The film. stars Day, Rhodes, Lyonne, Hedlund, Morgan, Williams, Harvey and Gourrier. The film is a thought-provoking and beautifully acted one thanks to the performances given by the talent cast, especially a truly mesmerizing performance from Day.
While Daniels directs individually moving scenes in the film, he fails as a whole to create an integral, coherent or convincing drama. Don't think of it as a Best Picture wannabe, think of it as a socially-conscious picture book-something with a Caldecott medal on its cover to place on Barnes & Noble endcaps during Black History Month. Not the most subtle of movies overall, but does offer some valid insights into the evolution of modern race relations in America. A formidably cast epic that eclipses over a decade of a woman's life in a landsape of evolving racism, Daniels lets his material speak for itself, while history calls the shots. Though the film's tidy sentiments can be cloying, it's hard to remain unmoved-and unimpressed by the stubbornly authentic performance by Day, which will likely be remembered at Oscar time. There are missed opportunities and weak moments in the script to be sure, but not enough to discount it, and the stellar acting by Day is what will make this movie memorable long term. It's a shame that the excellent central storyline gets so obstructed and mucked up by all the noise, spectacle, and pageantry. Daniels' lack of self-awareness actually works in his favour here, letting the director's emotions run and resulting in a work that has fire in its belly beneath the shiny surface. This is a tough line to walk, being both upfront with your message and managing subtle critiques, but luckily for viewers Daniels manages to find the right balance and deliver a winning movie.
