CYRUS

US, 2010, 91 minutes, Colour.
John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh.
Directed by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass.

Cyrus is a small film with a strong cast. The Duplass brothers had made what some commentators call mumblecore films, small-budget, relying on dialogue (not necessarily clear): The Puffy Chair, Baghead. With Cyrus they move to a more mainstream kind of independent film. They followed this with Jeff Who LIves at Home also with a better-known cast.

John C. Reilly has shown himself over many years as a reliable screen presence. Here he portrays John, separated for seven years from his wife (Catherine Keener) who is now wanting to remarry. He is an editor but lives a lonely and somewhat miserable life. He is persuaded to go out, encounters a vivacious woman, Marisa Tomei, and they click instantly. When he follows her after she leaves hurriedly, he discovers she has a twenty-one-year-old son, who lives at home, is an avant-garde musician and composer. He is played by Jonah Hill, best known for his raucous comedy performances including 21 Jump Street and Superbad, but who shows his acting ability here – as he did, winning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his serious role in Moneyball.

The film is really a small-focus drama, what happens to John, his relationship with Molly, the encounters with Cyrus (Hill) and his trying to undermine the relationship.

The film is an interesting small study of relationships, love and betrayal – particularly focused. The film was advertised as a comedy and, while there are some comic touches, it is rather more serious in tone.

1. The film-makers, their reputation, their small independent films, the cast?

2. The limited locations, the two homes, the streets, the party, the office? The musical score?

3. Audience interest in the characters, the portraits, psychological aspects and relationships?

4. The comic touches in a serious film?

5. John C. Reilly as John, his age, alone, seven years since his wife left him, Jamie and her visit, her assertiveness, her wanting to marry again? Urging him to go out? His finally going to the party, his failure at small talk and people moving away from him, his meeting with Molly, urinating in the garden, going inside with her, the music, his dancing, her joining him? Everybody dancing?

6. John and Molly and their clicking, the night together, the bond, two needy people? The phone calls? The visits, Molly leaving early, John deciding to follow?

7. John and his discovering Cyrus, Cyrus and his age, home schooling, no father, his music, playing some for John? His being friendly? The welcoming words – yet the stealing of the shoes? John’s later discovery of them? Cyrus’s relationship with his mother, dependence on her, the open door, the shower, the close relationship of mother and son, going out together, the picnic, the photography? Jamie and her watching them – and supportive of them?

8. Jamie and Tim, the engagement, the preparations, their advice for John, John getting Jamie to jog with him, watching the couple, Jamie’s approval? Tim’s reaction to John consulting Jamie?

9. Cyrus, his tantrum, moving out, the moods, it being sudden for Molly, her not understanding? John and his suspicions, packing Cyrus’s things, discovering his shoes?

10. Cyrus, manipulation, misquoting what each had said to the other? Playing on Molly’s feelings?

11. The build-up to the confrontation, the truth about the shoes, the truth about Cyrus’s attitudes, Cyrus and his threats, the two pretending for Molly that they were friends?

12. The wedding, Cyrus and his behaviour, John and his attack?

13. Molly, her plea, talking with John, her acknowledging the truth?

14. Cyrus arriving, John giving him a lift, their talking, hugging, forgiving – the end? And what would happen when John and Molly married? Cyrus’s place?