User reviews

Well done, well scripted movie that tugs at the heart strings. The IMDB current synopsis (09/09) is totally off. In a cast of heavy hitters, the novice kid playing Ezra steals the show. The script is inspired by a true story, sometimes poignant, sometimes heavy handed, with well timed and well delivered levity. Casting was great with a few surprises, including Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who played smaller but important roles to the story. Tony Goldwyn directed and was in the movie, which was written by his life long friend. It's the story of an autistic child, family struggle, divorced parents, understanding the past, vulnerability and a bit of redemption along the way.

I had the feeling that somewhere, in the process of the movie, I am seeing another version of Rain Man. It has some plot lines and a one of the main characters has autism, but this movie only can be flattered for being compared in any way to the timeless masterpiece and exciting movie with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

Ezra is a kid that has autism and while he is trying to live his life as a regular kid, his divorced parents are investing a lot of work to make everything tick well for their son. They try to keep him in a regular school but Ezra and his environment are having troubles to mash-up with each other.

His father - Max is a stand-up comedy dude, who live with his father. They both have unsolved issues between themselves and their past, but this subject is touched microscopely, in order to give some background for both of their statuses. The mother is dating another guy and Ezra is living with her, but someday the plot thickens, due to a McGuffin, within one of the scenes and throws away Max and Ezra to a strange and short road trip.

During this trip Max is learning a lot of his son and on himself, while other characters evolves a little bit more, in an instant plot catalysator moves. This is too short of a movie to get the characters to get arced well, but surprisingly they manage to stay interesting, compelling and very emotional and heartwarming.

Underrated Bobby Cannavale is making one of his best performances, while running around and getting crazy, like his character should react to all plot scenarios. Rose Byrne is great, as usual, but not very noticeable and Bobby De-Niro is fabulous as he is being expected of. Great chemistry between all the characters and also from young William A. Fitzgerald, that plays Ezra.

Tony Goldwyn is making a great work for not loosing his audience to over drama, by taking a large part for the comedy in this movie - letting his viewers to feel authentic and still get excited from the small and captivating moments, that the audience should get excited from. A small, heartwarming and uplifting movie.

I'm a fan of sweet, simple stories with memorable characters and I found all of that in Ezra. Bobby Cannavale turns in a magnificent performance in the role of Max, a struggling standup comic co-parenting his autistic 11-year-old son Ezra with his ex-wife Jenna played by the always fabulous Rose Byrne. When Ezra's outbursts spin out of control at school, a doctor suggests putting him on a special medication. Jenna is receptive to the idea, but Max is having none of it and flees with Ezra, taking him on a cross-country road trip with hopes of appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. It's a trip that proves life-changing for both Max and Ezra.

I was pleasantly surprised to find actual comedians here. I actually watch Emma Willmann's stuff, and it seems like she even wrote her own material here. The movie convincingly portrays its themes, highlighting the struggles of parenting, especially in the context of divorce and a child with mental health issues. We also see the valid reasons behind the parents' disagreements. They both wanted what was best.

The film exceeded my expectations. The conflicts felt realistic, and the acting was good, particularly from William A. Fitzgerald in his first movie role. He was so good that I hope he doesn't get typecast like the dude from The Good Doctor. Overall, the cast did well. Robert De Niro's introduction was funny, and he had some great moments. He's excellent at playing father roles, as I noticed in Silver Linings Playbook.

The humor was well-balanced, with the best laughs coming from moments outside the stand-up comedy bits. I'm glad the movie didn't overdo the jokes, even though one of the main characters is a comedian. It balances out with the dramatic moments without overshadowing them.

While the movie didn't leave a lasting impact, I still think it's worth watching. It was a pleasant surprise since I expected it to be overly sentimental, but it turned out much better. One of the cool things about mystery movie screenings is discovering unexpectedly good films, even if they're not ones I was eagerly anticipating. I'm a bit conflicted about giving it 3 or 3½ stars.

Everything starts escalating with the autistic kid having troubles at school.

Well-drawn characters on all sides of the boy's personal realities are certain that they must impose their own way of assisting him, leaving him as a subject without any freedom of choice..

