SummaryMax Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both th... Read More
Directed By:Tony Goldwyn
Written By:Tony Spiridakis
Ezra
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Mixed or Average
57
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Mixed or Average
4.6
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
57
50% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 20, 2023
90
Even with everything else going for it, Ezra either fails or succeeds based on the title character’s performance, and William Fitzgerald knocks it out of the park. As with any child acting performance, Goldwyn deserves a share of the credit for getting exactly what was needed from the young actor.
May 30, 2024
70
Each character choice in “Ezra” is plausible because it comes from a place of emotional honesty, both in the script and the performances.
User score
Mixed or Average
4.6
26% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
39% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
35% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Aug 21, 2024
8
Tony Goldwyn's effort as an actor, director and producer is soberly good. The film is not a marvel in itself, but the story has an honest message, quite close to reality.
Jun 12, 2024
8
IN A NUTSHELL:
The story is based on a true story and is about a comedian who co-parents an autistic son with his ex-wife. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing road trip.
Already, the film has been nominated for and won awards at several film festivals. The movie was directed by Tony Goldwyn, who also has a small role in the film, and co-produces the film distributed by Bleecker Street. THINGS I LIKED:
The cast is terrific and includes especially great performances by Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, and the young William A. Fitzgerald.
Robert De Niro is always great in all of his movies.
We also get entertaining performances from actors who play small roles such as Rainn Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, and Vera Farmiga.
Real-life stand-up comedians perform bits during the movie.
There are some charming moments that just might cause your eyes to leak. Bring tissues just in case. THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
Soooo much yelling.
I was surprised that the movie poster left off Rose Byrne since she's a huge part of the movie. This is one of her best performances. TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Lots of profanity, including too many F-bombs
We see a kid pee on a picture on the wall
Some violence
A kid gets kit by a car.
May 29, 2024
67
While all of the grown-ups turn in admirable performances, the heart of the movie lies in a staggering debut from newcomer William A. Fitzgerald, a preteen diagnosed with autism and ADHD himself.
Jun 7, 2024
60
Ezra is heartwarming and funny, but it just never quite manages to reach the level of profound insight that its story seems to strive for.
May 30, 2024
60
What keeps the story sweet is the chemistry between Cannavale and Fitzgerald, who build a bond worth cherishing.
May 28, 2024
50
The film gets within striking distance of new territory for its subject matter but stalls out due to its pat storytelling.
May 28, 2024
40
Starring De Niro and Bobby Cannavale as two generations of “whaddya talking about!?” Noo Yawkers and directed by sometimes actor Tony Goldwyn, so much of Ezra feels like a “favour” film – a good excuse for a well-liked director to persuade friends to hang out with each other for a few weeks of shooting, without delivering something worthy of their collected talents.
Jun 1, 2024
8
This movie is receiving mixed reviews from the critics, but like usual the movie critics get it wrong. Ezra is a poignant, decent movie with just the right amount of drama. Most important, it portrays autistic kids accurately. Autistic kids don't need antipsychotic drugs, especially if the kid doesn't consent. Parents need to think long and hard before going down that path on whether its really needed. Similarly, autistic kids will do much better in life if they stay in public schools with non-autistic kids. This father was a hero and I cried at a touching moment at the end of the movie. Written from an adult (40+) reviewer who has high-functioning autism.
Jun 2, 2024
6
It's tough watching one of the greatest actors of the past 50 years get older.
But De Niro hangs in there and doesn't embarass himself when this well intentioned story veers off track and becomes schmaltzy and cliche. There is a story here that needs to be told. I don't fully understand autism, but I defintely understand family dusfunction. The child actor playing Ezra broke my heart. I just wish the story could have been a bit more believable. But I'm still glad I watched it despitse some of it's flaws/
May 31, 2024
5
Bobby Cannavale plays a comedian with an 11-year-old autistic son (an impressive debut for William A. Fitzgerald, who is on the spectrum himself). After some setbacks, he ends up taking his son on a road trip. This film is very much about a father fighting for his son's acceptance, disputing the attempts to minimize his uniqueness. Cannavale creates a volatile, but devoted character (although in a common complaint about comics in movies…his set is not funny). The rest of the cast turns in solid performances, including Robert De Niro as the grandfather and Rose Byrne as the mom. Director Tony Goldwyn has kept the focus on the emotions, but there's more message here than touching drama. Fitzgerald is compelling and the theme is admirable, but some of the plot seems forced and the film is more earnest than moving. BTW, stay for the early credits to see the payoff.
Aug 20, 2024
4
Ezra é o nome da criança fofa com autismo cujo pai, vivido por Bobby Cannavale, tenta a todo instante humanizá-lo e visibilizá-lo, à medida que o roteiro faz questão de todos os demais o verem quase como um ****. Assim, com amão sempre pesada (veja o trato da mãe por exemplo), o filme tenta a todo instante pintar a relação pai/filho como único escape positivo àquela criança, mesmo que o pai tenha uma série de elementos a desconfiar (humorista de talk show, explosivo, ainda assim lúcido). DeNiro faz um avô no piloto automático aqui. Assim, essa superproteção do pai lhe dá certas liberdades questionáveis, como violentar o médico que recomendou remédios ao filho, num surto. Tem seus momentos, especialmente considerando o carinho com que a equipe retrata o menino, mas no geral o resultado é frio.
Production Company:
- Closer Media
- Wayfarer Studios
- Bleecker Street Media
- Rahway Road Productions
- Wonderful Films
Release Date:May 31, 2024
Duration:1 h 40 m
Rating:R
Tagline:To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance.
Awards
Sun Valley Film Festival, US
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Boulder International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
