Being Flynn

Name: Being Flynn
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: March 2, 2012
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Dale Dickey, Julianne Moore, Lili Taylor, Olivia Thirlby, Paul Dano

2012

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Being Flynn

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 2, 2012 | R

Starring: Dale Dickey, Julianne Moore, Lili Taylor, Olivia Thirlby, Paul Dano, Robert De Niro

Summary: The movie explores bonds both unbreakable and fragile between parent and child. Paul Dano portrays Nick Flynn, a young writer seeking to define himself. He misses his late mother, Jody, and her loving nature. But his father, Jonathan, is not even a memory, as Nick has not seen the man in 18 years. Jonathan Flynn has long defined himself asThe movie explores bonds both unbreakable and fragile between parent and child. Paul Dano portrays Nick Flynn, a young writer seeking to define himself. He misses his late mother, Jody, and her loving nature. But his father, Jonathan, is not even a memory, as Nick has not seen the man in 18 years. Jonathan Flynn has long defined himself as a great writer, “a master storyteller.” Suddenly facing eviction from his apartment, Jonathan impulsively reaches out to Nick and the two come face-to-face. (Focus Features)… Expand

Director: Paul Weitz

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello

Mar 5, 2012

And then there's the simple fact of De Niro, playing a delusional taxi driver. It's easy to imagine Being Flynn's story turning precious in the wrong hands, but Weitz and his cast spin it just right - as a narrative that is both emotionally real, and just writerly enough to suit its leading men. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Mar 2, 2012

Dano is still doing his ethereal, creepy underacting routine, but, compared with De Niro's scenery chewing, he seems almost dignified. The film, written and directed by Paul Weitz, has many touching moments and many more hokey ones. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Mar 24, 2012

It's an involving journey, remarkably free of sentimentality, deepened by the performances. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Feb 29, 2012

Is it possible for an actor to go through the motions even as he's going over the top? In Being Flynn, Robert De Niro does phoned-in scenery chewing. Read full review

Ty Burr

Mar 8, 2012

Mostly, though, Being Flynn is memorable for the sight of a once-great actor rousing himself to a performance the movie itself isn't prepared to handle. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Mar 1, 2012

There is honest feeling, genuine humanity and real intelligence in this movie, but there is also a sense of caution, of indecisiveness, that undermines its potential power. Being Flynn is an honorably ambivalent film, finally unsure of what to do with the two strong, complicated characters at its center. Read full review

R. Kurt Osenlund

Feb 27, 2012

If Robert De Niro knew what was good for him, he'd certainly distance himself from this director and find a new path. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 23, 2021

This is a drama film with themes covered including homelessness, snow and shelter. It is fairly slow to start, with the characters background slowly being depicted. The relationship between son and father is clearly somewhat distant, with the son, Nick, shown as a child wondering about saidThis is a drama film with themes covered including homelessness, snow and shelter. It is fairly slow to start, with the characters background slowly being depicted. The relationship between son and father is clearly somewhat distant, with the son, Nick, shown as a child wondering about said father, looking up to him and wishing he knew him and then when he does come back in to his life, Nick is somewhat apprehensive about confronting him at first. Meanwhile, his father is quite egotistical and more laidback, so its fair to say that they don't especially get along together.

I felt it was quite a meandering plot, with different characters providing narration at different times - both Nick and his father, Jonathan, provide narration at different times. The tone, from scene to scene, depends on who is providing the narration, with Jonathan being more, as I say, laidback. I felt that in general the films plot was quite meandering. Its certainly not a fast paced film but it isn't full of sentimental schmaltz either. Its quite thought provoking, I suppose - I imagine many people could relate to aspects of the plot, with absent fathers not being too uncommon these days, sadly. I liked aspects of multiple characters, for different reasons. I felt that Jonathan was probably the more interesting character

Cast wise, the son, Nick Flynn, is played by Paul Dano. He plays him as quite a nervous, introverted type, quite hesitant seeming, yet curious to find out more about his dad. His father, Jonathan Flynn, is played by Robert De Niro, who plays him as quite a cocky and self-proud person, regardless of his personal circumstances. Its the sort of role that probably comes relatively easy for him, being a bit of a wise-guy type, I'd have thought. Meanwhile, other cast members include Julianne Moore, who plays Jodie Flynn and Olivia Thirlby, who plays Denise.

