Room: A Movie Review

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Sophi Sanchez, Staff Writer

 

The movie “Room” starts out just like the novel. A boy with flowing brown hair, also known as Jack, tells us all about his residence in a shed in the backyard of a man, his father, who he barely knows. Everything has a place and a reason. His mother makes him exercise, entertains him, and lets him watch TV. His life is idyllic compared to some five year olds, but there’s a catch – Jack doesn’t know there’s a world outside of Room.

After being introduced to all the things most important to Jack, including a snake made of eggshells and the stained rug he was delivered on, we can finally see how Ma’s relationship with her captor, Jack’s father, really is. They’re polite, cordial even. He brings them what they need in exchange for “favors”. Jack stays in the closet while this occurs, and counts the creaks. His mother does his best to protect him from Old Nick, but at one point during the movie, Old Nick becomes curious about his son and tries to talk to him. Ma’s instincts come out and she is threatened with death if she ever lays a hand on her captor again. Their heat and electricity is subsequently turned off.

Throughout the beginning of the movie, the audience can see how difficult this captivity is for Jack’s mother. She sometimes loses patience with him and stomps on his imagination, but quickly apologizes. A few days after his fifth birthday, Ma begins to explain the world outside of Room to Jack, who is less than thrilled. She persuades him to try her plan, which involves boiling water and faking a fever in order to get Old Nick to take Jack to the hospital. When this doesn’t work, they devise a plan to fake Jack’s death. This final escape attempt was the best part of the whole movie; every audience member rooting for Jack to wiggle out of the rug just like Ma told him to. Viewers can see the wonder in Jack’s eyes when he sees the blue sky with white clouds, telephone poles, railroad tracks: all things we take for granted. The rest of the movie depicts their difficult assimilation to the world around them.

My favorite part of the movie was the escape scene. I spent the duration of it screaming at my computer for Jack to get out, to find someone to help him and Ma.

This movie, like the novel, has a touching story, which will not leave a dry eye in the room. The actors all deserve Oscars for their performances, especially Jack, who is played by Jacob Tremblay. The movie has received 4 nominations for the 2016 Academy Awards, in addition to Brie Larson’s numerous nominations, including Best Actress. “Room” is an exemplary story that shows there are no limits to what a parent will do for their child.