Causeway (2022) User Reviews (121)

Was that Jennifer Lawrence???

[DukeEman · 8/10 · 4 November 2022]

An observational drama on an injured soldier's return to a broken home. The subsequent recovery process through befriending another lost soul, and making family amends in this thought provoking drama that leaves it to the viewer's discretion...

There is no melodrama or hissy-fits about poor me from Jennifer Lawrence as Lynsey, downplaying the role to the point where you forget the actor and get caught up in the emotions of the character. And that goes to the whole cast, who played it in tune to the subdued thoughtful tone of the film.

There is no riveting story here, just performances that felt so real without being too loud. One for the film school...

Great Movie, Even Better Soundtrack

[bwkfnckxj · 7/10 · 30 December 2022]

As you would expect from A24, a quiet, not overdramatised film. Jennifer Lawrence shines, especially in the small moments, like the scene with her brother. In addition to the two strong main characters, the story also features interestingly written supporting characters such as the mother or the brother, about whom we only learn fragments of news. The original soundtrack by Alex Somers is particularly well done, really outstanding, if not the best I have heard in a cinema film this year. The rest of the background music, which deviates from the original soundtrack, unfortunately feels out of place. Look and camerawork simple but effective. 7/10.

Soulful sleeper. Maybe not for everyone.

[jaimemedina-36288 · 8/10 · 13 December 2022]

But I enjoyed it. It's pace is studied. There's a tenderness to the way the story unfolds. Lawrence plays it straight if somewhat somber in her delivery. And I think this sets the tone all the way through the movie. There's very little deviation from the baseline of her recovery.

Brian Tyree Henry seems to hit on the same frequency. But the chemistry between him and Lawrence is real. The dialogue is slack and natural. A wonderful study in character that charmed me from the beginning.

I appreciate movies like this with no pretension or great overarching theme. It's a simple human film about two shattered lives that find some solace between them. I loved it for that; for all the things that's it's missing. What remains is a beautiful story.

A well treated slow, simple plot. Jennifer excels.

[madanmarwah · 7/10 · 25 November 2022]

This is a slow, sad, sentimental and sweet plot ( not a story really) about Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence) who suffers from the effects of trauma after returning from the war in Afghanistan. ( PTSD) .She was caught in an explosion there which gave her a brain injury. Now she is trying to rehabilitate herself at her hometown in America. Director Lila Neugebauer presents a straightforward narrative as Lynsey attempts to rehabilitate herself. It is indeed creditable that the director has kept away from melodramatic and tear jerking scenes. Jennifer undergoes physiotherapy sessions to be able to walk and acts well to convey the exhaustion, pain and stress her character feels. Then again despite her traumatic experience in Afghanistan, she wants to get redeployed due to a dysfunctional relationship with her mother at home.( On her return from rehab Jennifer doesn't even get a hug or a comforting word from mom.) We have a paradoxical situation where she wants to go back to the war zone as she is not happy at home. A good part of the movie shows the friendship between Jennifer and Brian Tyree Henry, an automobile mechanic. Both are leading stressful lives and have a backstory to tell and both appear to be mirror images of each other in a way. Both are going through a process of healing of their turbulent past. There is a palpable comfort level seen as they spend time over a beer talking about mundane things. Both artists have given touching performances and may pick up awards. Jennifer excels in the scene where she persuades the neurosurgeon for a waiver so that she can go for redeployment and the scene where she speaks in sign language with her brother.

Good Pairing Of Jennifer Lawrence & Brian Tyree Henry

[johnnyhbtvs27 · 7/10 · 5 November 2022]

Causeway is a decent drama backed by great performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry. Lila Neugebauer's debut feature is a quiet moving drama which slowly shows a soldiers recovery from a brain injury.

Jennifer Lawrence wisely chooses a smaller production here, taking a break from big budget affair like Hunger Games & especially X-Men (The X-Men series ended up a noose round Lawrence's neck after the great First Class & Days Of Future Past).

