THE HOLLARS

US, 2016, 86 minutes, Colour.
Margo Martindale, Sharlto Copley, Richard Jenkins, John Krasinski, Anna Kendrick, Randall Park, Josh Groban, Charlie Day, Mary Kay Place, Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Directed by John Krasinski.

This is a brief but engaging film, a film about family, an American dysfunctional family, the surfacing of problems and some kind of resolution.

Margo Martindale, always an effective character actress, has a very good role as the matriarch of the family who suddenly has a physical collapse, is discovered with a brain tumour and requires surgery. Also always effective is Richard Jenkins who appears as her husband, Don, married for a long time, ‘n emotional man, running a business but facing bankruptcy. He is exceedingly upset by his wife’s illness.

Sharlto Copley (District 9, Chappie) is the older brother, Ron, with a failed marriage, two daughters, living in his parent’s basement, being fired by his father from the factory. The younger brother, John, is played by the director, John Krasinski, writing a graphic novel, living with a designer, Rebecca, played by Anna Kendrick. With her support, he returns home to be with the family.

Difficulties arise, the attendant at the hospital, Jason, Charlie Day, is married to a former girlfriend, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who throws herself at John. John negotiates with his father to take back his brother to the company. Is devoted to his mother, even shaving her hair before the operation.

The mother comes to consciousness and then dies. The film shows how the family copes with a funeral, Rebecca coming and giving financial support, John proposing and their being married by the river by the Reverend who has married Ron’s ex-wife.

Particularly important is the fact that Don is weeping at home, Jason arriving with a letter from his wife, his reading it and then the doorbell ringing, another letter – and his wife’s message that he should stop crying.

Rebecca’s waters break at the funeral and so there is a transition from death to birth.

1. A small film? A family film? Birth, marriage, death, life?

2. The work of John Krasinski, performance and direction? His sensitivity with the script? Performances?

3. The title, the focus on the family, the tone of their name?

4. The strong cast of character actors?

5. The opening, the Hollar house, the toilet and the kitchen, Sally’s collapse, the reactions? Don crying, anxious? The phone call to John? His shock, talking with Rebecca, going to the family?

6. The status of the family, the various tensions, coping with illness, the operation, support?

7. Sally, the stalwart of the family, her early life, interest in art, her marrying and not continuing her love for art? Her love for Don? Her sons, the passing of the years? Dealing with finance, knowing about the impending bankruptcy? Her illness symptoms, Don thinking it was her weight, going to Jenny Craig? His weeping regrets about this? The discovery of the tumour, the signs? The doctor, diagnosis, discussion with the family, the operation, the preparation? John shaving her hair? Her regrets, going to the operation, waking, the family around her, her silent and sudden death? And the humour of Jason with the note for Don after her death, and the pause and the second note for him not to
cry?

8. Don, emotional, his love for Sally, the marriage, the long life together, his factory and work, his concern about her health but thinking it a weight issue? The two boys? Facing bankruptcy? Work at the factory, the secretary, the workers not arriving because of no pay, his looking for the loan and refusal, paying the workers and urging them to come back? His firing Ron? His treatment of Ron? John’s absence? The diagnosis, his weeping, the hospital, John negotiating for Ron to return to work, persuading his father? Sally’s death, weeping, Jason arriving with the letters? The funeral, Rebecca and her water breaking, the birth?

9. John, the younger son, leaving the town because there was nothing for him? His work, designing his comic, his lack of confidence? The bond with his father and mother? His love for Rebecca, her pregnancy, not being able to propose? The story of his past and relationship with Gwen? Rebecca, the pregnancy, expectations? His return home, coping, at the hospital, with his mother, dealing with his father, meeting with Jason, his work at the hospital, marrying Gwen? Ron and Stacie and their children? Reverend Dan, the children? Rebecca coming, offering to pay for the funeral? His proposal, Reverend Dan marrying them by the river? The funeral and the birth?

10. Ron, his age, difficulties, marrying Stacie, the children, her leaving him, Reverend Dan? At home, in the basement? His father firing him, his visiting his kids, going into the room, Stacey ousting him? The Reverend Dan and the interactions? His being fired by his father, John and the negotiating of his being rehired?

11. Rebecca, her career as a designer, love for John, her pregnancy, urging him to go to his mother, the bond with his mother? Offering to pay for the funeral? The proposal, the wedding by the river, the funeral and the water breaking, giving birth?

12. Jason, friendship from the past, his work at the hospital, inviting John to dinner and forgetting? Gwen and her advances? Jason delivering the letters to Don?

13. Reverend Dan, with Stacie, the children, the clashes with Ron? Doing John and Rebecca’s wedding?

14. The sadness of the ending – and future happiness?