What a surprise this little gem turned out to be, I consider it a true 'find'. Movies like this give new hope to an industry dominated by mega budget, cartoon character type CGI marvels - works that mostly add about as much to the quality of our lives as an empty popcorn packet. I came across this while looking for something else (I don't even remember what). Five minutes in I kept waiting for the thing to fall over in a heap like so many others in this genre, but it just kept getting better! What struck me first was the script – there was this scene with a young (8-10yr old) boy in a confessional (quite against his will and I agree with him). When asked what sins he had committed he said he did not know – it was the way he said it and the expressions on his face that showed he really didn't know. Here was a mostly decent kid, without interest or cause to be 'sinful'. Next, we meet this lads father who's just about to look after him for the weekend while his ex is away with her new hubby. Her parting words to them: "Please don't get into any trouble", with dad's famous last words reply: "How much trouble can we get into over two days"!It's about to get interesting in so many ways and on so many realistic levels. Dad (Clive Owen) is struggling with overcoming a drinking habit, while he claims not to be drinking – it seems he still might be. His rather special son, Anthony (superbly played by Jaden Lieberher - this lad is most impressive!) is heading for an important learning curve with several challenging situations coming his way. Next we meet Otto, well played by ex-heart throb Robert Forster who is perfect for this role. Between dad and Otto (dads father?) young Anthony will learn valuable lessons about the complicated responsibilities of grown-up life. The whole script is virtually spot-on regarding the difficulties of understanding the adult world through young eyes. Anthony's dad is very down on his luck just now and his son is about to take this on-board first hand. With so many movies being lauded by the Academy and their trendy, soulless, critics, movies like this have become rare, and like this one, they shine brightly amid the overindulgence. It also quite powerfully highlights how current USA economic politics have unfairly dealt a blow to many of its own citizens (while this is filmed in Canada - the story is set in Kent Washington with its crushed economy). For this work, the Award-nominated writer Bob Nelson (for Nebraska '13) is also director/producer (first effort), and he delivers a well-realized result with much to be admired. While he could seem a tad confused with some aspects of religiosity he at least leaves it open to serious thought. Also in the cast is another ex-heart throb Matthew Modine, playing new husband to dad's ex-wife Maria Bello (Jan Austen Book club '07). The slick cinematography comes from talented English born (now based in N.Y.) Terry Stacey. One or two story aspects keep this from reaching its target audience, such as several mildly dramatic situations and use of blasphemy in place of four-letter words (but in many people's book that's the same anyway!) That aside, this is recommended for thinking/feeling audiences – tired of the same old Hollywood blockbusters and looking for some 'real' people who most could identify with.By the way, this is not a straight comedy as it's very wrongly being marketed - it's a drama with a little humour and while it's inspired by a classic of the past "The Bycical Thieves" it is far from a re-make as some have suggested - it may be the same genre but, this work stands its own ground very well. Find it on DVD or Foxtel.

