meeza
"James White" is the story of the New England Patriots' running back struggle to make the team, and insert himself as a 3rd Down specialist. Just kidding! And only die-hard football fans will get that one. "James White" is actually a mediocre somber film about a mother dying from cancer and her party-festive son's struggle to care for her. Writer- Director Josh Mond sure insert some "Mond"ay blues in this film showing the deterioration of a middle-aged woman dying from cancer, and her party-loving son's difficulty dealing with it. The Mond issue here is that there is not much more to this. The film lacked a layered screenplay, and creative direction. However, I must state that the acting was superb! Christopher Abbott dazzled as the title character, and Cynthia Nixon was outstanding as James' dying mother Gail. So I would not subject "James White" to the bench, but I would not exactly touch down with "James White". *** Average
Tom Dooley
James White is presented as a twenty something young man with leanings towards hedonism and is currently living on his mothers couch whilst 'looking after her' – this is along with the news that his father has died. The film tracks his life over a number of months and it soon becomes clear that his mother is seriously unwell and needs him to step up to the plate.What this is though is a reflection of his journey and how he deals with it. His hedonism is shown as someone who wants to go out and have a good time – sometimes too much of a good thing turns bad and that is also the case here. It is all parts of life's rich tapestry. Christopher Abbot as White ('A Most Violent Year') carries the role perfectly; he has smouldering good looks that are underplayed by his apparent lack of panache. This leads to an enigmatic and at times powerfully realistic performance.Anyone who has had to deal with great personal loss will find it easy to empathise here and also the understanding that it affects us all differently and at different times. That raw essence of feeling and emotion is captured extremely well here. Having said all of the above this is still a hard film to watch in places – and that is a good thing in many respects. If you like your films to be more honest and deal with things too often 'glossed over' then you may very well find something to like here.
jamieleeackerman
"James White" was an incredible film. A very moving story about a young man finding his place in this world. While he is a bit of a mess being unemployed, partying, and lots of booze, he faces the lost of his father who was never really a great dad to him in the first place. His mother, played by Cynthia Nixon (who also plays one of my favorite characters, Miranda from "Sex and the City") raised him but sadly is dying of cancer. Her tragic death is graphic but heartbreaking. Such an outstanding cast and film with great performances from Cynthia Nixon and Christopher Abbott. It is so great to see such a wonderful Indie film and it deserves much success.
allgirlde
I went out and seen a great movie tonight called James White.James White (Christopher Abbott) is a asshat who lives off his mothers (Cynthia Dixon) couch. His mother is battling cancer and during her remission his estranged father dies. James has a narcissist personality and is on a drunken and drugged fueled downward spiral. He heads to Mexico with his friend Nick (Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi) to escape from from his responsibilities. While he seems to be in a perpetual fog as a means of escaping his harsh reality he meets a girl Jane (Makenzie Leigh). Just as he starts to relax his mothers cancer returns and he receives that dreaded call. He returns home and has to put all of the emotionally irresponsible crap behind him and take care of her.James is a bitchboy who does his best but with two worlds colliding his anger and frustration over how to take care of his mother whom he loves more than anything makes him increasingly lost.The actors rolls are on fleek. Nixon with her portrayal of a cancer patient throwing up, collapsing, losing her memory, wandering aimlessly, the bathroom scene and agony of facing death is definitely award winning. Having seen someone die from cancer and living with it I must say Nixion portrayal of this is awesome. Abbott's roll shows multi sides of expressions of grieving which makes for a difficult viewing. The heart break and devastation of both watching someone you love die and trying to work through living with the pain is how it ends at the crossroad of choices and again definitely award winning.
AD