Brian Tyree Henry continues his rise here and does well in a more serious role than usually expected from him. After Bullet Train, he's had a fairly successful year.

Hopefully Jennifer Lawrence will stick to more independent efforts like this and Winter's Bone as that's where her talents are definitely more suited.

See this for Brian Tyree Henry

[user-35583 · 7/10 · 20 January 2023]

Yes this is another vehicle for JenLaw to show off her ample assets. She is reserved and nuanced here and allows Brian Tyree Henry to steal nearly every scene that they share.

BTH is a revelation here. He is a large man that delivers a simmering and sometimes explosive performance and does it with an understated strength. I hope that Hollywood is paying attention and gets him some higher profile roles.

While this material seems somewhat familiar, the female lead makes for a different turn on the whole vet returning from war genre.

Coming in at a tight just over 90 minutes, this one is well worth a look.

Solid handling of a heavy subject

[Matt-Canalcon · 7/10 · 2 November 2022]

I don't know if Causeway will be talked about during the Oscar season, but I thought the film was pretty solid. It's a slow examination of PTSD & the frustrating process of rehabilitation with strong performances from Jennifer Lawrence & Brian Tyree Henry at its core, their dynamic is what made the movie work for me even though it can be a tough watch at times considering the nature of the subject.

Jennifer Lawrence's character suffers from an incident in Afghanistan and she still has to deal with the repercussions now that she's back home, a place that she doesn't necessarily like to be. It's mostly a quiet film but it has some strong moments of emotions, especially towards the end where I felt like they did a good job making us care about the characters. The people in this movie felt very natural and that's just good casting & acting. A good reminder that Jennifer Lawrence can act.

The relationship between Jennifer Lawrence's character (Lynsey) and her family & friends is what drives this film. She has some work to do on her physical & mental health and we witness her journey as she tries to adjust to her new life. The bond she builds with Brian Tyree Henry is heartfelt as they share a similar trauma and are trying to help each other. It's not something I would be willing to watch again in the near future, it's a heavy subject, but at least there's some light in there to give us hope and make us appreciate the material.

7/10.

Good

[HumbleMensa · 9/10 · 25 December 2022]

What I like about this movie, aside from Jennifer Lawrence giving a really beautifully natural performance, as well as a primo performance by Brian Tyree Henry, is the reality of life. I won't talk about the main plot, the story itself since that would spoil it, but I will say that the portrayal of the mundane, day-to-day life, which let's face it can be pretty slow, yet fruitful (ask anyone growing up before technology) and the dialogue between the two is normal, natural, as they become friends and deal with their personal situations. I enjoyed this slice of life movie more than I expected to.

Better than the low ratings . . .

[jeff-2051 · 7/10 · 23 January 2023]

First of all, 14-year olds shouldn't watch grownup movies and leave reviews. 14-year olds should stick with marvel movies. Second, if you like marvel movies as your main source of entertainment, you should never start this movie; it's a waste of everyone's time; especially if you're tempted to leave a review.

Third? This is a better than average film, from the story, to the acting, to the directing. Do yourself a favor, and spend less than 2-hours enjoying quality storytelling.

Now, Mary had a little lamb, little lamb. Amazon makes IMDb have ridiculously long comments for some reason no one has adequately explained. It's stupid.

Well-equipt actors, demands better writing

[agreenfox · 5/10 · 5 November 2022]

What starts as a moving story about trauma slowly develops into a exploration of friendship that isn't all that fun.. Not that every movie needs to have fun to be compelling. Nor does it need to be fast paced, in fact, this type of story benefits from a bare bones approach. The two main actors do their finest but the script is .... thin. There is little explication and characterization through behavior, what we get is a series of dialogues that explain away the number one rule: show, don't tell. Or rather, these characters NOT telling seems to be used to try and create depth. The cinematography is fine, nothing to go crazy over. The strengths here really are Lawrence and Henry who add much needed levity to the writing. I left this movie feeling like I understand very little about these characters or what they actually want.

