Other People - A Movie Review

You just never know what’s going to happen in life.

Other People is a 2016 film. David is in a rough spot. Struggling with his career as a comedy writer and his relationship going nowhere, he returns home to care for his dying mother. This time helps the family reflect and mend wounds.

Other People is a film that makes you think. Hesitant to watch it due to its themes about cancer, the film incorporates relatable themes about finding your pathway. When you think about it, we’re all the definition of ‘another person.’ Everyone is fighting a hidden battle.

Jesse Plemons and Molly Shannon gave the very best performances. I agree with others that Shannon is an underrated actress. Shannon established genuine transitions of the disease, boldly committing to the role. Joanne had a delightful sense of humor despite the circumstances. Getting high on marijuana was the funniest scene!

The film is more about David and his journey through life. Struggling with breaking his foot in life’s door, Plemons is wonderful. Great in subtle behavior there’s so much more to this character than one thinks. His best scene is when he is having a meltdown in the market. David is relatable

Relationships felt real. Exploring relationships, the family’s relationship is a vital part of the film. Not open about his son’s sexuality, Norman (Bradley Whitford) has a reflective talk with his son. It’s left unclear if they will rebound their relationship, but it was a step.

I liked the interactions between David and his friend Gabe (John Early). Talking with friends in the midst of difficult times is the best. One of their conversations happens at a playground at the night. They tell each other stories from their youth and ask for advice on the right way to feel. There is no right way. You just have to be honest.

A lot of good actors were in the film. There’s an appearance by D’arcy Carden in this fun theatre game scene. More credits include Maude Apatow, Madisen Beaty, Zach Woods, June Squibb, and Paul Dooley.

Chris Kelly gave the film a sense of humor; a dark sense of humor. The film starts right at the end. Getting the film’s toughest scene over first, we are also introduced to the film’s dark comedy. You’re laughing at one moment until crying the next. A lingering fear is present in each scene.

Other People examines a year as we witness the family undergoing the situation. Scenes are quick. The mom’s chemotherapy scene lasts only a minute, but with how it was filmed, this scene has stayed in my mind. To amplify a character’s stress, the camera shakes, bewildered by the situation.

The writing for the subject is good. When characters talk about the situation they avoid the actual topic. The dialogue was strange in some places. Characters had random conversations. Then again, when you think about it, they’re avoiding the real topic.

I can relate to that. The tone changes immediately when the cancer is mentioned. We need to find the humor. When my aunt was fighting her battle we used to laugh a lot. Don’t let cancer take away happiness.

Watching Other People brought back relatable memories. For Kelly, this film was based on his mother’s battle with cancer. These are good movies to help anybody heal. Some scenes may be triggering for audiences. Fair warning, there’s a lot of vomiting if that makes anyone uncomfortable.

Other People is sincere. It’s emotional, funny, and authentic. Although it’s sad, take a look at Other People.