Film: Lion

GENRE: Drama

RATING: PG-13 for thematic material
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 58 minutes

STARRING: Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, The Newsroom)

Nicole Kidman (Australia), Rooney Mara (Social Network, Carol)

DIRECTOR: Garth Davis (newcomer)

WRITER: Luke Davies (Life 2015)

PLOT: A five-year-old India boy gets lost in Calcutta and goes on a journey until he is adopted by an Australian family.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Was told it was pretty great

STORY STUFF: This is a story that tugs at the heartstrings. The first half of the film, you are rooting for this young lost boy to find safety. The second half you are hoping this now adult will be able to find his home once again. Along the way, is the full gambit of emotions. It’s a very well told story with a tear-inducing conclusion.   

ACTING STUFF: Patel does a great job as the adult Saroo. I’ve enjoyed his work even more since The Newsroom. His quiet moments pulled me into his emotional journey. But the real star of the film is Sunny Pawar as the young Saroo. He is not only adorable but riveting as a boy on the run. And boy can he run; I could watch that kid run a marathon. Kidman and Mara are just alright.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The cinematography is beautiful with lots of Calcutta landscapes and the editing has a wonderful mix of frenetic panic and quiet contemplation. I was most impressed with the music for this film. There are long stretches without dialogue and the music kept me tethered to the film the whole time. I also enjoyed the song playing over the closing credits.  

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You have a heart for adoption and cute Indian kids

UPCOMING REVIEWS: A Monster Calls