'Room' - A haunting & uplifting tale

'Room' is the harrowing tale of a mother (Brie Larson) and her 5 year old son, Jack (nine-year old Jacob Tremblay) who have both been imprisoned in a shed for 7 & 5 years (respectively). Highly suspenseful and uniquely touching, 'Room' is not the tale of a child abduction (although it is based on several different cases bought together), but rather, it is the tale of a mother's love for her child.  

Their bond, strengthened by a world that is limited to 4 walls and a skylight, is what makes Lenny Abrahamson's film so compelling.  The film is uniquely told through the perspective of the 5 year old Jack who thinks the world of the shed is the only reality available to him.  

'Ma', played by the fantastic Brie Larson, was abducted at age 17 and at 19 was impregnated by her captor and thus Jack was born.  As Jack grows, so does the bond between mother & child, Ma does her best to protect him, teach him and give him some resemblance of normalcy; until his 5th year when Ma finally realizes that Jack can help them escape.

Already a Best Actress winner at the BAFTA's, Brie Larson is  my current front runner for the Best Actress Oscar. Deservedly so, her performance is break-out for a young woman that has had relatively smaller roles in much lesser films (The Gambler, Trainwreck and others); this is a performance that will put her on the map.  Jacob Tremblay is equally outstanding, filling a role that an adult would find difficult, he fills Jack with equal sense wonder and wisdom.  William H. Macy and Joan Allen are both powerful as Grandma and Grandpa while the always impressive Tom McCamus shines as Leo (the step grandpa) as the film dives deep into the impact of abduction on not only the victims but the families as well.

'Room' is both suspensful and deeply emotional, a 4 star discovery that is still playing in very limited release but needs to be seen. Put this on your Oscar favorites list as soon as you can.