A deeply personal coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream.
James Gray has an impressive resume. He directed “The Yards,” “We Own the Night,” “The Lost City of Z,” and “Ad Astra,” to name but a few. Some of his films are right on the mark when it comes to emotional connections (“We Own the Night,” “The Lost City of Z”), while others are hit and miss (“The Yards,” “Ad Astra”) but I feel like “Armageddon Time” is his biggest misfire to date. It was inspired by his upbringing in Queens, New York, during the 1980s, and while I have no problem with the overall narrative, it is the performances, or lack thereof, that fall short of greatness.
The story is told from the perspective of Paul Graff (Banks Repeta), a young Jewish-American boy who lives in Queens, New York, in the Fall of 1980. After befriending a young African-American boy named Johnny (Jaylin Webb) in his school, the two become inseparable, even when fate intervenes and deals them a bad hand. While Paul grapples with the death of his grandfather and being moved to a new school, and Johnny struggles to stay alive after running away from home having been threatened with foster care because of his grandmother’s cognitive inability to care for him, both boys must learn to assume responsibility for their own lives before the system intercedes and sends them spiraling down divergent paths.
While Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins are exemplary in their respective roles, as are most of the other adult actors, the movie flounders because of the lack of emotional relatability from its two young stars, Banks Repeta and Jaylin Webb. The entire narrative is told from their perspective, so it would follow that the characters would carry the film from beginning to end, but that never happens. Both young actors are incapable of the essential components required of their roles, and scenes that should be filled with emotional resonance fall short of expectations. Way short. Sometimes, it feels like they are being read their lines off-camera and just repeating them verbatim. No inflection, no feeling, and no heart, just characterless personifications.
“Armageddon Time” feels like an end-of-year project at film school. It looks beautiful, is well-written, and the performances, for the most part, are fine; it just never coalesces the way a drama should. Had director James Gray hired two young actors who were more experienced and proficient in the starring roles, the film would have benefitted more. It is an intriguing look into the lives of two young boys from contrasting backgrounds who want to break free from societal norms and do whatever they feel like doing. Unfortunately, while we all feel that way, it’s just not feasible, and watching them slowly comprehend this is, at times, heartbreaking. It’s just a pity their performances aren’t strong enough to emphasize this point.
Now Playing in Select Theaters and Nationwide Friday, November 4th
