CYRUS
By: John ’Doc’ Strange
Written and directed by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener
MPAA Rating: Rated R (for language and some sexual material)
Selig Rating: Full Price
Runtime: 92 Min.
John (John C. Reilly) is in a deep depression. His wife left him (a YEAR AGO) and he has not gotten over it. He does his job and sits in his apartment eating pizza and stewing upon his problems. Along comes his ex-wife, Jamie (Catherine Keener), to make him go out with her and her fiancé, Tim (Matt Walsh) to a nice party. Over his huge objections, John goes.
Convinced to at least TRY to meet another woman, John agrees to give it a go. Man, I have heard lame but this guy sinks down to a level that is truly… desperate. Convinced that drinking will help he does it with a vengeance. His lines get even worse! Kudos to Jay and Mark, his lines actually get worse!
What finally works? John is caught taking a whiz into the shrubbery. The lady who witnesses the action takes it very cool and gives John a great comeback line (Nope, not telling you and spoiling it!). Molly (Marisa Tomei), is sexy and smart in an understated way. Normally I would say she is WAY out of John’s league but in this case there is a hint of “been there/done that” to her that fills the chinks and crevices between them almost too perfectly. What is wrong here? What is she hiding?
The “what” is eventually discovered by John (after he follows her home one night from his house); Cyrus (Jonah Hill), is her step-son, and roommate. I say roommate because he is a young man in his twenties. He is a young man who, at first glance is possibly autistic or living with some other mental problem. Soon the couple begins spending more time at her place than his so the frequency of sex is, uh, reduced (read as stopped dead in it’s tracks). After all, Molly feels odd doing it in a house where doors are normally not closed.
We watch as the relationship between John and Molly blossoms and the relationship between John and Cyrus becomes… defined. Not good, not necessarily bad, but decidedly odd. Does Cyrus REALLY not like John or is it his imagination? Several events leave you wondering. And just what the heck is going on between Molly and Cyrus? Does he truly he look at her as a mother or something else?
This is a truly well-made black comedy written and directed by the Duplass brothers and shot in a style somewhat reminiscent of a documentary style. Jay Duplass was on hand for the screening I attended and was asked why they chose John C. Reilly for John’s character. He said that wrote it with and for John. I agree that he was perfect for the role. So was the choice of Marisa Tomei. Her beauty and brains as well as acting talent were perfect match to the two male leads.
If you enjoy dark comedies this is well worth the watch!
Movie Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/cyrus/
The Selig Rating Scale:
FULL PRICE – Excellent movie, well worth the price
MATINEE – Good movie
DOLLAR – OK movie
CABLE – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
FREEBIE – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
COMMERCIAL TV – Commercials and cutting to the allotted time will not hurt this one.
FORGET IT! – Bad. If you see this one, do yourself a favor and keep it to yourself.
GET YOUR TORCHES – BAD! – Burn the script, the writer, the director and maybe even the actors!
