Writer & Director: Ben Lewin
Starring: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy
Review Written By: Michael Dalton
Starring: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy
Review Written By: Michael Dalton
Films about people who want to lose their virginity are normally reserved for the Judd Apatow, puerile, man-boy comedy films such as The 40 Year Old Virgin (Which could make an interesting double bill with this film) However in The Sessions this piece of motivation is given a unique, charming and heartfelt spin. John Hawkes plays Mark O’ Brien, a real life figure who was a poet and journalist, with this film being based on one of his articles, “On Seeing a Sex Surrogate” At the age of six he was struck with polio and has lived his life paralyzed from the neck down and reliant on an iron lung. After failed attempts at romance and due to research for an article about sex and the disabled, Mark O’ Brien finally finds his opportunity to physically connect to another woman through the form of a sex therapist (Played by Helen Hunt) Receiving permission, advice and comfort from his priest Father Brendan (William H. Macy) O’ Brien embarks upon six sessions, that will change his life.
A plot about a disabled man seeking sex sounds like this movie could be two things it is absolutely not, pornographic and emotionally manipulative. While, the film is in essence manipulating your emotions, these emotions are constantly earned and genuine, with the moments that instigate them never being overplayed. You immediately feel sorry for Mark due to his disability however for the rest of the film your emotions come not from his disability, but from the range of emotions that Hawkes is able to portray using just his face. Hawkes gives an absolutely transformative performance here and one that I hope and deserves to be met with much acclaim this awards season.
Hawkes portrays a very inspirational character, one who maintains his sense of humour and optimistic outlook on life despite what it has given him. You don’t just like Mark O’ Brien because you feel sorry for him, you like Mark O’ Brien because John Hawkes portrays him as an inspirational, real, likable and relatable person. The best shots of this film are close-ups on John Hawkes’ face. Seeing this film at the Zurich Film Festival I had the luck and pleasure to see John Hawkes two rows in front of me on stage, speaking before the film. It is the mark of how great an actor he is, that the man I saw in person, was worlds away in every sense, from the man I saw on screen. His performance is one that in any other year would easily take the Oscar and I’m hoping that he still does in what would be a huge, yet worthy, upset.
A plot about a disabled man seeking sex sounds like this movie could be two things it is absolutely not, pornographic and emotionally manipulative. While, the film is in essence manipulating your emotions, these emotions are constantly earned and genuine, with the moments that instigate them never being overplayed. You immediately feel sorry for Mark due to his disability however for the rest of the film your emotions come not from his disability, but from the range of emotions that Hawkes is able to portray using just his face. Hawkes gives an absolutely transformative performance here and one that I hope and deserves to be met with much acclaim this awards season.
Hawkes portrays a very inspirational character, one who maintains his sense of humour and optimistic outlook on life despite what it has given him. You don’t just like Mark O’ Brien because you feel sorry for him, you like Mark O’ Brien because John Hawkes portrays him as an inspirational, real, likable and relatable person. The best shots of this film are close-ups on John Hawkes’ face. Seeing this film at the Zurich Film Festival I had the luck and pleasure to see John Hawkes two rows in front of me on stage, speaking before the film. It is the mark of how great an actor he is, that the man I saw in person, was worlds away in every sense, from the man I saw on screen. His performance is one that in any other year would easily take the Oscar and I’m hoping that he still does in what would be a huge, yet worthy, upset.
However what is equally satisfying to see is the relationships that Mark O’ Brien forges over the course of the film with the characters of Helen Hunt and William H. Macy. While Hawkes and Hunt are frequently naked during many of their scenes, you will remember the psychological rather than the psychical aspects of their scenes. The sex is not erotized or there to arouse you, it is simply the action that happens to drive this story. Like any good film, The Sessions is not about what it is about. The film may be, “about” sex but it is not about sex. The Sessions is a charming, sweet film about human connection and one that will tug violently at the heartstrings of anybody who watches it.
Helen Hunt was given the Golden Eye award at the Zurich Film Festival, right before the film began. Many are including her in the film’s Oscar conversations and I can see why. Hunt plays a very supportive, realistic and likable character. She is not developed as much as she could have been in regards to her character’s personal life, however this is very much O’ Brien’s story and I can understand and support the film’s narrative and characterization focus being on him.
