‘Our Son’ Movie Review: A Well-Acted, Devastating, Important Representative Drama
Photo from Vertical
From Joe Peltzer
I have long been drawn towards films that I refer to as “slice of life” productions, films that tackle realistic, tough topics and bring visibility to authentic situations often ignored in cinema. Marriage Story took a hard, emotional look at the marriage of two individuals crumbling by the minute. Pieces of a Woman shines light on the lasting effects of losing a newborn on the mother, father, and life in general. Our Son joins the ranks of such films by diving into the separation of two married men and the custody battle that ensues over their child. The film is an important milestone in queer cinema that shows the similarities between the depicted events and traditional marriages while introducing unique complexities with the utmost care and respect.
In Our Son, Nicky (Luke Evans) and Gabriel (Billy Porter) find their marriage at an impasse when Gabriel confesses that things have changed between them and that he wants to file for divorce, leading to a contentious custody battle over their 8 year-old-son and a reexamination of the love between them. Both Porter and Evans are excellent in the film, each displaying raw emotion through each and every turn. Bill Oliver’s film, which he co-wrote with Peter Nickowitz, is in highly capable hands with two actors who emote confusion and despair, yet determination over what is occurring between them. What was the catalyst for the change that has occurred in their relationship? Is someone to blame? What does this mean for their son? Our Son lays it all bare in a well-scripted, intimately paced examination similar to that of Ben Younger’s Uma Thurman and Bryan Greenberg-fronted Prime.
One aspect that most sticks out to this connoisseur of LGBTQ+ film is how Our Son avoids the commonly-tread tropes and stereotypes of community films while also tapping into relatable experiences. We have the challenging conversations with parents and family displayed, especially through Nicky’s visit home. His nephew states, ““It must be hard fighting for the right to marry then ending up in divorce court like everybody else.” Later on, Nicky’s mother (played by Kate Burton) shares her confusion as to why there is even a custody battle since it was Nicky who contributed for the surrogacy. On Gabriel’s side, you have his conversation with his mother (played by Phylicia Rashad) recalling discussions with his father (who isn’t present) regarding who takes up the traditional roles of the husband and wife in a same-sex relationship. It’s all relatable, yet amplified given the backdrop of what is occurring. Then, of course, we see Nicky blowing off steam at a club in the latter stages of the film. This is a gay film, of course.
There are times when Nicky and Gabriel are arguing that the emotions begin to stream from the television set and through the body of the viewer, the empathy hard to dismiss. I found myself profoundly impacted by the challenges faced by this loving couple who had grown out of what brought them together, with notes of Nicky’s nephew’s words rumbling around my head. This is the beauty and importance of Oliver’s work here, a poignant presentation of an exacting and unrelenting modern reality.
Our Son is a vital film for the LGBTQ+ community, one that tells of what many couples will find to be their unfortunate realities, but ends on a positive, loving note; we are often left ravaged and hopeless. Not only is this a great film, it features two of the best performances of the year from Evans and Porter. Maybe I am a sucker for heartbreaking tales, but Our Son’s genuineness puts it comfortably into my favorite category of films as one of my favorite in recent memory.
Rating: 4/5
Our Son is now playing in select theaters and will be available on digital and on demand December 15th.