Content wise, the film contains some strong language and discriminatory language used, sex references and nudity, mild to moderate violence including fist fights and gunfire. There are also scenes including illegal drug taking. Due to this, the film has been given a 15 rating.

I liked some of the camerawork featured - there are some scenes in which the camera pans out and gives it an added atmospheric feel. Its an interesting film, with some good themes and it is fairly thought provoking. There is a fairly sombre feel to it at times, particularly as the plot develops and I think there are bittersweet elements but I won't elaborate, so as not to spoil things too much for any potential viewers. I actually thought it was quite memorable, which is something a fair number of modern films aren't, which is obviously a good thing.

Yes I'd recommend this film, as I thought it had a good cast and was pretty intriguing/interesting. It has a good cast and although its a little meandering, its a decent enough watch and was fairly memorable by the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hootis

Jul 3, 2012

I like things like this that have their roots in real life, interesting to see what some people have to go through, worth watching nothing amazing cinematic wise, a good story though. And life is about having stories to tell.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Meth-dude

Apr 30, 2017

The movie was interesting, well acted and well made. It may have been predictable and boring at times, and some moments were a little bit unbelievable, but it was still worth watching.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BKM

Aug 23, 2012

Being Flynn is a dark and unpleasant film about the deeply fractured relationship between an aspiring writer and his alcoholic father. That may sound like the basis for a deeply moving story about redemption and second chances, but writer/director Paul Weitz is so determined to avoidBeing Flynn is a dark and unpleasant film about the deeply fractured relationship between an aspiring writer and his alcoholic father. That may sound like the basis for a deeply moving story about redemption and second chances, but writer/director Paul Weitz is so determined to avoid sentiment and easy answers that he drains the movie of any real feeling. Still, Dano and DeNiro are very good in the lead roles and the beautiful score by Badly Drawn Boy helps to keep it from being unwatchable.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jdicksteihn

Apr 15, 2012

Every movie I watch Paul Dano in reinforces what an amazing director Paul Thomas Anderson is. That he was able to get a dynamic performance out of Dano in There Will Be Blood is a miraculous feat when you consider Dano's other work. Being Flynn is case in point. Dano plays the characterEvery movie I watch Paul Dano in reinforces what an amazing director Paul Thomas Anderson is. That he was able to get a dynamic performance out of Dano in There Will Be Blood is a miraculous feat when you consider Dano's other work. Being Flynn is case in point. Dano plays the character with a grim seriousness that doesn't help the already melancholy tone of this movie. A role that should have many levels, and be played with some irony to counterbalance the darkness, is instead played with a one-note monotonous sadness. The end result is a character who feels way more sorry for himself than we do, and a story with a big hole where its male lead should be. Robert De Niro is heroic enough to overplay his role, to make up for the void at the center of the picture, and give us some entertainment value. But the end effect for him is that he appears to many critics as conspicuous and flashy. The real culprit is Dano, who doesn't crack a smile for the entirety of the film and who ensures that we don't either.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Mar 4, 2012

The film has some interesting moments and sheds some empathetic light on the plight of the homeless, but DeNiro's character is just so arrogant and annoying that he makes the film almost unwatchable. There's not enough of a payoff for having to endure all of the father's crap. OliviaThe film has some interesting moments and sheds some empathetic light on the plight of the homeless, but DeNiro's character is just so arrogant and annoying that he makes the film almost unwatchable. There's not enough of a payoff for having to endure all of the father's crap. Olivia Thirlby is good in a smallish role, and Lily Taylor is awesome in a very quick appearance - almost playing a grown-up version of her character in Say Anything. Paul Dano is somewhat interesting an unpredictable, but even his "shortcomings" made me groan a bit.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Wiesy

May 5, 2013

This is really a boring movie, the film has non action, non humor, non good plot, about this movie you can't say positive things, only dad Danno and Di Nerro did good acting. The plot and the director is the worst, really there don't happen anything in this movie, only driking and f***ing,This is really a boring movie, the film has non action, non humor, non good plot, about this movie you can't say positive things, only dad Danno and Di Nerro did good acting. The plot and the director is the worst, really there don't happen anything in this movie, only driking and f***ing, that's it. Don't waste your time on this movie. This movie is 102 min bored.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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