Mass Movie Review

Mass (2021)

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Written by: Fran Kranz
Directed by: Fran Kranz
Starring: Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd, Reed Birney
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Years after a violent tragedy that affects the lives of two couples in different ways, they meet face-to-face.

Verdict
This takes a difficult subject, examining it after the fact from both sides. Most of this movie takes place in just one room with four people, but it's incredibly gripping. It's going to make you feel many different things as characters reveal their experiences. The script is excellent, and it's boosted by the acting. This gives actors a chance to emote and space for us to see reactions to make this feel like an authentic conversation. The movie and performances are raw. Both couples address their situations, feelings, and emotions that stem from a tragedy that links them. With the setting, this is nothing like the typical movie.
Watch It.

Review
This drives tension from the beginning. At first a room is set up for an unknown meeting. We're left to wonder the what and why it requires privacy. Even the tag line from the movie is rather vague. The movie draws out the reveal, and it's clear this is serious. I was tempted to look up the plot because the suspense is nearly unbearable. I wondered how and when this would reveal the facts central to this plot.

Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton play Jay and Gail

I knew this movie had a gimmick of taking place in one room, but that's really the setting for the acting. Couples Jay (Jason Isaacs) and Gail (Martha Plimpton) sit across from Linda (Ann Dowd) and Richard (Reed Birney) to discuss a traumatic event. There are no distractions as this movie relies heavily on the script and acting. These actors are quite skilled, and that draws you into the story. Since the reveal comes later, I was trying to read clues by character actions. When Gail plops a box of tissues in front of Linda, the animosity is clear. Without knowing the event, actions, glances, and body language are clues to piece this together. Something happened between these people. Then I began wondering who is the victim.The movie wants you to ask that question, thinking the answer is one couple or the other. Ultimately the answers is everyone.

Reed Birney and Ann Down play Richard and Linda

This isn't a movie in the traditional sense. This is one room and four actors. It's nearly a stage play. There's a distinct power in the words and emotions behind them as they are the sole focus in the movie. There's a back and forth between the couple, a push and pull of what to say, not say, reveal or not reveal. One couple wants to see regret, but all they see are pain and fear.

This movie is incredibly gripping. I was hanging onto every word. I soon didn't notice the lack of action. It's very intense. Just when you think this is over, it comes back and hits you with one more story.

SPOILERS

I can't help but link this to We Need to Talk About Kevin. That's a rough watch that focuses on the sensational aspects of a story like this. Mass is what happens years after.

Soon into the movie I began to wonder if Jay and Gail were the victims, That was confirmed. Jay and Gail want to see regret. They want to see a couple pained at their lack of action. What they see is that Linda and Richard were scared, scared of what their son might do and what might happen to him. Their son was manipulative. They believe his lies because they wanted to, because they wanted to see the best in him.

Jay and Gail go through their questions and criticisms. Richard is clear that he's had to answer all of this before. He doesn't have answers, and he didn't know how to prevent it. Jay is mad and wants his son back. He can't get that so he wants to see the people he deems responsible suffer, to feel pain, and receive punishment. You can't fill that hole. Jay and Gail will always yearn to see punishment.

Linda refuses to admit she wasn't surprised. She thought she was a good mom, and she has another son that never had any issues. Jay wants there to be one thing, anything that could have been done to change the outcome. Richard sees it as many things contributing. Jay counters that it's a physical issue, nothing could have changed it. That's a hard thing for a parent to hear.

One, and there are many, powerful moments is when Richard states the world mourned ten but he mourned eleven. This lets you see both sides. We get to see the pain and hurt of losing your kid to violence like this, but we see the other family that not only lost their son but confronted with an act of rage, violence, and hate he unleashed before his death. That hate was flung back at them as parents. The public ridiculed and picked them apart from every angle.

Jay and Gail wanted vindication from this meeting, but they gained understanding. They came to heal, and they did, just not as they expected.