Lawrence & Henry Deliver the Goods in a Powerful Rehabilitation Drama

[EUyeshima · 9/10 · 7 January 2023]

I've almost forgotten what a subtle, enveloping actress Jennifer Lawrence can be since she first achieved mega-success in "The Hunger Games". However, before that, she did finely etched character work in smaller films like "Winter's Bone" and "The Burning Plain". She's back to form as Lynsey, a soldier trying to adjust to life at home in New Orleans after suffering a traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan. First-time director Lila Neugebauer applies her extensive stage background to this character-driven 2022 movie and pulls out masterful performances from her small cast. Brian Tyree Henry is a revelation as James, an auto mechanic who finds a true soul connection with Lynsey while undergoing his own heartbreaking trauma. The rest of the cast delivers beautifully in small turns - Jayne Houdyshell as the veteran caretaker, Stephen McKinley Henderson as the observant doctor, Linda Emond as Lynsey's alcoholic mother, and in the film's most heartbreaking scene, Russell Harvard as her drug-addled brother. At 92 minutes, this is also the rare recent movie I wished would've run longer.

A great character study that instead of going farther, it went deeper

[jaysonpajaronvistal · 7/10 · 6 November 2022]

Causeway Dir. Lila Neugebauer Rating: 7/10

When you read the synopsis, you thought you knew where the film was heading. However, the film is a quiet and subdued take on everyday life where it seems like nothing is going on, but little did you know, it went deeper instead of farther. The film is very poignant to the point that it is almost as quiet, but when you discover the post-traumatic psychological struggle of each character, you will understand and reflect on them even more. Catharsis is found during the most tranquil and melancholic moments of the film.

Jennifer Lawrence gave one of the best performances of this year. Her poignant, expressiveness, and physicality showed in this film stood out. The dynamic resonance of film is entirely dependent on the performances of its lead actors. The chemistry between JLaw and Henry is off the charts; it felt like watching a real conversation.

Causeway may seem a little too weak or passive, restrained, or quiet, but the beauty of the film is that it wants you to discover the characters and resonate with them. Causeway is the kind of film that is about two broken people trying to collect their pieces back into their lives. Sometimes, all you need in life is someone to drink coffee with in the morning and smoke in the evening. Causeway may come off cliche during the first half, but the story is sincere and deeply moving, all thanks to their natural performances.

Causeway is a quiet, slow, and precise, but I enjoyed the character study as it is more meditative but not pressing.

Almost Good

[evanston_dad · 5/10 · 22 December 2022]

For every one really good film I've seen this year, I feel like there are five "Causeways," films that come so close to being good but just miss.

"Causeway" never overcomes the taint of cliche that hovers over it. Two damaged people helping each other heal is a story we've seen play out a million times. The specifics are different, but the general idea is the same. This can make for compelling narrative, but that never happens here. This film is so determined to be serious, austere, and joyless, that nothing is able to get any air, and the whole thing drowns under the weight of its toneless drone.

Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry obviously are committed to the material, but they're let down. And what's most frustrating is that the film comes so close to being good. You can see that it had the raw materials to be so. But this is one of those movies that lost me mid-way and I spent more time looking at my phone than I did paying attention to it.

Grade: C.

aftershock

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 4 November 2022]

Greetings again from the darkness. A soldier's injuries come in too many types to describe, and we often see the emotional side is every bit as difficult to recover from as a physical injury. PTSD is frequently explored in films, and in Lila Neugebauer's first feature film, it corresponds to a severe brain injury. Combining on the screenplay were co-writers Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel, and Elizabeth Sanders, and their 'quiet' approach works thanks to superb performances from Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.

We first see a silent Lynsey (Ms. Lawrence) being taken into the care of Sharon (a terrific Jayne Houdyshell). Lynsey rarely speaks and her motor skills are corrupted. Sharon must help her with such mundane movements as picking up a glass of water, brushing her teeth, using the toilet, or even standing. The recovery from a brain injury is long and arduous and never guaranteed, but we flash forward to see Lynsey's progress and ultimate return to her hometown of New Orleans where her further recovery will occur.

