Raymond & Ray movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Raymond & Ray movie review

This quirky and dramatic movie is now available on AppleTV+.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 45 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B-

IN A NUTSHELL:

Two brothers share a name and a road trip to their estranged father’s funeral. Reunited to carry out their father’s last wishes to dig his grave, they dig deep into their past traumas and uncover the history of the man they both hate. Resentments, secrets, and memories flood in, presenting the brothers with a chance to reconcile their past and find forgiveness and a way forward. All the while, the question arises if one ever really knows their parents-and must your upbringing define who you are as an adult?

The film was written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. It was nominated for “Best Film” at the Rome Film Fest this year.

THINGS I LIKED:

I’ve always been a fan of Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke. They have great chemistry together and are true pros, giving outstanding performances filled with nuances. Ethan Hawke’s daughter is now in the movie business. Check out her recent performance in Do Revenge. She looks just like her dad and her mom, Uma Thurman.
The supporting cast members also do a great job.
The story forces us to take an honest look at our own lives, our family relationships, and the legacy we’ll leave.
The quirky humor is often very amusing in a subtle way.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There are moments that feel extremely forced.
Some of the characters make odd choices.
The dialogue missed a few crucial moments, in my opinion.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be extremely bored.
Profanity, including F-bombs
There’s a lot of talk of a man who was a womanizer.
A man flips the bird
We see a photo of a nude woman from the back with a side shot
Talk of drugs
We see the backside of a man

THEMES:

Dysfunctional families
Brotherhood
Grief
Forgiveness
The power of music
Death
Legacy
Infidelity
Marriage

FUNNY LINES:

None worth noting.

INTERESTING LINES:

“You don’t have to go. He’s dead. He’ll never know.” – Ray (Ethan Hawke)
“It’s going to take a lot more than a hole in the ground to get the old man out of your head.” – Ray (Ethan Hawke)
“Don’t rewrite history, Ray.” – Raymond (Ewan McGregor)
“Forgiveness is good.” – Raymond (Ewan McGregor)
“The boys and the men are not the same thing.” – Lucia (Maribel Verdu)
“We come from chaos.” – Raymond (Ewan McGregor)
“Risk makes you feel alive.” – Lucia (Maribel Verdu)
“Rest from yourself.” – Reverend West (Vondie Curtis Hall)