Lion

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: November 25, 2016

7.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 341 Ratings

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Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017

The risk-free and strightforward presentation of this moving and miraculous true story yields only a good movie. It'll brighten your day, not change your life.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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TrevorsViewFeb 2, 2017

Eighty-thousand children go missing each year in India. Saroo Brierley, author of the autobiography, “A Long Way Home,” was one, and he tells about his incredible journey from India to Australia and back again. The result of the adapted indieEighty-thousand children go missing each year in India. Saroo Brierley, author of the autobiography, “A Long Way Home,” was one, and he tells about his incredible journey from India to Australia and back again. The result of the adapted indie drama, Lion, is a well-intended attempt which utilizes a “been there, done that” approach to prove how the community can pitch in to help families across the globe.

Sure enough, being a depressingly heartwarming weepie, Lion starts on a heartbreaking note. Saroo as an adorable little five-year-old oversleeps and loses his way in a dark train station, separated from his older brother. He hops onto a train and arrives at another station far away, and sees no options available other than to sleep on cardboard with other lost kids. The stay gets cut short though, as several kidnappers force him out. He then comes across new parts of India’s culture he never knew existed beyond his mother’s work as a rock-hauler. A hospitable Hindu couple helps Saroo out until he runs away out of desperation. Soon, with hopes of locating his parents, an orphanage takes him in, where beatings occur daily.

Eye-swelling in these first moments are guaranteed while watching a vulnerable little tike lose his innocence before reaching his full development of memory cells. When also considering how everyone in India speaks in their native tongue with English subtitles, an extra step authenticates the true story. However I must admit: the boy cast as Saroo, Sunny Pawar, acts precisely how any young actor would in his first role. Nobody cheers him on because of his talent, but because of his cuteness.

A kind Australian couple eventually adopts Saroo, with some English lessons included to help him with the transition. As investing as it all feels, the very next event is, “20 years later.” So did nothing interesting happen within twenty years? This sort of leap in time happens constantly throughout the picture, limiting the story possibilities and minimizing Saroo’s motives of returning to India. So proof exists in why Lion would prefer to tug on your heartstrings over structuring the story to deserve the countless awards it campaigned so hard for.

Speaking of awards, my complements go to the Academy Award nominated performances of Nicole Kidman (The Hours, Moulin Rouge!) and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire). Both portrayals standout satisfactorily well, carrying the second half of the film to maintain the audiences’ tears. Although I ought to complain about Kidman’s distractingly obvious wig. Yes, I realize they needed to cast a talented actress, and yes, I understand she needs to look like the real-life counterpart, so why not cast someone whose natural hair looks like the real life counterpart? Or maybe dye Kidman’s hair? Oh, right. They needed an already nominated actress to guarantee a nomination, and she has to still look pretty in her natural silky blonde hair for those expensive interviews and campaigns.

Yet like any other Oscar-bait picture, the production crew still put in tremendous effort. Saroo’s growth into manhood blooms to life through various scenic shots meant to highlight memories of home, such as moths illuminated by the sun, or the infinite route of a railroad track. Then as things turn more personal and distanced from youth, the camera pulls in closer to the human face. The minds and hearts of everyone involved were in the right place, even if Lion turns out no different in quality than the summer released indie crowd-pleaser.

Clearly, Lion will fall out of the public’s memory after the 2017 Oscars ceremony. But the #LionHeart campaign it started will last much longer. It exists to raise donations to benefit the 80,000 lost children in India, and worldwide. I encourage you to offer them a small donation; even just a little can travel a long ways to make a difference.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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DirigiblePulpFeb 25, 2017

This is a really good story, but its structure, pacing and editing threw me off constantly throughout. I couldn't completely engage with the film as a result.

Nearly an hour of the film is spent on little Saroo, yet ultimately this has noThis is a really good story, but its structure, pacing and editing threw me off constantly throughout. I couldn't completely engage with the film as a result.

Nearly an hour of the film is spent on little Saroo, yet ultimately this has no bearing on the film as a whole. The film is about Saroo reconnecting with his biological mom, his culture and his heritage. Yet none of these scenes further that. They're from a different movie about the entire life of Saroo and the tribulations of all Indian orphans which this film clearly is not.

I really think this film benefits from a less chronological structure - if his past as a young boy were something he was remembering in pieces in the present. Because ultimately how much of that time does he really remember? It seems unlikely it was all of it since he was so young, so these scenes are really for the benefit of the audience so we spend too much of the film waiting for him to find home because we aren't actively connecting with his past like he is. We already know what happened and the incoming inevitable conclusion.

