Ezra Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Ezra Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 28, 2024

“Ezra” is the fifth directorial outing for actor Tony Goldwyn, but his first helming job in 14 years (his last was 2010’s “Conviction”). It’s been an erratic career behind-the-camera for Goldwyn, who favors character-based dramas, gifting him room to explore situations of emotional stress and confrontation, and there’s always space for actors, with one of their own calling the shots, making time to massage performances. “Ezra” checks all the boxes on a Goldwyn film, and it remains another frustrating misfire for him. It’s a study of a father going to extremes to deal with his career and his autistic son, with screenwriter Tony Spiridakis using his own parental experiences to inform the turbulent feelings in the work. The picture means well enough, but it doesn’t connect as an examination of relationships, and the writing has a very blunt take on the main character’s sense of authority when handling extremely sensitive family issues.

Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a stand-up comedian working hard to find a break. He’s almost divorced from Jenna (Rose Byrne), but hopes for a reconciliation, and he’s a father to Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), an autistic boy struggling in his school. Plans are being formed to send Ezra to a special needs facility and offer him pharmaceutical aid, but Max is against it, preferring to use love and care to help with his kid’s rituals and behavioral issues, supported by his own father, Stan (Robert De Niro). When Ezra gets hurt running out of Jenna’s house, suspicions lean toward self-harm, intensifying control of the child while riling up Max’s anger issues. Tied down by legal problems, Max finds himself with a chance to perform on late night television in Los Angeles, taking Ezra from Jenna’s home in the early morning. He’s ready to enjoy a bonding road trip with his son, but Max’s actions only inspire panic from others, with law enforcement soon pursuing the duo.

Max’s work as a stand-up comedian plays a significant role in “Ezra.” Goldwyn devotes plenty of screen time to the man in action, where he uses the stage as a therapy tool, confessing dark thoughts and articulating frustrations in a manner he refuses to do in everyday life. Max does well with his time, but he’s not as confident away from the clubs, stuck living with his father, a doorman with a haunted past. And there’s Ezra, who takes up most of Max’s energy as he tries to co-parent a child who needs highly specific attention once handled by the married couple. Jenna is happy to be on her way out of the relationship, enjoying a new boyfriend in lawyer Bruce (Goldwyn), but Max doesn’t want to let her go, creating early complications in “Ezra” as the pair deals with their difficulties, which are supercharged by Ezra’s behavior.

The writing stays with Max and his efforts to be a good dad, refusing to submit Ezra to a system of help, skeptical of its authenticity. He’s prone to rage, which is learned behavior from his father, who also taught his son the comfort of denial. These are fascinating feelings to explore, but “Ezra” is soon off on the road with Max and his child, whom he kidnaps without a real plan, ending up on the way to Los Angeles. They make stops to visit Max’s friend (Rainn Wilson) and ex-lover (Vera Farmiga), and the father is challenged by his son’s needs, including fear of bananas and unwillingness to eat with metal utensils. Jenna is on the other side of the picture, inspiring police intervention when Max refuses to communicate with her, eventually turning to Stan for information, and he has his own ideas concerning his son’s impulsive and potentially dangerous actions.

Ezra Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.00:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Ezra" largely focuses on the actors, and detail is appreciable during the viewing experience. Skin particulars are preserved, along with fibrous costuming. Living spaces, business, and comedy clubs retain decorative additions, and exteriors deliver depth, helping to communicate the remoteness of some locations. Color is sharp, moving from cooler hues during city activity to country living, which delivers distinct greenery. Primaries are crisp, exploring stage lighting and style choices. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, working with deeper stage lighting. Very mild banding is periodic.

Ezra Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA offers interesting fullness at times, with Max's club act providing an echoed sound to sell his theatrical displays. Surrounds also work with musical moods, supplying some expanse to scoring cues, which retain sharp instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are defined, with clear vocals. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, handling the sometimes chaotic performance choices in the feature and angry engagement. Softer emotionality is also maintained. Atmospherics are limited, with some community and customer bustle present. Low-end isn't challenged during the dramatic film.

Ezra Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (29:12, HD) is a dual conversation about "Ezra" with director/actor Tony Goldwyn and screenwriter Tony Spiridakis. For the writer, the journey to create the picture began 14 years ago, looking to work with his own experiences as the parent of an autistic boy. Spiridakis shared his script with pal Goldwyn, who was immediately inspired to make the movie. Casting achievements are highlighted, with the helmer taking a shot to get Robert De Niro in the feature, who responded immediately to the material. The quest to find young William A. Fitzgerald is recalled, which involved a lengthy search for the right child, and one that eerily resembled Spiridakis's own son. Goldwyn also shares his professional approach to handling Fitzgerald and his hyperintelligence. The interviewees detail their friendship, which has carried on for over 40 years, easily trusting each other during the production process. Anecdotes from the shoot are offered, including a bizarre tale involving the blowing of air inside a horse's nostrils. The response to "Ezra" is also analyzed, with the team finding the effort reaching viewers during its early screenings and film festival showings, offering the emotional connection Spiridakis was hoping the endeavor would have.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Ezra Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Technically, Max kidnaps Ezra in the story, but Spiridakis doesn't have the energy to get his hands dirty with such a reality. Instead, "Ezra" comes close to celebrating Max as a heroic figure, willing to defy others to do what's right for his son, though he doesn't really know how to do anything besides be a companion, comment on his love of movie quotes, and deal inappropriately with the child, including late night visits to comedy clubs. There are mother issues in play, along with Stan's emotional blockage, but the writing doesn't dig deep enough to achieve a substantial psychological portrait of the man. Cannavale also delivers a strangely abrasive performance, making one wonder what Jenna even saw in Max to begin with. There should be a lot more grit to "Ezra" if the true intent is to position Max as a real liberator, but Goldwyn wants something a little less demanding, looking to acting and the behavioral unrest of autism to support an unsatisfying film.