Watch Being Flynn
- R
- 2012
- 1 hr 42 min
-
6.4 (17,958)
Being Flynn is a powerful and moving drama that explores the themes of family, identity, and redemption. It is based on the true story of Nick Flynn, a young writer who reconnects with his estranged father after many years of separation. The film stars Paul Dano as Nick, Robert De Niro as his father, and Julianne Moore as Nick's mother.
At the heart of Being Flynn is the complicated relationship between Nick and his father, Jonathan. Jonathan is a self-proclaimed genius and a writer who has never been able to achieve the success he believes he deserves. He is also an alcoholic who has spent much of his life in and out of jail or homeless shelters. Despite their deep-rooted differences and the pain they have caused each other, Nick and Jonathan are inexorably linked by blood and a shared sense of emptiness.
As the film opens, Nick is a struggling writer in his mid-20s who is coming to terms with his own failures and shortcomings. He has recently lost his job at a Boston homeless shelter and is struggling to pay his rent. When Jonathan shows up at the shelter seeking a bed for the night, Nick is forced to confront his past and the father he has been trying to forget. The two men begin a tentative reconciliation, but old wounds and resentments continue to simmer beneath the surface.
As Nick begins to work at the homeless shelter where his father is staying, he meets a host of colorful characters who are struggling to survive on the streets. He also begins a relationship with Denise, a fellow shelter worker played by Olivia Thirlby. Denise provides Nick with a glimmer of hope and a sense of purpose, but her own struggles with addiction threaten to derail their relationship.
Throughout the film, Nick struggles to reconcile his love for his father with the pain and disappointment he has caused. He grapples with questions of identity and whether he is doomed to repeat his father's mistakes. Meanwhile, Jonathan's own demons continue to haunt him, and he oscillates between making progress toward sobriety and self-destructive behavior.
As the film builds toward its climactic moments, Nick and Jonathan are forced to confront their past and their present in heartbreaking ways. Their journey is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of family ties, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Being Flynn is a poignant and unforgettable film about the power of love, forgiveness, and the human spirit.
Being Flynn is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 53.