• The authorities, deciding based on their professional experience and tutoring, responsible to observe rules and regulations, and placing little empathy on human considerations, illegitimately and abusively use their authority to undermine the rights and obligations of parents.

• the dad, a one man show comedian, who reacts emotionally against authorities, doctors, specialists, knowing rationally that he has to act irrationally to remove the kid from a subordinate law-abiding care system.

• The mother, conformist, yielding to the authorities to some extent, fighting her own emotions and hysteria to avoid escalating the situation.

• The grandfather, torn between his son and his wife, worried about the parents and the child, plagued by his own demons as a result of his own failings.

This results in an entertaining 90-minute combination of typical atypical personalities portrayed with reason, passion and humour, as well as the personality of the kid attempting to navigate like a fish away from the centre of this unwanted attention.

I am sceptical of movies concerning children's psychological issues, mostly because psychology is not an accurate science, like physics, chemistry or mathematics, but it is elevated to the same level of undisputable authority. Those harmed are frequently over-victimized and emotionally manipulated.

This was spot on; the director and actors' outstanding performances entirely changed my biased perception.

The film, in a beautiful crescendo with no wasted moments and a lot of scenery changes, moves from interesting to capturing my attention to retaining it until the very end.

He's read the New York Times since he was 5 and can eat only with plastic silverware. That's Ezra, the film is Ezra, and Ezra is autistic. This new melodrama from Hollywood, directed by Tony Goldwyn, is a tearjerker in its best form: so likeable is dad, Max (Bobby Cannavale in his career high), so fetchingly gruff his grandpa (Robert De Niro), so loveable Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald) that you root for them from the first frame to the last.

Max doesn't want Ezra to be put in a special school, so in his usually off-kilter way, he kidnaps Ezra to take him to California away from the cold-hearted child services and to appear as a comedian on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Despite the challenge of an Amber Alert, the fugitives manage to make the odyssey with grandpa's help and that of the endearing mother (Rose Byrne), divorced from Max but loving both Ezra and him. That she accepts the authorities' decision to drug Ezra and place him in a special school stretches credibility given the questionable authorities.

Although some of these situations seem like setups for pulling at the heart, the film peppers each with a reality that proclaims how we could easily be in the same situation. Max often acts like a child, while the child acts like an adult. When Max attacks the principal, the script seems unreal.

However, the film successfully shows not only the rough side, but also the charming side of autism, much as Rainman did. In other words, humanity outweighs film formula.

Life constantly gives Max chances while he tends to blow the opportunities. While being a stand-up comedian who earns a gig on Kimmel, he has some of the worst jokes ever, such as finding his inner child who happens to have a gun.

One of the memorable segments is De Niro showing his considerable chops when he apologizes to Max for being an emotionally distant father. It's the old Travis first-rate acting even when it feels like writer Tony Spiridakis is forcing the moment and its emotion.

The movie Ezra is a stellar summer outing with excellent acting and caution about being a parent and bringing up an autistic child. The imperfections are negligible when you consider its strengths.

Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn, stars Bobby Cannavale as Max Bernal, with Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne, and William Fitzgerald in key roles, and has a runtime of 105 minutes. The film tells the story of a father navigating the challenges of co-parenting his autistic son, Ezra, through a heartfelt cross-country road trip.

Initially, the movie threw me off with a somewhat cliché start. The plot was set into motion by decisions that felt irrational and not entirely believable, making it difficult to get fully immersed right away. However, as the story unfolded, Ezra managed to win me over. The narrative gradually moved away from the typical setup and developed into a more nuanced exploration of family, connection, and personal struggles.

One of the film's biggest strengths is the performances from the entire cast. Bobby Cannavale and William Fitzgerald lead the charge with compelling portrayals, and you can feel every emotion emanating from their characters. Robert De Niro and Rose Byrne add depth to the supporting cast, and all the actors bring a sincerity to their roles that makes the story engaging. Each scene is given room to breathe, allowing the characters' emotions to resonate without feeling rushed.

The film's pacing is another highlight, as it never felt hurried or forced. This careful approach allowed Ezra to evoke some truly heartfelt emotions, making the viewer feel invested in the journey of Max and his son. It's clear that Tony Goldwyn's direction and Tony Spiridakis's writing aimed to capture the raw and tender moments of parenting, and for the most part, they succeeded.

