Everybody’s Fine: A Movie Review
If you’re looking for a film that will really hit your right, then this is the film for you. Everybody’s Fine is a touching story that’s really much closer to home. Those who watched this film must’ve decided or contemplated on leaving their homes to visit the kids. The film depicted the reality of being old and alone on Christmas. This film gave the simple truth about family and loved ones that surely depressed the audience towards the end. Although Everybody’s Fine didn’t receive much audience, De Niro’s superb and reserved acting certainly saved the film and one of the must watch movies of 2009 – if you’re the sentimental type.
Everybody’s Fine is actually a remake of the Italian film Stanno Tutti Bene which literally means ‘They’re All Fine’ that was released in 1990 and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The 2009 version stars Robert De Niro as Frank Goode, Drew Barrymore as Rosie, Kate Beckinsale as Amy and Sam Rockwell as Robert. It was written and directed by Kirk Jones.
Frank Goode is excited for his children’s visit for the holidays that he decides to buy a brand new grill and expensive wine and readies everything around the house when they suddenly canceled their visits one by one. He knows that all his children are successful in their respective fields because his wife, when she was still alive, has been boasting about their achievements so they must have some valid reasons for canceling. So Frank then decides that if his kids can’t visit him he’ll go and visit them against his doctor’s advice that travel will not be good for his health. He first visits David, the painter, at his apartment New York City which wasn’t as luxurious as his wife had told him. Nevertheless, he waited for his son at his doorstep but to no avail but he was able see David’s painting at a local art gallery.
His next stop was to his daughter Amy who tells him it’s a bad time to visit but insisted in going anyway. Frank realized that his grandson is not really sick as to what Amy told him as the reason for the canceled visit. The next day Frank accompanied Amy to her office before he goes on to visit Robert to watch him conduct the orchestra. The film then cuts into a phone conversation between the siblings and agreed that nobody should mention about David whom they believe is in some kind of trouble in Mexico. Frank realizes that Robert was not really a conductor but a percussionist. Robert also tells him that it’s a bad time for a visit so within hours Frank leaves to visit Rose who then explained to him that they told their mother the truth about their lives but she decided to exaggerate the story to not disappoint him knowing how demanded a father he was. Drew Barrymore certainly gave justice to her role no matter how small it was.
Frank flies home saddened by the truth about his children and has a heart attack. While on a hospital bed his children reveals the truth about his dead son David. The movie ends with the whole family at Franks home for Christmas.
