Yahoo News Bad Sisters star's new movie Flora and Son hits all the right notes
We're firmly in scary season with Saw X out now in cinemas and The Exorcist: Believer to come next week. Horror movies aren't for everyone though, even at Halloween, so there's always a need for something else.
Say hello to Flora and Son, Apple TV+'s new original movie led by Bad Sisters star Eve Hewson. It's the latest movie from writer-director John Carney, who's previously charmed us all with the likes of Once and Sing Street, and he's on familiar ground here.
If you've seen a Carney movie before, you'll know what to expect from Flora and Son. But just because it delivers more of the same music-based crowdpleasing warmth, familiarity doesn't matter when he's perfected the formula.
You could try to resist, but you won't be able to.
Watch Flora and Son on Apple TV+
Hewson plays single mother Flora, who shares custody, with her ex Ian (Jack Reynor), of their son Max (Orén Kinlan). Max is regularly in trouble with the police and on his final warning, so Flora attempts to find him a hobby to hopefully set him straight.
Max has zero interest in the beat-up acoustic guitar that Flora finds, but Flora thinks she might have found something that could write a new chapter in her "story". With the help of online lessons from washed-up musician Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora might have found the one thing that could help her bond with her son.
You won't win any prizes for guessing where Flora and Son ends up, although it's (slightly) less sentimental than previous Carney movies. Flora is foul-mouthed and caustic, feels trapped by being a mother and views Max as a burden. Of course, those edges soften over the movie, but it's still more of an edge than you'd expect.
Hewson is excellent in the lead role with superb comic timing and delivery as well as considerable musical talent. She builds an affecting chemistry with the charming Gordon-Levitt, not easy when most of their relationship is conducted via computer screens, but it's her connection to Kinlan that's the movie's most affecting.
If a movie with its main relationship over a computer sounds dull, Carney finds ways of sprinkling magical realism into Flora and Jeff's scenes to bring them to life. When Jeff appears on the roof with Flora during their duet 'Meet in the Middle', it's a moment that could only work well in a Carney movie.
Flora and Son won't be for everyone. Its central message of the transformative power of music to bring people together and mend relationships could be seen as cheesy, and Carney certainly doesn't shy away from that, especially at the big finale. Flora might have some cynicism, but Carney is as open-hearted as ever.
But if you're in the mood for a cosy, heartwarming and funny watch as the nights draw in, then Flora and Son will hit all the right notes.
Flora and Son is available to watch now on Apple TV+.
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