Things We Lost in the Fire - quick review
 

The premise: a good family man (Brian) dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a wife (Audrey) and 2 children, and Brian's life-long best friend (Jerry) who is down on his luck due to a heroin addiction, but is very familiar with Brian's family due to their close friendship. The death brings Jerry back into Brian's family's lives.

For a film featuring a couple of Oscar winning performers, Halle Berry (Audrey) and Benecio del Toro (Jerry), the screenplay for this film is the weak point because it feels a little schizo in the way Audrey's actions push the action to produce dramatic conflict or retreat when dealing with Jerry's presence as a recovering addict, or perhaps a substitute father figure or even husband in some respects. Berry's performance is okay, but is hamstrung by the screenplay. del Toro is simply Jerry, providing a solid performance, balancing his handling of the demons of addiction and the newfound affection and sense of belonging and normalcy.

At 2 hours, it's probably about 10 minutes too long, and doesn't sugar-coat Jerry's situation, nor his impact on Brian's family.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.

Can anyone see this title and not think of the Billy Joel song? Maybe not.

It's sounds like a real downer. Does it get better (spoilers, of course)?

This movie sounds very pretentious. I might want to check it out on DVD; but I think Barry is an ok actor, not a great one by any means.

Also, I think we've run out of good names for movies. I mean, Things We Lost in the Fire? can't wait for the sequel, Things We found after the Fire.

I watched this today and was thoroughly engaged throughout. I agree with pretty much all the points raised in DVD Talk's glowing review. It's too bad this film was largely dismissed by audiences...