Armageddon Time
Starring: Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway
Directed By: James Gray
Rated: R
Picture it if you will, you’re sitting in a theater on a Saturday night to see Armageddon Time (a movie that, despite its title, has nothing to do with Armageddon). You feel good because the it’s a low attended showing. It looks like a relaxed crowd. The previews end and a loud sipping emerges from the first row. No big deal. Everyone sips their drink at the movies. The first scene begins and drama between the main characters ensues, “UH OH!” says the loudest voice you’ve ever heard coming from the first row sipper. Ok, keep calm, the sipper was just reacting to the beginning of the movie. Two characters on screen talk about hating disco. “I’ve always LOVED disco!” The sipper yells frantically with an urgent tone that makes you believe she may break into her own cover of Boogie Wonderland at any moment. During an emotionally tenuous moment, the sipper gets out her phone to illuminate the theater and check her daily step count. Nope. She didn’t quite hit today’s goal yet. It’s at that moment you realize this woman is going to react to every plot point in the movie. This is the true story of my experience seeing Armageddon Time.
Now that I’ve painted a picture of my experience seeing the movie, let’s talk about the actual movie. Armageddon Time is a semi-autobiographical film of writer/director James Gray’s childhood. Gray is the latest to join the wave of directors making autobiographical films from Kenneth Branaugh’s Belfast to Steven Spielberg’s upcoming anticipated release The Fablemans. Armageddon Time is a coming-of-age drama that follows 6th grader Paul Graff as he navigates school with his new friend Johnny (Jaylinn Webb who plays his role quite well). Paul and Johnny frequently stir up trouble in class, but Johnny is often on the receiving end of all the discipline because he’s black. Paul comes from a tight-knit Jewish family in Queens. His parents encourage him to become a businessman, but Paul dreams of becoming an artist one day. As his teenage years approach, he begins to see the world is filled with injustice as the safety of childhood fades away and the real world looms ahead.
Unfortunately, I found this film to be extremely underwhelming. It has some interesting themes involving race, the American dream, and generational bonding, yet at the end of it all, the final product feels wildly disjointed.
It’s clear that Gray is painting a picture of his childhood in Queens. Sometimes there are revelatory moments while others feel pointless.
I was moved by a multi-generational portrait of a Jewish family sticking together to achieve greatness for their children. Each generation from grandparents to children to grandchildren have their own version of the American Dream. For grandpa, it’s survival. For Irving and Esther, it’s financial stability. For Paul, its artistic expression. Each generation wants better for the next. It’s a theme that’s explored through every generation of Paul’s family.
Where the film falters is its treatment of Johnny. His characterization is puzzling to say the least. He is a major part of the first act, then fades into the background. It’s as if he exists to prop up Paul’s characterization. Due to his race, Johnny is frequently punished in instances where Paul is not. These moments open Paul’s eyes to show him of the world’s injustices. However, at times the treatment of Johnny feels like an after school special that screams “isn’t racism terrible?!” Of course it is. There’s very little nuance here. Instead of making Johnny a three-dimensional character, he’s a plot device. We hear about his home life but never get to see much of it. It would’ve been so much more effective to get to know his character more.
The cast is a huge draw in Armageddon Time with Oscar winners Anthony Hopkins and Anne Hathaway as standouts. Hopkins may not have too much screen time but he steals the show as Paul’s grandfather. He spends as much time as possible with his family and always encourages Paul to do the right thing, regardless of what others think. His family came over to America to escape violent antisemitism and he reminds Paul how important it is to remember that history. Hopkins brings a warmth to the character as the family patriarch.
Anne Hathaway is Esther, Paul’s mother and president of the PTA. She dedicates her life to her family and supporting her husband Irving (Jeremy Strong). Hathaway is great here, as always. She is the glue that holds the family together.
This is a breakout role for Banks Repeta who is excellent as Paul. Repeta carries the film. Paul is a troublemaker who is often a brat to his family. He’s a difficult character to watch. Yet, Repeta showcases a range of emotions including childhood naiveté, anger, joy, fear and grief that all feel realistic for someone on the cusp of their teenage years.
There is this really amazing thing that I love in films and it’s called lighting. I would love to introduce half of Hollywood to it because I think they’ve forgotten that it exists. There are significant portions of this movie that are barely lit. Characters are walking around in the dark hoping they don’t walk into a wall. I could barely see what was happening because I’m assuming the lighting guy was taking a break. Maybe James Gray’s childhood didn’t involve a lot of lamps and it was an artistic choice.
Armageddon Time is an underwhelming drama about the American Dream that could have been so much more. The film touches on some interesting themes, but its meandering script and lack of characterization keep it from achieving greatness.
My Rating: 6/10