The Tender Bar

Adapted from J. R. Moehringer's memoir; Moehringer later wrote the books for Andre Agassi and Prince Harry. As a child, J. R. moves with his mother into his grandfather's crowded house on Long Island. His father is a radio announcer and entirely absent; the boy knows him only by his voice. His uncle Charlie fills the gap: he runs a bar, reads constantly, and gives his nephew both books and rules. The best of the film is what Charlie teaches: what he says about being a man is not cliché, and it is he who tells the boy to become a writer. The narrative then extends into J. R.'s years at Yale and his move into journalism. Ben Affleck plays Charlie and carries the film; Tye Sheridan plays the older J. R. and Daniel Ranieri the child. George Clooney directed. Voiceover steers the whole thing, which is where the criticism concentrated: text carried over from the book does the work the scenes should be doing. A pleasant choice for anyone who likes warm, unhurried coming-of-age stories. For a viewer wanting momentum, it builds no plot; it is memories told in order.