C'mon C'mon * * * *

Middle aged guy with no partner and limited friends is dedicated to his job.  Circumstances put him in a position where he has to look after a nine year old boy for a while.  Together they learn something from each other. 

How many times have you seen that scenario?!  Some workaholic who doesn't relate to kids and some smart mouth kid with an adorable side.  It's a two hander that's been around since the dawn of cinema.

We get four stars. Well, gimme five.

But don't don't dismiss C'mon C'mon too readily.  

Firstly, it's by writer/director Mike Mills.  He who gave us the intimate Beginners and 20th Century Women.  Those two works were mostly autobiographical. I have read that this film is less so, but there are elements taken from his childhood.  

Secondly, the characters are far from stereotyped. The extraordinarily versatile Joaquin Phoenix plays Joe, a man who is part of a radio production team. He and a couple of colleagues travel round the country interviewing children about their thoughts on the world today and the future. He's good at it.  But this isn't some "Kids say the darndest things" type program. He and his colleagues talk to children respectfully and show real interest in their answers. There is no condescension. They're not looking for laughs.

Joe has a sister in LA - Viv. They are not terribly close but they still feel a connection. In flashback we learn their bonding, and later their sense of detachment from each other, came from their relationship with their Mother - especially in her dying weeks. 

Viv is married and has a nine year old boy, Jessie.  Viv's husband is a brilliant musician who is mentally ill. He needs to be hospitalised. She is in a crisis situation and asks Joe to look after Jessie. Joe is a loner and despite his unique ability to interview children he is not particularly confident about looking after them. Nevertheless he agrees to care for Jessie for a few days.  Things get worse for Viv and she has to spend more time with her sick husband. Joe agrees to keep Jessie longer but he has to continue his work,  so he ends up taking Jessie with him as he travels.

The child Jessie is obviously an intelligent and sensitive boy but he's not easy. He asks question after question.  He challenges.  Joe the interviewer of children, finds himself being the interviewee. Jessie is unafraid to speak out when he feels Joe isn't being straight with him: "Blah blah blah" he'll say to Joe when he's dissatisfied with his answer. 

The production values work beautifully in this film.  Shot in black and white, you wouldn't want it any other way. There are some stunning  images - especially of New York City in the winter. 

Classical music plays an important part. Jessies was introduced to classical music by his parents and his love for it remains.  In fact, sound plays a huge part in Jessies world.  He is constantly using Joe's equipment, walking around with headphones and a directional microphone pointing it at anything to hear the enhanced sound.

Children's stories (and one or two other articles) are read aloud by Joe and their relevance to the situation in the film is very effective. "Are you crying?" Jessie asks Joe as he finishes reading one story.

The child actor who plays Jessie is extraordinary. You cannot help but wonder how a child could perform like that.  The adults are brilliant too, each bringing to their role all their experience and professionalism.