In conclusion, despite a rocky start, Ezra finds its footing and delivers a touching, emotional journey. The strong performances and well-paced storytelling make it a movie worth watching. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Sometimes people think I'm a fool for not answering them, but I do respond internally, often with quotes from my favorite books and movies... just like Ezra.

Ezra is a film that beautifully weaves together the story of three generations of autism within a single family. It's brought to life by the masterful direction of Tony Goldwyn, whose talent never fails to impress me, and written by Tony Spiridakis, who is himself a parent of an autistic child.

Tony Goldwyn has assembled an incredible cast. It was heartwarming to see him reunite with Whoopi Goldberg after "Ghost," along with the brilliant Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, and the always-reliable Robert De Niro in supporting roles.

But the true magic of the film lies in the performances of Bobby Cannavale, who proves what a remarkable actor he can be when given the chance, his real-life partner Rose Byrne, and the astonishing William Fitzgerald.

Director Tony Goldwyn insisted on casting an autistic actor to play Ezra, which was no easy feat, as Hollywood tends to shy away from decisions that increase legal liability. The film's co-producer, Alex Plank, is also on the autism spectrum. The goal was not only to make an authentic film but also to create an accessible film set for neurodivergent actors and crew members. Under Plank's guidance, everyone on set participated in autism training sessions throughout the production.

The film's cinematography, handled by Daniel Moder, is a visual treat with its story-driven use of color and camera work.

Unlike the usual (and frankly offensive/misleading) autism-centric films, "Ezra" takes a more accurate path, embracing neurodiversity, and has deepened my respect for Tony Goldwyn. The film avoids the common tropes and stereotypes associated with autism, instead offering a nuanced and authentic portrayal of the challenges and joys of living with autism. It celebrates the unique strengths and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, while also acknowledging the difficulties they face in a world that often misunderstands and stigmatizes them.

In conclusion, "Ezra" is a heartwarming and thought-provoking film that sheds light on the complexities of autism with sensitivity and compassion. It is a must-see for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

In angsty drama "Ezra" titular young William A Fitzgerald's autism causes increasing issues, which his divorced parents (Bobby Cannavale (stand-up comedian) & Rose Byrne (now with bf Tony Goldwyn)) disagree on how best to handle. So, supported by the likes of his own father Robert DeNiro and pals Rainn Wilson & Vera Farmiga, dad takes off with son on an NY to LA road-trip... with ex-wife & the FBI in pursuit. It's well performed (props to that fine cast - also inc Whoopi Goldberg & Jimmy Kimmell) and beautifully shot (props to director Goldwyn) but sadly writer Tony Spiridakis lays the schmaltz on thick, making this one ultimately too saccharine for many tastes.

The movie is OK, there's some funny parts, I liked the scenes with Rainn Wilson. Actually I liked most of the movie, but the second half or so really fell off. I'm surprised it's taken this long for the release for the edit to still be here it's at. Some of the later scenes feel rushed, or just forced. Some of the dialogue is just not very organic, like they had some emotional moments they wanted, but they don't feel right, like the scene just didn't merit that kind of response to what was happening on screen, I don't know, it just was too much at times, too sappy. The ending and resolution to the story is pretty terrible, just too much is all I have to say. Really isn't bad, but it wasn't all that interesting of a story to begin with, and it wasn't done very well.

I don't understand the ones that hated this to me it's one of the most heartwarming, quite relatable, and wonderful tearjerker; I'm probably one of few that cried a couple times during this. I have had stomach pain most the day but I love crying to movies I sympathize with and felt sad I don't have a great dad like Bobby Cannavale's character even Robert De Niro was magnificent in this!

I'm fine with being in the minority that loved this a lot to me anything about someone on the spectrum hits the spot and this is one of the best ones I've seen. I quote movies often, I've had meltdowns, I have sensory to certain foods, and I was forced into special needs classes at a young age. I genuinely hope Ezra gets appreciated truly deserves it.