Still, it's a beautiful story and the conclusion is convincingly emotional and touching. Dev Patel and little Sunny Pawar are both pretty great.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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NedRyerson1Feb 22, 2017

Lion is a touching movie of searching and even more emotive because it’s based on true events. The film is divided in two parts, first the story of Saroo as kid, when he is lost and must face entire India on its own; and second the story ofLion is a touching movie of searching and even more emotive because it’s based on true events. The film is divided in two parts, first the story of Saroo as kid, when he is lost and must face entire India on its own; and second the story of Saroo 25 years later finding his way back home. The evolution of the protagonist appears to be upside down; when he is a kid is forced to face the reality, give up childhood dreams and start living independently but when he is an adult he is lost, he doesn’t know what decisions to make, because of the uncertainty of a home as a reference spot he cannot have stable human relationships. The performances of Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara are marvelous, but Sunny Pawar as young Saroo is brilliant. There is conflict between the two parts of the film, seem to have different directors, in the first one the photography and production design are really strong, transmitting you the despair of the protagonist; and in the second one, those two are average, but the script is more intense along with the acting. The score marked the gathering of both sections, with beautiful and moving melodies.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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qamasterMar 17, 2017

A good movie, but too long. Frankly, I'm tired of watching it. This film should not be more than one and a half hours. The strongest part of the movie is documentary part, at the end of the film. Only for these shots I put an extra point

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Brent_MarchantDec 27, 2016

Despite a compelling Dickensian first act, this fact-based docudrama unfortunately lapses into a predictable, dull, overly sentimental slog in its overlong second half. Its manipulative series of long, lingering emotive shots that function asDespite a compelling Dickensian first act, this fact-based docudrama unfortunately lapses into a predictable, dull, overly sentimental slog in its overlong second half. Its manipulative series of long, lingering emotive shots that function as little more than awards bait for Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman and annoyingly frequent product placements for Google Earth make for rather tedious viewing in what should be an engaging tale of the human condition and the search for oneself. Given the inherent heartstring-tugging nature of this story, it's hard to fathom how the filmmakers could have gotten this one so wrong.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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MattBrady99Feb 13, 2017

Remember when I said "Manchester by the Sea" is a dramatic tearjerker, but the difference is that Manchester was a great movie and this one isn't.

I'm not saying "Lion" is a bad movie or anything, but best picture worthy? Heck no! I mean,Remember when I said "Manchester by the Sea" is a dramatic tearjerker, but the difference is that Manchester was a great movie and this one isn't.

I'm not saying "Lion" is a bad movie or anything, but best picture worthy? Heck no! I mean, the emotional elements are there that unfortunately didn't hit for me. It's a movie that's not going to stick with me after the end credits or a few years time.

And Rooney Mara was completely wasted in this movie, as she didn't do anything to the story and was only a plot device.

The only great things in can say about "Lion" is Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman outstanding performances. Especially Patel who I always thought was a great actor way before "Slumdog" came out. In "Lion", he shines and this is by far his strongest performance yet. Even Sunny Pawar who played the young Saroo was pretty damn good. I guess there are good child actors out there.

The cinematography was really good and the ending was pretty sweet. And that's it.

"Mary Magdalene" with Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus should be interesting. Reason why I'm randomly bringing this up, because it's directed by Garth Davis who did this movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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dashtagMar 27, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was looking forward to this movie, because of all the hype and because they had Dev Patel! Lion has an amazing cast, but lacks entertainment and is very dull. We were tricked into thinking this movie was mostly about Dev Patel finding his way home, and I thought the parts with the kid would be flashbacks. The truth is, most of the movie is about the little kid finding his way home, and Dev Patel takes up 40 minutes of it with an unsatisfying performance. I think Nicole Kidman didn't deserve the nomination. The main flaw throughout the movie was the pacing. The movie became very boring towards the end of little Saroo's run home. I wish this movie could have been better. Amazing story though.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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NinteundoNov 10, 2018

This movie, given the story, had so much potential. The way it was put together however was very uninspiring. Therefore this movie is very forgettable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JaysographyAug 28, 2019

The reasoning behind my '3' star review? 'Pretentious child syndrome.' Lion, effectively creates the lead protagonist complete child, mumbling over his words, and, at times, almost making the viewer feel as though they are sitting through aThe reasoning behind my '3' star review? 'Pretentious child syndrome.' Lion, effectively creates the lead protagonist complete child, mumbling over his words, and, at times, almost making the viewer feel as though they are sitting through a teenaged drama Nickelodeon dished up and through out for old times sake. I will say however, the story behind this film, will leave you with pure joy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Jack_LameApr 24, 2019

The movie feels as though the core story was not long enough to create a film so in order to build watch time they decided to place filler stories within the movie (e.g love story) however after this filler the stakes within the story are notThe movie feels as though the core story was not long enough to create a film so in order to build watch time they decided to place filler stories within the movie (e.g love story) however after this filler the stakes within the story are not any higher, they have ultimately no affect on the over story. Due to this filler the story slows down heavily and you begin to lose interest. The movie would have worked better as a short film. I would recommend to read the story 'A long way home' or view the 60 minutes documentary lost and found instead.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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geewahJan 14, 2021

A movie that is harrowing at times (particularly the first half) but is dragged down by it's at times sickly sweet, melodramatic plot

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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