A Home at the End of the World

Muddled and unfocused drama has its heart in the right place, albeit a heart that seems ironically stuck in the 1980s in its treatment of the queer relationships between its leading characters – there’s a maudlin and overwrought “love-that-dare-not-speak-its-name” tone to this that feels less like Mayer and Cunningham critiquing the mood of the 80s and more like leaning in lock stock and barrel, which plays as an odd choice even circa 2004. It's unclear what we are to make of the makeshift family at the heart of this, especially due to a lack of any real fire or drama in the story elements around it, until of course the ultimate tragedy. Carried by the performances who are all terrific – Farrell’s flexible and malleable people pleaser is believably and ambiguously charming, Penn seems to be playing an alternate universe version of Gump’s “Jenny” to fun effect, but the film is stolen by Spacek, who takes the sketchiest of character traits and creates a full-blooded and memorable screen mum – her scenes with Farrell are quietly heartbreaking and become the highlight (and emotional centre) of the film, which I don’t believe was quite the intention!