The Tender Bar

This year's entry in the poor kid who makes it as a writer awards bait entry. Like last year's HILLBILLY ELEGY, George Clooney's movie laddles on the woes and miseries while always trying to assure the audience that it will be all right in the end -- it's a memoir, after all (J. R. Moehringer).

Ben Affleck plays Uncle Charlie (literally "Uncle Charlie") who becomes a mentor to the author, JR (Daniel Ranieri as a tyke; Tye Sheridan as a college student). Affleck is good here, even if the character is idealized - yes, he's a bartender still living with his father, but he's also wicked smarht! Ranieri is a decent child actor, but Sheridan is more annoying than heroic here. Briana Middleton is winning as JR's on again, off again girlfriend, but one never gets why she's be attracted to him. Lily Rabe and Chrisopher Lloyd do fine, but they are playing cliches.

More crucially, the viewer never gets a true glimpse of JR's supposed writing talent. It's all second hand - "that kid's got it!" William Monahan's screenplay plays it safe and to the middle, and Clooney doesn't really give it much style, either.

There is Uncle Charlie, bartender ( Ben Affleck) in a bar named "The Dickens" inspired by Charles Dickens and instead of liquor bottles in the cabinet he has a collection of books. Something more unusual is that he doles out serious advice to young 10 year old boy JR ( Daniel Ranieri) on how an ideal man should behave. This movie is based on the memoirs of famous journalist JR Moehringer, and chronicles his growth from a boy to a young man studying at Yale and later aspiring to be a writer.

JR has gone through a troubled childhood without a father, has been through a turbulent manhood ( getting dumped 9 times, getting rejected for a job) but learns a lot from Uncle Charlie constantly. ( Later in life Uncle Charlie tells him to select philosophy as a subject since there are no right answers in this subject). JR's mom however has been supporting him throughout and this keeps him going as he navigates his ups and downs. A heart-warming scene has young JR attending a " Breakfast with dad" session in school with his grandpa standing in for his missing father.

A warm, sentimental film embellished with some good acting by Ben Affleck who carries the film well and gives it class. Young Daniel Ranieri is lovable and plays his role like a seasoned professional. Credit to the handsome hunk behind the camera, that is director George Clooney who has done a competent job. The movie has a foot tapping soundtrack of, believe it or not, around thirty numbers which add to the entertainment value of the movie. The movie ends on a positive note for JR as he says that unlike the selection process to become a lawyer, one has only to have self belief and can become a writer when one is ready.

My Review - The Tender Bar (Amazon Prime)

My Rating 8/10.

I'm so pleased one of my cinephile friends recommended this very uplifting and entertaining movie as one I may like and he was so right .

It's based on the coming of age memoir of Pulitzer Prize winning author 'J. R." Moehringer novelist and journalist and his childhood experiences growing up on Long Island .

"JR"'s memoir obviously impressed other famous celebrities as he has previously written the memoirs of both the American businessman and Nike co-founder, Philip Knight (Shoe Dog), and tennis star, Andre Agassi (Open) .

"JR" as he is known in this movie has recently been commissioned with help from Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex to write his memoir .

The book is likely to draw a huge audience, which is probably why it's drawn a huge advance of $20m (£14m), which Harry says he'll donate to charity.

Now back to this delightful film beautifully directed and co produced by George Clooney . This is the 2nd collaboration between Ben Affleck and George Clooney, after both served as producers on Argo (2012).

Ben Affleck plays Uncle Charlie , JR's substitute father and proprietor of the Dickens Bar which is the social hub of the town.

Ben Affleck gives a great performance full of the humour and wisdom that this young boy desperately needs after moving back to Long Island with his mother and her family after separation from an absent and totally disfunctional father known only in the credits as "The Voice " played by Max Martini a very apt name .

In a Variety interview, Ben Affleck said "I think the world is a tough and ugly place, particularly now, so I feel good injecting this movie onto the world." The real charm of this movie is from the 2 performances from Daniel Ranieri who plays young JR and Tye Sheridan who plays JR as a young man entering the world of journalism and romance.

Interestingly after The Tender Bar I watched the 2012 movie Mud where Tye Sheridan plays a young boy befriending a fugitive Matthew McConaughey and it's easy to see why he won many acting awards and most promising newcomer.

There are some other delightful performances in this movie that doesn't feature gimmicks or pretends to be great art but just tells a touching story that's inspiring and entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed Lily Rabe as JR's mother who is determined that he will go to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer.

Also Christopher Lloyd as Grandpa there's a beautiful scene where crusty old smelly Grandpa gets gussied up and takes young JR to the schools "Fathers Breakfast .

I actually enjoyed The Tender Bar as much as the 2020 similar plot movie Hillbilly Elegy.

There's nothing wrong with this - it's not bad - but at the same time, there's nothing really great about it either. Just another story from the neighborhood - best part of the movie is the 70s soundtrack!

[UPDATE. AN UNBELIEVABLE AWARDS-SNUB BY THE ACADEMY!!) Clooney directs a highly capable ensemble cast in this intimate feel-good coming of age film based on the memoirs of J. R. Moehringer.

The adapted screenplay by William Monahan tells Moehringer's true story of an underdog finding his way from childhood to adulthood, while pursuing an ivy league education, and his dream of a writing career (including publishing his real-life memoirs that this film is based upon), despite the odds stacked against him of near-poverty, an alcoholic abusive father that abandoned the family, and a dysfunctional (but caring and committed) extended three-generation family.

Ben Affleck plays the boy's well-read self-educated uncle who takes over the reigns of his birth father, and together with his dedicated mother (Lily Rabe), and grandfather (Christopher Lloyd), help guide him (as best they can) along his journey through childhood to adulthood.

The story is interesting, meaningful, and ultimately inspirational, avoiding the cliche' Hollywood treatment that often makes such films unbelievable.

A low key film like this one that makes you reflect and captures your emotional involvement without manipulating is a rare treat indeed.

Clooney directs, teaming with past collaborators Martin Ruhe behind the camera, and Tanya Swerling as Editor, bringing this story to fruition in under two hours.

Oddly, a scene that was partially cut out from the middle of the film, becomes additional-footage shown while credits roll...I deducted points for this uneven editing decision, and don't understand why it wasn't simply pasted back to complete the scene. Regardless, stay with it til the end, as it's worth seeing.

Understanding the awards machine has tilted towards "agendas" of late, I'm not making a prediction for The Tender Bar. However, Affleck has already received both a Golden Globe and SAG nomination, so that at least indicates some sense will be applied this year in voting. That being said, this will be one of the most competitive years ever for Lead Actor awards... If Affleck gets nominated for an Oscar (he should), that alone is amazing. If he wins (he could), he knocks out a handful of the very best performances. Stay tuned...

[EDIT: Tinder Bar receives my "2nd Annual Oscar Snub Award" for the Academy's complete disregard for the film, and especially Ben Affleck who earned but did not receive a nomination, despite the Golden Globes and SAG Awards honoring him with such.]

Films like this don't come along every year, and I'm very thankful this one did.

Bravo to everyone involved 👏.

👍👍