James White review: “A totally immersive, powerful piece of drama.”
James White review
James White is a powerful new drama entering on the troubled title character, played by Christopher Abbott, an exciting young actor known recently for his work on the TV series Girls, and in the superb 2011 indie movie, Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene. After an impactful debut at Sundance earlier in the year, the film arrives in the UK at the BFI London Film Festival, with it firmly wedged in the Love category. Told from an almost first-person perspective, the story begins in his native New York City, where it immediately becomes apparent that White’s father has recently passed, and the young man isn’t coping particularly well with it, or life in general. As well as grieving his father’s death, White also has his mother’s battle with cancer to contend with. With the treatment affecting her memory, the cancer spreading across her body affecting her physical strength, and both impacting the relationship with everyone around her, it is left to James as her closest surviving family member to care for her on her very last days.
Turning to drugs, alcohol, sex and even Mexico to run away from his problems, White constantly struggles to find a role in society, with situations being forced upon him that he is quite clearly unable to deal with. On a clear path or self-destruction, White rebels against society as he struggles to deal with daily life, and the hard hand he and his family are constantly dealt.
James White review
Featuring a powerhouse performance from Cynthia Nixon, who is just brilliant in the role of White’s cancer-ridden mother, James White is a slow-burning affair that focusses most of its attention on the mother-son relationship, with Nixon and Abbott given the opportunity to shine, which they absolutely do in every scene they’re in, especially the ones that they share together. Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) also lends stellar support, furthering his acting career in a solid part as White’s best friend, as well as contributing to the movie via its excellent, gritty score, that constantly pumps away in the background.
Josh Mond‘s directorial feature debut, following a series of acclaimed shorts and producing roles on films like the aforementioned Martha, Marcy, May Marlene and Simon Killer, is simply outstanding. His use of close-up camera work, jump cut-editing and brilliant sound-design lend to a perfectly crafted drama which is pushed up a notch on the rating scale, largely due to those outstanding performances from its exceptional cast.
A totally immersive, powerful piece of drama.
James White was reviewed at the BFI London Film Festival, 2015.
