Review of Cyrus

Cyrus is a perfect example of a lot of talent with too little to do. There just wasn't enough going on in this film to keep the story moving and audiences interested. And as a big fan of the Duplass brothers' work, it really is a shame. Despite the comedy sprinkled throughout the script, Cyrus is a very serious film about a 23 year old kid without a father who is overly attatched to and protective of his mother. What makes the material darker is a smartly written subtext involving emotional manipulation and unhealthy control issues projected from Cyrus (Hill in a suprisingly delicate and solid performance) onto mom (Tomei). Truly this is their story at heart while the struggling divorcee (Reilly) haplessly wanders into their lives with noble intention and unfortunate outcome. Interesting is the issue raised about just how much is asked of women today, particularilly mothers, and even more-so with single mothers of socially maladjusted children. Tomei is brilliant in her portrayal of a middle-age woman trying earnestly and against all odds to satisfy her responsibilities to her son, her desires for herself, and the possibilities introduced by a new, promising, and essentially healthy relationship. Reilly is strong as well, playing everything from lonely and desperate to cautiously smitten to heartbrokenly defeated, to blissfully hopeful-- all convincingly. Keener receives less screen-time but as always turns in a stunning performance. (This whole acting thing just seems so easy for her.) Why then didnt this film get more mileage out of all this talent? Dubious production value aside, the film suffers most in its inability to capture and sustain any kind of energy, dramatic or comedic, striking one tone very well, but others not at all. Cyrus ultimately plays much like a very adept pianist using only 8 of 88 keys.