The words you would most likely use to describe "The Confirmation" would be along the lines of "amusing", "enjoyable", and "nice". "Hysterical", "inspirational", and "engrossing" would be far too emphatic for this picture.The premise is uncomplicated. A divorced, alcoholic father, Walt, gets his 8-year-old son, Anthony, for the weekend while his ex-wife and her replacement husband leave town for a weekend trip. His ex stresses that the son, Anthony, needs to stay out of trouble because next week is his first communion and confirmation. Within minutes of the beginning of the movie we're made to understand how concerned she is about her ex-husband being up task of looking after Anthony for the weekend.Not long after he picks up his son, it's discovered that the tools Walt needs to work a job opportunity on Monday (which he desperately needs since he has been evicted from his home and his truck has broken down) has been stolen out of the back of his truck.Walt and Anthony then spend the bulk of the movie attempting to track down his missing tools that he so desperately needs.An almost hypnotic element of the movie is that nearly all the characters seem to inhabit a world where everyone is unrealistically inoffensive. There are fisticuffs and thievery, lots of lying, and a little harmless B & E for flavor, but in general the conflicts are strangely gentle.Take the fistfights and physical confrontations: have you ever personally watched a T-ball game? You kind of end up rooting for all the players regardless of which team they're on. The players all seem confused and not entirely clear on what's supposed to be happening. You just sort of want someone to be successful at what they're doing because so little success is happening overall.Here's an example. Along the way Walt and Anthony pick up Drake as an aid to tracking down the missing toolbox. Drake leads them eventually to two brothers, Tucker and Trout, who operate a small garage. Before long, when confronted, Trout decides he doesn't like being accused of stealing a toolbox and out comes a semiautomatic which he points at Walt, Anthony and Drake. At about that point, Walt's ex, Anthony's mom, calls Anthony on his cell phone to check up on Anthony and make sure he's okay. Politely, the gun goes out of sight until the phone call is over. Not really sure why. But it comes back out again when the call ends. Eventually Tucker tells Trout to put the gun away because he can tell just by looking at Walt that he's "hurting", presumably sensing how Walt is struggling with alcohol withdrawal. Suddenly Drake just decides to ignore the presence of a gun and proceeds to paw his way through their shop looking for the toolbox, which isn't there, and Walt and Anthony and Tucker strike up a conversation. Tucker pleasantly admits that he and Trout both "love Drake, but he sometimes gets funny ideas". What comes out in the wash is that Drake has a screw loose and is probably currently on meth but just really really wanted to help. He really likes helping people; he's just not very good at it.The whole movie is like that. I think the only truly mean characters in the whole movie are the pawnshop owner and his boy. Even the new husband of the ex-wife isn't a villain and tries very hard to make Walt feel welcome. And when we finally catch up with the thief, he and his wife and two little girls are far more pathetic than they are evil, and all Walt and Anthony can do is just walk away.This movie is described as a comedy, but I don't know if it's really legitimate to say that. It's certainly not a tragedy or a drama; the dramatic elements are more sort of gently goofy than dramatic.The movie's depiction of alcoholism and its effects are unreasonably optimistic which is kind of a clunky note. Delirium tremens, unmonitored and treated can lead to death in many instances, and is one of the more dangerous addictions to recover from. One bad night and then pretty much functional the next day is not very realistic in my experience.You will not laugh or cry but will probably smile and might even chuckle once or twice. Walt and Anthony and Bonnie and the new husband all pretty much end up liking each other. Walt and Anthony have had a pretty grand adventure together for a weekend and the two of them now feel a bond that was missing, and you'll go home happy that Walt got his tools back.

If you come to this looking for a comedy, you'll be badly disappointed. I'm not sure how this can be classified as comedy at all - there were some vaguely humorous exchanges, and some moments of mirth worthy of a wry grin (mainly from the young lead actor), but nothing bordering on comedy.However, if you come looking for a feelgood, generally light movie suitable for the whole family (teens and up), complete with enough moments of drama to keep it interesting, you will be satisfied. Not over the top delirious, but happy that your time and money wasn't wasted.

Walt, (Clive Owen) a recovering alcoholic, has his 8-year old son, Anthony (Jaeden Lieberher) for the weekend while his mother, Bonnie, (Maria Bello) and stepfather go away to a religious retreat. When Walt's specialized finishing tools are stolen he and Anthony get to know each other better trying to get back those tools that Walt desperately needs for his next job on Monday.This opens with Anthony in the Confessional Box and he cannot come up with any sins for the past 8-weeks. The Priest - almost at wits end - tries his best to help jog Anthony's memory but nothing surfaces. Anthony is undecided whether or not he should do his Confirmation. We see some unfortunate things happen to Walt that Anthony is surprised at but comes to understand that Walt is really a good person who is trying to do the right thing. We see Walt almost give in to alcohol, but Anthony becomes the adult and thwarts the attempt. Walt suspects Anthony but never lets him know it. Walt is always the good father, but acts more like a good friend and because of this Anthony gains new respect for him. Walt's friend Otto (Robert Forster) explains to Anthony what withdrawal symptoms are when Walt scares Anthony who thought his father was very drunk. It is possible that an adult Alien from outer space came to Earth and inhabited Jaeden as Anthony as we see him act more like an adult than an 8-year old. It's either that or Jaeden Lieberher is more than really good, or it was the Director doing all this. Whatever this is, it works big time. The chemistry between Walt and Anthony is so good you don't care how long it will take to find those tools. The banter between them including fatherly advice about Confirmation and Anthony's acceptance of it is pure gold. The dialogues are sincere and honest. And we see humor injected at times. You never want this to end.Clive Owen is one of the best actors around, and should be considered to be the next Bond, James Bond. My next choice would be Jim Caviezel. Will Smith would be my third choice, but I digress…………………This almost closes with Anthony in the Confessional box again listing sin after sin to the same priest who is now besides himself listening to the many sins Anthony spouts. And this is just one day after his last Confession. I would list them but then I would give away many of the things that happened to both of them as they went about finding those tools. So you see, Anthony (or that Alien) wasn't all that innocent in this trek. This does close with Bonnie watching Walt and Anthony saying good-bye until the next week-end and she knows Anthony's Confirmation will happen and Walt will be there. This is a great family movie and you may wish there were more movies like this. (we can only hope) (10/10)Violence: Not really just a little scuffle at a Pawn shop. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Small stuff and not much of it.