There are certain movies that ignite the viewer, make them feel alive but also, in some ways, kill them at the same time. The spark that Woody Harrelson ignites while playing Rex, an abusive but, somehow, occasionally inspiring and kind alcoholic in The Glass Castle (2017; 4/5) burns viewers as they watch the film.
The combination of well-rounded characterization, solid directing, and absolutely heart-wrenching dialogue and writing will make the reward of watching this emotional movie greater than the despair the viewer will feel due to the tragedy in this film, which is based on the 2005 memoir of the same name by Jeannette Walls.
This movie beats the viewer down and builds them back up again, with a newfound appreciation for independence and a strong desire to survive. The fragility and speed of existence is conveyed expertly on screen; one realizes just how easy it is to fall through society’s cracks.
Overall, it was an amazing story, but there were elements, particularly in the latter half of the film, that were shapeless and felt unfinished. Had the ending not been loaded with bullets to the heart—real-life footage of this sad, heartbroken family—it would have felt entirely incomplete, because there was no revelation or a-ha moment, as there often is in Hollywood movies. This movie is different. It’s real.
It’s evident throughout the film that it’s based on a real-life experience; sometimes it seems like a hybrid between a drama and a documentary. It’s jaw-dropping that four young children actually lived through such dark, destitute abuse—in one scene, they mix butter and sugar into a bowl and eat it because that’s all that they had and they hadn’t eaten in three days.
Thoughts of these children starving because of a pushover mother and a sick father made my stomach bubble as if always having drank too much coffee or been on a roller coaster (or both), and for good reason: this movie is an emotional roller coaster, and might make viewers want to drink something stronger than coffee. That is, if it wasn’t for Harrelson’s incredibly real performance as he’s tied down to his bed to restrain himself from drinking. Maybe coffee’s fine.
The Glass Castle is a metaphor for just how fragile and imperfect life is, and it delivers its message with profound impact.