Mass

This isn't based on a play, but sandwiched between servicable bookends are 75 minutes of theater masterclass. What a debut from Kranz whose script is easily the best of the year, and the acting from all four leads is amazing.

After a 15 minute prologue, this film is basically four people sitting at a table and trying to find some kind of common ground to allow them to move past grief and anger. It's an astonishing display of acting. It's a beautifully constructed film that quite effectively sets to the side the issues it doesn't want to dwell on, like the gun control debate, without suggesting that they are unimportant. It's a really profound examination of grief and the idea of forgiveness.

Emotionally devastating. This subject hits me so hard, and Mass must be the most thoughtful, heart-rending take on it I've seen. Ann Dowd is great as usual, Jason Isaacs is the best I've ever seen him, and Martha Plimpton wasn't on my radar before but she sure as hell is now. Jason Isaacs' "big scene" made me cry, and I was pretty much in tears for the next 30 minutes up to the resolution. Any movie that manages to wring tears from my shriveled, cynical heart gets a little score boost.

I could sympathize with both sides' logic and sentiments. Wonderful script and acting. Even with all this tension and serious subject matter, it was more soothing than it was agonizing.

the acting is strong and the writing is inoffensively just fine, but it feels like it was written by a computer program that was fed every. possible. viewpoint. and told to produce an oscar-friendly film. my absolute bare-minimum recommendation.

A tough subject matter and a small rewatchability factor. It isn't a game changing experience. But it is raw, heartfelt, and well constructed, with a gripping unravelling of details.

Though very heavy subject matter, the performances are stellar.

One-location chamber-dramas depend heavily on the writing and acting, and this movie is stupendous in both respects. The choice of words it puts in each character's mouth is wise beyond anything one might expect from a debut script by an actor from Cabin in the Woods. There isn't a single hyperbole or sour note. The economy of ideas and feelings is perfect and nothing is belabored. Dowd and Plimpton have a slight edge but all four cast members are jaw-droppingly awesome.

Surprisingly engaging if you’re willing to calmly observe and empathize with the fictitious story of the parents involved. It will be a tough sell for some. The acting at times detracted. The father of the shooting victim was portrayed strangely stoic and the church lady and mediator-counselor had the strangest dynamics and personalities. I’m not sure what the intent was for that choice other than to offer a look at humanity outside the tense painful situation it sat beside.

A quartet of great actors giving a great actor’s masterclass; Kranz’s screenplay is quietly brilliant in never straining too hard for effect, despite the heady and emotionally wrenching material – the conversation never strays into arch theatricality, playing out with a believable mix of anger, unease and frustration, making the cathartic moments all the more moving and emotional. An engrossing and powerful version of the one-set, two/four-hander.

Fran Kranz should be proud of his first Work as a Director & Writter!!! He have done a Great Job!!! also Admireable Performance by Actors and Actresses!!!

This is quite a stripped back, moving film. Its like a big jigsaw puzzle - slowly the pieces come together, from what the various characters speak about - what they remember as parents to the affected children etc. The cast give really quite solid performances - they seemed very credible in their facial expressions, showing the guilt and upset they clearly feel, while thinking back to what happened. All the cast are good but out of all of them, I felt that Ann Dowd gave an esp. good performance.

Don't let the one-location premise fools you. The script from the choice of words to the flow of dialogue is focking brilliant!

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Raw, biting, and ultimately tender. A tennis match of frayed nerves and constantly shifting emotions.

Simple mise-en-scène with theatrical style and a brilliant screenplay. It's actually impressive that it's an original story. It's an exercise of alterity and empathy. Both couples share their personal stories which are incredibly painful. The story truly pictures real characters with depth.

Extra points for Ann Dowd's performance though all of them were incredible

As wrenching and agonizing as any filmgoing experience you could have this year. A lot of this has to do with the incredible quartet of actors who give some of the best performances of the year. But also worthy of enormous credit is Fran Kranz's script which painstakingly addresses the tragedy at hand with the utmost sympathy for all parties. This isn't a work without a few small missteps, but it's pretty damn captivating and effectively gutting without feeling inauthentic or exploitative.