This is a brilliant little drama with a limited cast. Mark Wahlberg is great as Joe Bell, who feels (rightfully so) that he failed his son, Jadin (the great Reid Miller) in his life and is determined to honor his memory by walking across the country to raise awareness on the evilness of bullying. The ending packs a powerful, emotional punch.
Now, this is an important film in many ways, but it takes a while for Joe Bell to take his own advice though his son warned him early on that he's a hypocrite. Which is accurate. And while he urges forgiveness, he curses out a note apologizing on his son's grave. It never fails to surprise me how cruel children can be.
While this is a great film, and even though Jadin was appearing on screen while he was just existing in Joe's mind, you never learn how Jadin did what he did, nor do we hear the argument from his parents over how the school handled (or rather fail to handle) the situation where a bunch of others beat Jadin up for not accepting him the way he was. Still, the acting is great with a role that fits Wahlberg like a glove and Connie Britton shines as Jadin's mom. She's always spectacular and both of the Bell boys (Miller and Maxell Jenkins) are also great. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Gary Sinise has a great cameo as a county sheriff who relates to Joe in more ways than you can imagine.
-It truly is dangerous for Joe to be doing what he does.
-The only funny part is when Joe groans over having to explain himself to another lawman.
-It is a given that Cher will be at a gay bar on drag night. A given.
-It is not clear if Marcie (Morgan Lily) is a sibling or not.
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