Her mother (Linda Emond) isn't there to pick Lynsey up from the bus stop, and it's our first indication of the long-ago disconnect between mother and daughter. Lynsey is determined to recover and be cleared for redeployment. The military was her initial escape from this life, so she's banking on it happening again. Her goal is to have her neurologist (Stephen McKinley Henderson) sign the waiver, clearing her for active duty. To help her cause, she takes a job cleaning pools, and when her truck's carburetor dies, Lynsey meets shop owner James (Brian Tyree Henry), and the two quickly establish a friendship.

Lynsey and James are both broken, lonely souls who share the pain that accompanies pasts highlighted by trauma. Neither is quick to discuss, but we soon enough learn about the roadside bombs that got Lynsey, and enough of James' story to understand why he drinks and smokes and is understanding of her situation. Jennifer Lawrence has an emotional scene with her brother (Russell Harvard), and her scenes with Ms. Emond convey exactly what we need to know, but it's her scenes with Brian Tyree Henry that showcase the highest standard of grounded acting ... characters we believe exist. Although the script shortchanges the struggles involved with recovering from a brain injury, the two actors capture the essence of broken souls in need of this unlikely friendship.

Streaming on AppleTV+ beginning November 4, 2022.

Redemption for a girl who realizes she's a bad person

[julieshotmail · 7/10 · 10 November 2022]

"Like they let you down instead of the other way around." This movie starts with a static lingering picture of a girl down on her luck, being wheeled into a car to live with a caregiver. She seems innocuous enough progressing through her recovery, but we begin to realize that her misfortune seems to have been handed down by the cosmos to put her in her place. We see a polite facade hiding her true self rife in condescension and superiority. In the end, the movie tries to give us a satisfying sense of redemption, but it feels too abrupt and just falls flat. Really this is a mere vehicle to showcase Jennifer Lawrence's impressive acting chops. If she does get nominated, she deserves it. However the revelation here is Brian Tyree Henry who plays James. His heartfelt performance is so convincing to the point that I don't think he is acting. Then I realize this is the same actor in "Bullet Train" playing an assassin with a British accent. I thought he was truly British as I watched that movie! Thanks to "Causeway," I am now familiar with his work, as he has received many accolades in TV, film, and Broadway, including his Tony award. If there is anyone to nominate out of this movie, it should be Brian Tyree Henry.

Coulda/woulda/shoulda been better

[dfloro · 7/10 · 8 December 2022]

The beautiful, sometimes glamorous and often goofy Jennifer Lawrence is none of those things here. Here she's playing a veteran severely hurt by an IED in Afghanistan suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). She is sent back home to New Orleans, and we watch her slowly try to relearn all of the basics: walking steadily, brushing her teeth, driving a car, etc. Her ultimate goal is to get herself redeployed with the Army Corps of Engineers. But as we see when anything goes a bit sideways (as real life is guaranteed to do), she has severe panic attacks (the ones in which you're convinced you'll die), including the time the old truck she's driving goes out on her. She meets a garage mechanic, played brilliantly by Brian Tyree Henry, who soon befriends her. And coincidentally, he shares her condition of PTSD and feelings of "survivor's guilt," having lost a leg in a car accident that killed family members. The best part of the movie is observing how this friendship grows. He's not only the sort of friend that will use his last cash to buy you a sno-cone, but will also risk it all by telling you that you're totally full of crap when you need to hear that. But there seem to be some key things missing from this movie. The women who wrote and directed it are all first-timers in filmmaking, and as decently competent as they prove to be, they have left out characters' backgrounds (like the character of JLaw's mother; what's her story?) and deeper insights into all their mental health. I give my rating of the movie one additional star for its routinely fine performances, so a 7/10.