It's a drama about raising an autistic child set in Hoboken, New Jersey, rural Michigan, Nebraska, and Hollywood, California, in the 2020s. Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a struggling standup comic in the process of divorcing his wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne), who now lives with Bruce (Tony Goldwyn), a lawyer. Max and Jenna share custody of Ezra (William Fitzgerald), an 11-year-old child trying to integrate into a public school. Max, who has a volatile temper, lives with his father, Stan (Robert De Niro); Max's mother long ago left the family for reasons that come up in the film. Whoopi Goldberg has a cameo as Max's agent.

Ezra has been acting out, and the school wants to move him to a special needs school. Max resists this and kidnaps Ezra and begins a cross-country trip. Along the way, he learns he might have a gig on Jimmy Kimmel Live and that an Amber Alert has been put out on him. Max and Ezra make stops with two of Max's old friends--Nick (Rainn Wilson) and Grace (Vera Farmiga), and Grace's daughter, Ruby (Matilda Lawler). Max and Ezra make it to Hollywood, but so does the law.

"Ezra" has a lot going for it. William Fitzgerald, who is on the spectrum, is fantastic. Bobby Cannavale's character's volatility, which gets neatly wrapped up at the end, is less believable, but Rose Byrne and Matilda Lawler are also excellent. Vera Farmiga's role begs for more context.

"Ezra" does seem like a solid portrayal of a family dealing with an exceptional child. "Ezra" is billed as a comedy-drama but isn't. It's a drama. I didn't find Max's stage humor funny; instead, I found it to be splattering anger.

It must be challenging to tell a fictional story about a boy with autism and make it authentic. Director Tony Goldwyn and writer Tony Spiridakis (who drew on his own experience as a parent of a child with autism) have done that with Ezra. Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a standup comedian who struggles to raise his autistic son, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald). Max has very different views with his ex-wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne), on parenting Ezra. Additionally, Max and his father (played by Robert De Niro) have a tense relationship. And when Ezra is placed in a "special" school, Max illegally takes Ezra on a road trip on his way to an audition for a comedy gig. And, of course, a great deal of drama ensues.

The family dynamics, the challenge of parenting a child with autism, and the demands of personal growth are explored with sensitivity and compassion. Many people have praised Ezra as an accurate portrayal of autism. The performance by the young Fitzgerald in his acting debut is stunningly good. Cannavale and De Niro are also excellent in their roles. It's great to see De Niro in one of his best performances for some time. And Rose Byrne does a good job as Ezra's mother, although her character does seem to be underutilised.

Goldwyn's direction balances emotional depth with personal story telling, but sometimes, some of the plot seems to be a bit extraneous to the central story. And the narrative occasionally ventures into cliche. But, overall, it's a warm and heartfelt story that moves along at a good pace, although the final act of the film does feel a bit drawn out.

There have been other movies similar to Ezra, such as The Peanut Butter Falcon. But what makes this one stand out is its feeling of authenticity. If you're interested in family dramas, and particularly if you are interested in neurodiversity, you will find this a compelling watch. Despite some of its narrative flaws, its sincerity and depth make this one worth checking out.

A very safe movie by Goldwin, a very comfortable movie to watch with the family because has no swearing, no sex, no drugs, no heavy topic, and that's fine, we need sometimes movies like this, movies that are easy to enjoy, plus you have De Niro and Canavale amazing and touching performances and you have a solid 7/10

The story is the basic father and son travel movie, he is just the kidnapper of his own kid and Robert De Niro is in a couple of scenes getting angry and he is fine, the mother is actually the best character in the whole movie, Byrne is fantastic as this sympathetic young mother and there is basically nothing wrong with the movie, its just a safe and guarantee movie that's you will enjoy ok.

Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale) and his wife Jenna (Rose Byrne) are getting a divorce while trying to raise their autistic son Ezra. He's a standup comedian trying to get a spot on Kimmel. He has a long troubled relationship with his father Stan (Robert De Niro).

Some may have issues with the portrayal of autism. I like to think that there is a spectrum and all kinds of situations can happen. The more frustrating character is Max and his self-destructive nature. He has some real personal issues that are outside of his son. These are good actors and these relationships are substantive. As for the standup comedy part, he is not actually funny and that is a problem. This has a lot of good elements, but some of it is a bit troublesome.

