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JAMES WHITE Send This Review to a Friend
The trouble with a disturbed mixed up character who needs to find himself is that he can be a pain to watch and it is difficult to care much about what ultimately happens. Such is the case with the title character, James White, played striving for depth by Christopher Abbott. What really lies inside this character?
The film is set in Manhattan, and we follow White in his self-destructing behavior. Much more interesting is his mother, Gail, given a searing portrait by Cynthia Nixon. Gail has terminal cancer, and the good side of James involves trying to care for her between his instances of bad behavior.
Written and directed by Josh Mond, “James White” is best when focusing on Gail and the mother-son relationship. Gail loses patience with James, but also loves him and wants his life to shape up. But the ordeal she faces with her ever worsening cancer and the approaching end of the line makes it almost impossible for her to cope with everything.
Her son faces the grim, distressing reality as best he can, trying to look after his mother even while his own life is a constant mess. It is deeply touching watching Nixon as Gail. But it would help to be able to care more about James. A Film Arcade release. Reviewed November 13, 2015.
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