The unsaid

[ztigr · 6/10 · 4 November 2022]

This is a story about 2 hurt people who find each other and build a bond that strengthens them both. I found Brian Tyree Henry's performance inspiring. Less so for JLaw. The issue with this movie is it tries to convey everything through mood and display rather than interaction. Everything is under the surface and while that can ring true to life, its sometimes difficult to take in entertainment. Even the pivotal scene, that you know is coming, when our 2 characters have to finally let out some of the things they have been keeping from each other, ends up somewhat muted, and still a bit too reserved. So this movie is a bit unsatisfying at the end. I stll recommend you watch it for Henry's performance though, he really is at the top of his game.

Real

[srgymrat33 · 8/10 · 6 February 2023]

This movie was fantastic . I loved it . It's a slow burn , the characters feel real and the pain they feel is acted incredibly well . The dialogue felt totally natural and all the relationships were so dynamic and important to the story .

This isn't the kind of film you can watch while scrolling social media - it's meant to be felt and observed and that means giving it your full attention as movies should be . You miss way too much of the subtlety if you aren't willing to put your phone down for an hour and a half .

The dynamic between the two main characters is obviously well done and the "chemistry " felt real and refreshing . Some other highlights were the relationship between Lindsey and her mom , Lindsey and her brother and james and his employees .

Lindsey and her mom showed the complexities of mother - daughter relationships. The mom isn't necessarily a bad person but has never dealt with her own trauma or self confidence issues and it bleeds down and is obvious in the interactions . The scene in the jail with her brother was so powerful and well done- great acting by Lawrence and Harvard . James is a well loved guy and you can feel it - in spite of a hard past - a good man .

I read an article once about Jennifer Lawrence after she was in "winters bone " and then being asked to play Katniss - her real dream was to do indie , diverse characters and not be type casted or forever known as katniss Everdeen . She has done a ton since then - but this is probably her best work.

Watch it , appreciate it and you won't regret your 90 min .

Simple, but complex. You have to see it to understand this.

[Movie_Rating_n_Ranking · 7/10 · 26 January 2023]

I missed seeing sober, calm, down-to-earth movies, with realistic characters, reactions, and events, within a realistic world. One of those slow-cooked movies that gradually lull you to sleep, but at the same time gradually destroy you.

Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry give a very good display of a serious and committed performance. Now, although both actors give correct performances, I think neither of them is up to the great cinema awards.

The film is exactly that, a correct product in every way, but it doesn't really stand out, because it focuses on telling us a story that shakes us and shows us harsh realities through fiction.

Recommended only for those who seek in the seventh art hard experiences of life itself at the expense of overvalued entertainment.

What Was The Story?

[amichaelprall · 2/10 · 6 November 2022]

WOW, that really disappointed. It's clear that people were moved by the acting but the story was completely absent. What were the writers trying to convey. Was the theme; "Life sucks and you living it will only make it worse?" We were 20 minutes into the movie wondering when it was going to start. It never did. Excruciatingly slow and boring, ending up nowhere. Nothing changed and we were sitting there wondering what was the point? The whole movie is in the two minute trailer. So spare yourself the hour and a half run time. Honestly don't know what other folks we're watching. Glad they enjoyed it.

Jennifer Lawrence SHINES! Subtle, endearing, moody CHARACTER portrait. Heartfelt direction. Beautiful photography.

[imseeg · 8/10 · 6 November 2022]

Nothing much happens. But it really moved me nonetheless. Not in a dramatic kinda way, but in a mellow, kindhearted, subtle way.

The story: Lesbian soldier (Jennifer Lawrence) suffering from a brain injury is struggling to heal, phyisically and mentally. And she finds a male friend (spoiler: NO romance), whom she can share her feelings with.

This story might sound a bit like a sentimental tearjerker perhaps, but it sure as heck is the opposite of a tearjerker. It's true, down to earth and heartfelt. And so recognizable and humanlike...

The good: NOT a blistering drama, no, this is a SUBTLE, moody, ENDEARING CHARACTER portrait, with beautiful photography, with a heartfelt direction (debut) and excellent acting performances.

More good: Jennifer Lawrence SHINES. She simply does. And she shines at acting a fierce, yet struggling woman, fighting to stay afloat after she suffered from a debilitating brain injury.

