From The Hollywood Reporter · David Rooney · · 1m
Closing Night aims high, lands loud
Cody Fern's directing debut strains for art-house family pain but cannot settle on a tone.
In brief
Cody Fern's directing debut strains for art-house family pain but cannot settle on a tone. Big influences and a deluxe cast cannot save a melodrama if its tone keeps slipping out of control. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Fern steps behind camera
Actor Cody Fern makes his directing debut with Closing Night, led by Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts in a high-end family melodrama.
“actor-turned-director Cody Fern’s debut”
Cassavetes hovers nearby
The film appears to nod to John Cassavetes' Opening Night, the 1977 Gena Rowlands drama about an actress in personal crisis.
“a refraction of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night”
Ambition outruns control
That reference is framed as one of several places where Fern reaches for more than he can handle.
“the filmmaker’s aim exceeding his reach”
Almodóvar is the target
For much of the runtime, the movie seems to chase Pedro Almodóvar style, with heightened emotion, motherhood, trauma and family secrets.
“turbulent motherhood scarred by traumatic family secrets”
Tone keeps slipping
The problem is not the premise or cast, but Fern's shaky command of tone as the movie shifts toward grief and sorrow.
“lacks the firm grasp of tone”
The one thing
Big influences and a deluxe cast cannot save a melodrama if its tone keeps slipping out of control.
