in films like The Tender Bar, there isn't necessarily an "A leads to B leads to C" plot progression, with many scenes feeling more like independent vignettes than pieces of a whole. As a result, characters and dialogue, rather than plot, have to do the heavy lifting. Luckily, this film knocks it out of the park in both of those areas.
Every character in this film feels real. Of course, it is based on a true story, so naturally you would hope that would be the case, but I've watched enough movies to know that it's easier said than done. The central relationships are unique and well established. Not often do we get to see an uncle/nephew relationship take the center stage. I've always had a soft spot for Ben Affleck, and the unconventional role model character was perfect for him. Child actors are always a risky play, but Daniel Ranieri does a fantastic job as the precocious JR. Christopher Lloyd is the perfect crotchety grandpa with a heart of gold. One of my favorite sequences in the film was when he takes JR to the fathers' and sons' breakfast. Such a wholesome moment that almost singlehandedly fleshes out an otherwise one note character, giving him virtues to go along with his flaws.
As far as potential critiques go, I don't have too much to say. Narration has always been a tough sell for me, but its use was fairly minimal and it ultimately didn't meaningfully detract. I also thought that the intercutting of scenes with JR on the train to Yale didn't really add much.
Some final positives. The soundtrack is killer. The dialogue is clever. The sets and costumes are stylish. Beyond that, it was thought provoking, uplifting, and just generally a well made film. As one final note, I should acknowledge that I'm probably biased in my enjoyment of this film, as my own writing aspirations gave me a natural connection to JR's story. Despite this acknowledgement, I'm still surprised at the film's less than positive critical reception.