Cert 15
109 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, nudity, scene of implied sexual violence
Crikey, there have been a lot of positive vibes surrounding Louder Than Bombs but I have to report that Mrs W and I found it painfully depressing.
I understand that it is an attempt to demonstrate how the death of a close family member can be the equivalent of a wrecking ball on those left behind.
In fact, I confess that the memory of the horrors of a few years back when Mrs W lost her mum and her sister within the space of a few weeks came to the fore,
But our problem was that we did not find the subject matter entertaining nor the characters engaging or likable.
That said, Devin Druid's interpretation of an uncommunicative teenager was bang on. However, despite my admiration for his performance, I did find his character irritating in the extreme.
Louder Than Bombs is set a few years after the death of a famous war photographer (Isabelle Huppert).
Her husband (Gabriel Byrne) is helping collate the images of a retrospective exhibition, seeing it as part of the closure of the grieving process.
However, he has a long way to go to help his sons (Druin and Jesse Eisenberg) through their long-standing crises.
And, of course, there are no easy answers because Joachim Trier's film wears its realism on its sleeve.
That means it is unremittingly downbeat and we struggled with that.
Reasons to watch: its high standard cast
Reasons to avoid: it is all a bit depressing
Laughs: two
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 4/10
Star tweet
Devin Druid Extra big shout out to my amazing mentor, friend, colleague #gabrielbyrne for his lead actor #TonyAwards nomination. 
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