“Flora and Son” Film Review by Alex Moore

Certain directors are known for specific types of movies. When you think about Martin Scorsese, you probably think about mob films, for example. I know I do and for very good reason. If you are not very familiar with Irish-made movies, on the other hand, well, I might have a suggestion on where to start, if you are at all interested. Although I cannot speak for the people of that island across the pond, I can at least imagine how they feel about another director, by the name of John Carney. Over the years, he has become known for a very different sort of film. These projects are centered around the making of music. Yes, he has been involved with other themes, on both the big screen and the small screen, but beyond any shadow of a doubt, in my estimation, when I think about John Carney, I think about music-making films.

According to his filmography on Wikipedia, it has been seven years since Carney last directed a movie. In 2016, he gave us what I would still consider to be his greatest project to date: “Sing Street,” if you will allow me to spoil the revelation of my final thoughts on his latest film. Not long before, that entry, in 2013, we were given “Begin Again,” which was not as good as “Sing Street,” but still a very solid delivery. I guess you could say that Mr. Carney set the bar very high for himself, going into “Flora and Son.” However, if any director could make good, despite the high expectations, Carney would have to be one such formidable example.

Eve Hewson (“Tesla”) is Flora, a wildly spontaneous thief who says only what she is really thinking (the good and the bad), is raising a rather degenerate son and occasionally loses track of her actions when she overmedicates. Her son, Max, played by Oren Kinlan, is perpetually angry and rebellious, engages in his own form of stimuli on a consistent basis and is sometimes on the receiving end of harsh language and a slap or fist bump across his head or arm. If you are not getting the picture, these are not the most likable people to grace the screen, to put things more bluntly. It made me wonder, “Is an honest and raw portrayal automatically edgy and attractive to a prospective audience?” I do not think so, but, perhaps, under the right circumstances, this is still the case.

One day, Flora’s impulsive nature leads her to picking up a new hobby; one that she originally attempts to foist onto her son. If you have ever tried to begin any new hobby, you will recall that they often lead to nothin because there is only so much time and energy one can put into a new activity, unless the passion and motivation happens to linger. You might say that a hobby is better for someone when it can become a habit. At the crux of all this is the familiar Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) as Jeff, an average American musician turned teacher, who accompanies Flora over the worldwide web, as she attempts to navigate her new interest. This is, also, where the movie pivots into a different direction, albeit amidst some momentary, whimsical alterations. To me, it is the character of Jeff who saves this film from mediocrity. That might be considered a bold statement, but I will stand by it, firmly.

The music seems to unlock a hidden spring for Flora and catapults her into a better point-of-view. She is opening her mind to things she has never heard or seen or experienced before and in the process, she is infinitely more likable. The same cannot be said, at least to the same extent, for those around her. Sometimes, it is simply too late to turn from the path you have already headed down. You will see what I mean, eventually…hopefully?

By the end of “Flora and Son,” I liked the movie, kind of, but certainly did not love it. To sum things up, the titular characters were too unlikable in the early goings, developed into more likable characters once their American connection led to their collective maturation, but it was not enough for me to give “Flora and Son” a higher score. I might come to change my mind at a later date, but for now, this is it.

So far, I am just a bit below the average score, so take that for what it is worth…which I would wager is not very much, is it?

This is my final prediction: if you loved “Sing Street,” you will think this one was pretty good. If you loved “Begin Again,” you might think this one was good, as opposed to pretty good. Music can bring people together and that is one thing that I like about “Flora and Son,” even if you do not earn great fame from it, which the vast majority of us will not. That is fine. I will keep telling myself that…