I think movies about mental afflictions keep getting better and more helpful to people who suffer from them, as we move away from cartoonish stigma of the late 20th century when it comes to mental illness. Ezra is no exception in the way it handles portraying autism. And more poignantly, the way it portrays a cast of characters who all have different takes on this "disability". As someone on the spectrum it felt liberating and a fresh take and it made me cry a LOT but not like in a tragic way. IDK.

Oh! My review needs more characters to post. What else can I say? I saw the premiere at TIFF and the little boy actor was there and omg he's the cutest in real life and reminded me exactly of his character.

I was fortunate to watch a screening of Ezra at the Boulder International Film Festival with both Tony Goldwyn and Tony Spiridakis in attendance. This story is a work of love between these two men who are lifelong friends, and tells a loose version of the story of Tony Spiridakis and his son Demetri.

This movie, although humorous, is not a comedy, but instead the story of how far a father's love for his child will take him. It also opens your eyes to the world of Autism, and some of the struggles and tough decions these families are faced with. Additionally you see the importance of friendship, family and small acts of kindness and the difference all three can make.

Bobby Cannavale and William Fitzgerald are outstanding. It is hard to believe this is William Fitzgerald's first acting role! A truly well written and acted story.

Let me start off by saying that I've never watched a movie where so many people just got up and walked out of the theater halfway through. And honestly, I should have walked out as well. Let's start with the one positive- the acting was good. Now for the bad- the story is terrible and doesn't have a point. The entire movie just wandered everywhere. It was frustrating and depressing and seemed like an instructional video on how not to help an autistic child. It was basically a movie where you watch a father self destruct and then some how turn it around in the last couple minutes of the movie. Basically the entire movie was depressing and frustrating until the last 10 minutes where it is all rainbows and unicorns which didn't make any sense. Avoid this movie at all costs. I attended with my wife who works with autistic children and my 3 kids (ages 16-22). We all agreed that this was one of the worst movies we have ever seen.

As a surprise movie (no idea the name or story) AMC offered this on a Monday night. I went out of curiosity. The movie gets a hold if you and your drawn in to each of the well developed characters. Movies based on a true story are always my favorite, this one did not disappoint! The father's love is incredible as he sees his autistic as just that, his son. He meets him on every level and the relationship is pure joy! The parents of Ezra are not always in agreement but their mutual love for their son is equal. The actor who plays Ezra does an outstanding job in his role which is a tough role. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Not sure why the R rating unless it was for some language.

So much wasted talent, could have been great. Just a waste of time. Way too long. Boring. Many better pictures out there to spend your time with. Great concept with poor execution. This movie never made me laugh. This movie never made me cry. This movie never even made me smile. This movie made me sad. I would not watch this again even if it is free. Broken marriages and disabled children are too real for me. Ezra does not create entertainment. Autism is not entertaining. Autism is a real issue. Divorce is a real issue. All families face challenges. Thank you for reading this. I hope Hollywood gets the message from the American people. Thanks.

I saw this as part of the AMC Unseen screening and to my shock I had never heard of this film before. Typically being the movie fan that I am I tend to hear about a lot of movies, but somehow this one slipped through the cracks. I was very skeptical when the movie had the intro from Tony Goldwyn, but did a super quick IMDb search to see who was in it and figured it would be good. Boy am I glad I decided to see this screening because it was very good. I am not parent, but watching this movie made me think of what would my dad do in this situation. The movie is very heartwarming. Bobby Canavale and the rest of the star studded cast help make this seemingly dramatic plot line into a very enjoyable dramedy. I really enjoyed this movie and hope to everyone will give this movie a chance.

So the movie focuses on how much of a hard time adults have with an autistic kid. And how little they really get it.

I know there's a lot of neurodivergent folk working in and on this movie, but meh. I guess we're not cut out from the same tree after all (with sarcasm).

The film kinda has a modern thinking spirit but I'll repeat it once more: you don't really have to teach a child to look into people's eyes and forcefully surprise hug them to love them, and to feel loved by them. You need to make schools and the world more accessible for different people, not just the boring majority. Start with attitudes.

I'd like to see neurodivergent folks in movies without the neurodivergent part being the center stage and root of all problems for everyone around.

Kudos to the kid though, superb job!