The Glass Castle (2017)

Film adaption of Jeannette Walls memoire of the same title, The Glass Castle tells the story of its authors unusual and often difficult upbringing by a vagabond father and starry eyed artist mother. I read the novel several years ago and it is a powerful work, but it seemed all but unfilmable, maybe it might go as a mini-series. Yet I was really surprised how good the movie was, and the way the movie ultimately worked was in not trying to film the whole book, or even the majority of it. You get highlights from the book, the man themes the main plot points are conveyed, but your probably only getting around a fourth or so of what's in the book. Of course movies are different beasts from the written word and less can be more. By concentrating on the arch and development of character relationships much is conveyed without the  assistance of all the anecdotal episodes. I would easily recommended the book over the movie, but if your not up to the commitment of the read see the movie, and then maybe you will be.

Brie Larson was underwhelming in her recent appearances as Captain Marvel, but in The Glass Castle she really reminds you that she can act. Larson was the linch pin of the movie for me, while two other actresses play a younger Jeannette (and are fine to good) it is once Larson takes over the role in the flash back sequences (she also plays Walls in the framing narrative set in 1989) that the movie really took off me, she is an Oscar winning actress lest we forget. Woody Harrelson is also very good as Jeannette's father Rex, really a perfect part for him, the rest of the cast is good as well. In looking at the critical consensus of the film I find it rather mixed, but the Glass Castle really worked for me, and I wasn't expecting it to. So I can't say for sure if it will resonate for you, but feel confident that the story is intriguing enough to be worth finding out. ***1/2