The Book of Henry

What is this film actually trying to be? Is it trying to be touching? Is it trying to be exciting? Is it trying to be gritty? Is it trying to be human? Is it trying to make you laugh? I really don't know, but it seems like it wanted to do all of these things, which simply couldn't happen. The acting is good, but the form is so strangely disjointed that it may actually put you off. (27/09/2017)

Please, someone take a look at this. The local rating is absolutely terrible, and I need someone to agree with me. Many people apparently did not get over the fact that the story escalates into absolute nonsense in the second half, and it is difficult to find deeper feel-good message there. However, it was precisely in the second half that I was awakened from lethargy, apparently caused by the initially and harmlessly obvious classic children's story, of which there have been many here and easily get lost in the flood of alternatives to E.T. Here, I had a great time mainly because of the cast, likable soundtrack that seamlessly blended with the perfect storytelling of Colin Trevorrow (damn, what is it that makes everyone in Hollywood so angry!?) and the poignant ending that amazed me to my surprise. Well, I hope that the film won't stay at those 60 ratings and will be discovered by some slightly more melancholic people. PS: I was incredibly surprised by Lee Pace, about whom I previously did not have a high opinion, but here he is simply brilliant. (12/10/2017)

Had to wait a few days to find out in retrospect that I actually liked the film. Despite the fact that it was completely different than I had expected, and than its first half hour or so had suggested, despite everything that happened in its second half... Yes, I liked it. It's an odd spectacle, but it goes its own way and doesn't really care what it does to the viewer, and I appreciate that. And Colin Trevorrow racked up a lot of plus points in a finale that even Hitchcock wouldn't be ashamed of. (24/03/2020)