The Only Living Boy In New York Movie Review: A complex family drama

STORY: A college graduate befriends a worldly-wise alcoholic writer in New York. At the same time, he discovers that his father is cheating on his mother with a younger woman and decides to break up that relationship. What follows is a complex tangle of emotions as relationships undergo transformations. REVIEW: Thoughtful, kind and a little nerdy, Thomas Webb (Callum Turner) has recently graduated college and is contemplating what career to pursue. With a big crush on his classmate Mimi (Kiersey Clemons), who has friend-zoned him, the young lad’s life changes when he starts interacting with his new alcoholic neighbour, author WF Gerald (Jeff Bridges). Despite the initial hesitation, Thomas soon finds himself drawn to Gerald, who becomes his confidant. When Thomas discovers that his father, publishing house owner Ethan Webb (Pierce Brosnan), is cheating on his mentally troubled mother Judith Webb (Cynthia Nixon) with a younger woman, Johanna (Kate Beckinsale), he decides to take matters into his own hands. Determined to break-up the couple, Thomas feels confused when he finds himself attracted to his father’s girlfriend. What follows next is how the characters find their lives getting entangled with each other as their relationship dynamics change. Director Marc Webb’s New York is fortunately not the 2020 city ravaged by coronavirus whose soul is further being ripped apart by the violent ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests currently. His NYC is a refreshingly ordinary canvas that lends itself to the complex family drama unfolding. Without getting into too many intricacies, Webb introduces us to the characters. The unusual friendship that blossoms between Thomas and Gerald is endearing and is the highlight of the film. The senior author often asks Thomas intriguing questions that make the latter pause and think. He also seems to have the uncanny ability to read the youngster’s mind and the easygoing banter they share often makes you smile. While Brosnan plays his part as the disappointed father looking for intimacy elsewhere well, Nixon’s character ought to have been better fleshed out. Her fragile mental state is hardly touched upon and with her talent, her role seems incomplete. Beckinsale, as the ‘other’ woman, torn between father and son, does a decent enough job. Bridges is the best of the lot, playing the alcoholic doling out life lessons perfectly. He slips into his character with a lot of ease and walks away with the best lines in the film. Initially slow, the pace picks up somewhat towards the end as past secrets tumble out and startling revelations make the characters finally come to peace with their circumstances. Despite its seemingly different story line, the film doesn’t manage to capture your attention throughout. Fortunately, the crisp length salvages it to some extent.