The many, MANY emotions that Jennifer Lawrence is capable of showing, whithout even speaking, is to die for. She is the real thing! Her opposing leading actor is terrific as well.

Any bad? Not suited for the impatient, because nothing much happens at all, but this subtle story really moved me nonetheless. This movie is an ACTOR'S movie. Full stop. And I loved watching it for these many excellent true to life acting performances.

Such an achievement to act out SO many emotions with such a simple story and with so few use of words. This is why I love to watch cinema. Bravo!

(Produced by Jennifer Lawrence herself).

Causeway

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 19 November 2022]

"Lynsey" (Jennifer Lawrence) is on her way to a job when her truck breaks down. Seeking help from mechanic "James" (Brian Tyree Henry) she appears reluctant to give him her number. She claims she doesn't recall it... He is sceptical, but as the story now evolves we discover that this young woman is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan where she suffered an injury to her brain. With the help of him, and her physician "Dr. Lucas" (Stephen McKinley Henderson) she now tries to put some semblance of order - and fulfilment - back into her life. It is interesting, this film, insofar as it considers the perspective of a woman returning from conflict. Assumptions are made that would probably not be made about her male counterparts, and director Lila Neugebauer tries hard to ensure that how American society deals with these distinctions is writ large. Lawrence delivers quite well, she offers a nuanced effort that can be quite poignant at times, especially as we - and "James" get to know her character more, and as that character begins to emerge from her shell of shame, embarrassment and mistrust. It's not very well paced, though. Despite being only ninety minutes, I felt the points reiterated just once to often and the dialogue didn't really offer much succour to either the actors or the audience. We are left to assume too much; to project our own opinions and sympathies on her persona, and without ever possibly being able to empathise that left me feeling the drama was just a bit too sterile. As with many films depicting the struggle of returning soldiers to fit in and flourish at home, it has a profound message to send - but as a piece of cinema, there are too many lingering close ups, the score is really weak and unimaginative and it's nothing much to write home about.

Boring

[celt007 · 3/10 · 18 September 2022]

Boring movie that insists upon itself. What it lacks in story makes up in cinematography . The acting is good , but when the story is weak and the direction of weak material fails to improve upon the story we are left with a boring , uninteresting , movie that wants its viewers to believe it is good. Not sure where Hollywood is headed but if you are looking to be entertained this is not the movie for you . My suggestion is get back to movie making and story telling in epic fashion . Seems we have to genres now , comic book movies and vanity projects . One can only hope for a return to cinema , if not , we can watch the oldies .

No one does broken to redemption like Jennifer Lawrence

[adrian-m-miller · 7/10 · 5 November 2022]

But that has its own issues, its like a slight reversal of Silver Linings Playbook, where she is the now main character returning home to re-stablish broken bonds with family and finding another lost soul to ease her journey and find redemption....its not a criticism, just an observation

She still makes a lot of the material, just theres not the "air sucked out of the room" moment that better writing may have provided...the closest to that is probably the pool scene where both her and her new friend (excellently handled by Brian Tyree Henry) both highlight unkind but accurate character failures of the other, both in the classic method of hurt others to avoid self assessment or to take accountability. Its felt, but thats as close to a human moment there is in the entire film.

I'd watch Jennifer Lawrence eat cereal, and this is still a good performance.

I hope to see more of Mr Henry....

Healing through connection

[pauljonathancampbell · 7/10 · 21 November 2022]

Yes it's slow and not much seems to happen on the outside, but it's a realistic telling of the processes and time involved in healing from traumatic experiences.

The feeling of impatience of wanting to move on, of wanting to avoid the harsh reality and eventually the reluctance of accepting of what has happened to you - the processes involved in grief. Yes, a lot goes unsaid but isn't that true to life when it comes to emotional pain?

A strong character study, focused on the two leads (though perhaps more scenes with the mother and brother would have been good). Well supported by beautiful cinematography and soundtrack.