Helen Hunt was given the Golden Eye award at the Zurich Film Festival, right before the film began. Many are including her in the film’s Oscar conversations and I can see why. Hunt plays a very supportive, realistic and likable character. She is not developed as much as she could have been in regards to her character’s personal life, however this is very much O’ Brien’s story and I can understand and support the film’s narrative and characterization focus being on him.
What may have been my favourite aspect of the film however was the friendship between William H. Macy and John Hawkes. Not only was this where most of the film’s comedy resides but they were also scenes of an incredibly warm, perfectly written and well-acted nature. It was also refreshing to see a depiction of religion in a film, that isn’t cynical or snarky, with O’ Brien’s faith never being something that is called into question, and Father Brendan being one of the characters who is there for O’ Brien and understanding of O’ Brien, all the way through the film. While William H. Macy gives a good performance, he is not given much to work with beyond the surface value and he has definitely given and will give better performances. One of the subplots that didn’t really go anywhere and in fact need not have been shown at all, was the hint of a relationship forming between O’ Brien’s assistant and the owner of a motel O’ Brien must begin using for his therapy.
As well as seeing Helen Hunt and John Hawkes before the film began, I also saw the film’s writer and director Ben Lewin. Lewin perfectly balances the comedy and the drama in this film, with one of the film’s more emotional moments being followed by one of its funniest, with the transition not seeming at all jarring or contradictory. Lewin has written a tight screenplay here, which while it could have developed its supporting characters more, moves along at a quick pace and is the perfect length for a film with a story of this kind. Lewin has crafted a very respectful, tasteful and sensitive film, one that never bored me and one that never hits a false note in regards to its portrayal of disability. Lewin, who has himself experienced polio, has made a film that I am sure O’ Brien would be, and his family are proud of. While the film is arguably visually stale, the script and the performances shine so brightly and 50% of that is due to the fact that Lewin doesn’t attempt to make himself the star, by taking flashy and stylistic flourishes with the camera. Therefore, any negatives I have with Lewin’s handling of the material, development of supporting characters and lack of visual dynamism. In fact reveal themselves to be positive due to the perfect pace and brilliant performances they result in.
As well as seeing Helen Hunt and John Hawkes before the film began, I also saw the film’s writer and director Ben Lewin. Lewin perfectly balances the comedy and the drama in this film, with one of the film’s more emotional moments being followed by one of its funniest, with the transition not seeming at all jarring or contradictory. Lewin has written a tight screenplay here, which while it could have developed its supporting characters more, moves along at a quick pace and is the perfect length for a film with a story of this kind. Lewin has crafted a very respectful, tasteful and sensitive film, one that never bored me and one that never hits a false note in regards to its portrayal of disability. Lewin, who has himself experienced polio, has made a film that I am sure O’ Brien would be, and his family are proud of. While the film is arguably visually stale, the script and the performances shine so brightly and 50% of that is due to the fact that Lewin doesn’t attempt to make himself the star, by taking flashy and stylistic flourishes with the camera. Therefore, any negatives I have with Lewin’s handling of the material, development of supporting characters and lack of visual dynamism. In fact reveal themselves to be positive due to the perfect pace and brilliant performances they result in.
Ultimately, The Sessions is a unique, mature, sensitive and moving film. It contains one of the best performances, if not the best performance, I have seen all year from John Hawkes, with sturdy support from the likes of Helen Hunt and William H. Macy. The film never outstays its welcome and is tastefully, respectfully and effectively made by Ben Lewin. It is not a perfect film, however if you were to watch this film and say you weren’t emotionally moved whether to laughter or to tears, you’re lying.
This was in a way, the perfect film for me to begin my Zurich Film Festival. It symbolizes everything these sort of festivals should be about, bringing to light films and performances of a unique nature, that would be missed by the mainstream.
This was in a way, the perfect film for me to begin my Zurich Film Festival. It symbolizes everything these sort of festivals should be about, bringing to light films and performances of a unique nature, that would be missed by the mainstream.
Summary: A year best performance from John Hawkes, as well as a respectful realization from Ben Lewin, ensures that The Sessions is one of the year’s more charming and emotional films.
Rating: 7+/10
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Disagree with this review? Give us your thoughts in the comments below
Rating: 7+/10
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Disagree with this review? Give us your thoughts in the comments below
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