X
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- R
- Diamond Films
- 1 h 41 m
- 2024
- R
- Diamond Films
- 1 h 41 m
Summary Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact o...
Directed By: Tony Goldwyn
Written By: Tony Spiridakis
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- R
- Diamond Films
- 1 h 41 m
- 2024
- R
- Diamond Films
- 1 h 41 m
Ezra
57
4.2
Where to Watch
Summary Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact o...
Directed By: Tony Goldwyn
Written By: Tony Spiridakis
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
57
50% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
57
50% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Even with everything else going for it, Ezra either fails or succeeds based on the title character’s performance, and William Fitzgerald knocks it out of the park. As with any child acting performance, Goldwyn deserves a share of the credit for getting exactly what was needed from the young actor.
Each character choice in “Ezra” is plausible because it comes from a place of emotional honesty, both in the script and the performances.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 User Ratings
4.2
29% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
24% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
47% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 User Ratings
4.2
29% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
24% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
47% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
IN A NUTSHELL:
The story is based on a true story and is about a comedian who co-parents an autistic son with his ex-wife. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing road trip.
Already, the film has been nominated for and won awards at several film festivals. The movie was directed by Tony Goldwyn, who also has a small role in the film, and co-produces the film distributed by Bleecker Street.
THINGS I LIKED:
The cast is terrific and includes especially great performances by Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, and the young William A. Fitzgerald.
Robert De Niro is always great in all of his movies.
We also get entertaining performances from actors who play small roles such as Rainn Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, and Vera Farmiga.
Real-life stand-up comedians perform bits during the movie.
There are some charming moments that just might cause your eyes to leak. Bring tissues just in case.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
Soooo much yelling.
I was surprised that the movie poster left off Rose Byrne since she's a huge part of the movie. This is one of her best performances.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Lots of profanity, including too many F-bombs
We see a kid pee on a picture on the wall
Some violence
A kid gets kit by a car.
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This movie is receiving mixed reviews from the critics, but like usual the movie critics get it wrong. Ezra is a poignant, decent movie with just the right amount of drama. Most important, it portrays autistic kids accurately. Autistic kids don't need antipsychotic drugs, especially if the kid doesn't consent. Parents need to think long and hard before going down that path on whether its really needed. Similarly, autistic kids will do much better in life if they stay in public schools with non-autistic kids. This father was a hero and I cried at a touching moment at the end of the movie.
Written from an adult (40+) reviewer who has high-functioning autism.
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While all of the grown-ups turn in admirable performances, the heart of the movie lies in a staggering debut from newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, a preteen diagnosed with autism and ADHD himself.
By Emma Keates
FULL REVIEW
Ezra is heartwarming and funny, but it just never quite manages to reach the level of profound insight that its story seems to strive for.
What keeps the story sweet is the chemistry between Cannavale and Fitzgerald, who build a bond worth cherishing.
The film gets within striking distance of new territory for its subject matter but stalls out due to its pat storytelling.
By Charles Lyons-Burt
FULL REVIEW
Starring De Niro and Bobby Cannavale as two generations of “whaddya talking about!?” Noo Yawkers and directed by sometimes actor Tony Goldwyn, so much of Ezra feels like a “favour” film – a good excuse for a well-liked director to persuade friends to hang out with each other for a few weeks of shooting, without delivering something worthy of their collected talents.
It's tough watching one of the greatest actors of the past 50 years get older.
But De Niro hangs in there and doesn't embarass himself when this well intentioned story veers off track and becomes schmaltzy and cliche. There is a story here that needs to be told. I don't fully understand autism, but I defintely understand family dusfunction. The child actor playing Ezra broke my heart. I just wish the story could have been a bit more believable. But I'm still glad I watched it despitse some of it's flaws/
Report
Bobby Cannavale plays a comedian with an 11-year-old autistic son (an impressive debut for William A. Fitzgerald, who is on the spectrum himself). After some setbacks, he ends up taking his son on a road trip. This film is very much about a father fighting for his son's acceptance, disputing the attempts to minimize his uniqueness. Cannavale creates a volatile, but devoted character (although in a common complaint about comics in movies…his set is not funny). The rest of the cast turns in solid performances, including Robert De Niro as the grandfather and Rose Byrne as the mom. Director Tony Goldwyn has kept the focus on the emotions, but there's more message here than touching drama. Fitzgerald is compelling and the theme is admirable, but some of the plot seems forced and the film is more earnest than moving. BTW, stay for the early credits to see the payoff.
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Production Company
Closer Media,
Wayfarer Studios
Release Date May 31, 2024
Duration 1 h 41 m
Rating R
Awards
Sun Valley Film Festival, US
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Boulder International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cleveland International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination