"Lion" is Down Right Fantastic; Young Sunny Pawar Steals the Show

   So...there's this movie that is currently playing that happens to be nominated for a few Academy Awards, Best Picture included. For whatever reason, it isn't getting as much buzz as some of the other nominated films and that is a cryin' shame. The Garth Davis-directed adaptation Lion is one of the most emotionally-driven and well-made films of last year. The movie is based on the true account of a five-year-old Indian boy who gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of miles from his home. He survives many trials and tribulations before being adopted by a couple in Australia. Twenty-five years later, he decides to search out his lost family, weaving a narrative that is so touching, so moving, I dare you not to cry.

   I'm not even going to save what is best about this film for last, because when it comes to this movie there is one main standout, and that would be young Sunny Pawar. Sunny plays the young version of the main character Saroo. From his cute, squeaky voice to his overall ability to take direction and deliver a fantastic performance, this kid is a freakin' gem. The crux of this movie is Saroo's emotional journey and his search for his lost family. In order to have a huge emotional payoff, there has to be a strong, established foundation to the narrative. The first half of this movie has very little dialogue. Sunny has to carry the brunt of the storytelling with his performance, and he carries that weight like a champ. It is a cryin' shame that this kid isn't nominated for his work in this movie. Child actors are wild cards in my book. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and a lot of times they're just okay. Sunny is so authentic that it hurts. He never feels out of place, nor does his acting feel artificial. It's as if we were watching the real Saroo react and do the things a real kid would do, and it is fascinating. If I could only give you one particular reason to see this movie without generalizing anything, I would say go to see this kid. He's phenomenal.

   That's not to say the rest of the cast wasn't good, in fact it's quite opposite. Dev Patel plays the grown up version of Saroo and he does a fantastic job taking the baton from Sunny. He successfully harnesses the emotional struggle that the character is going through as he deals with fitting in and wanting to find his lost home. Rooney Mara, who plays Saroo's girlfriend, has such a small role, but it is so pivotal to the emotional arc of Saroo. Outside of his adoptive parents, she's his main source of emotional support. Saroo's adoptive parents are played by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham who give truly wonderful, grounded performances. There is a scene in particular when a recluse Saroo, who after months of solitude, visits his adoptive mother who is so emotionally drained from dealing with his adoptive brother running off. The maternal aspect of the character drips off of every word in their exchange, and it is so raw and touching that you can't help but get the feels. Kidman shows so much depth with equal amounts of restraint that it never approaches the point of over-dramatic.  The acting in this film is truly top notch, and you would expect nothing less from an Oscar-contending film. The story is so emotionally heavy that one minor mishap would take you out of the experience, and the cast across the board takes on the challenge and loses themselves to the story, as will you when you see it.

   The film is beautifully shot, well-written and well-directed. Adapted from the novel written by the real life Saroo, the movie doesn't glorify the harsh realities the characters go through for the sake of entertainment. At the end of the day, that is the ultimate goal of the film, true. However, it never feels over-the-top or unrealistic. It feels completely authentic, which makes it easy for the audience to truly engage with the story. It's an incredible story in and of itself, almost unbelievable at times, but that just feeds into the realism. I can't recommend this movie enough. I wish I had seen this when it came out last year because it would have made my top 10 list for sure. Production-wise, you couldn't ask for a better crafted film. The touching true story, the outstanding performances, the overall direction and emotional narrative makes Lion one of the best films I've seen in a long time.

   Go see this movie.
   I mean it.