The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan is a powerful drama film directed by Xavier Dolan, released in 2018. The movie's star-studded cast includes Kit Harington, Natalie Portman, and Jacob Tremblay.

The story of the film revolves around the life of a popular TV actor, John F. Donovan (Kit Harington), who has an unexpected correspondence with an eleven-year-old boy named Rupert Turner (Jacob Tremblay). Donovan and Rupert exchanged letters for years, which fascinated the young boy, who was also an aspiring actor.

Portman plays a journalist named Audrey Newhouse who is writing a book about John F. Donovan's life, and she discovers the correspondence between Donovan and Rupert. She decides to investigate further and contact Rupert (Tremblay) to learn more about their friendship.

As Audrey delves deeper, she learns about Donovan's troubled personal life, family issues, and the homophobic backlash he faced after it was revealed that he was corresponding with a child. Rupert, on the other hand, has to come out to his conservative mother about his friendship with Donovan, and the scandal Donovan's life caused affects him and his relationship with his family.

The film is a poignant exploration of friendship, fame, and loss. The audience gets to see different perspectives of Donovan's life, including his relationship with his mother (played by Susan Sarandon), his loyal publicist (played by Thandie Newton), and his estranged friends who all have a different take on his experience.

The film's narrative is deeply emotional, and it tackles several themes that make it exceptional. The performances of Harington, Tremblay, and Portman were all brilliant in the roles they played.

Despite its melancholic tone, the movie's cinematography and soundtrack work together to create a pleasant contrast to the heavy subject matter. The film's director, Xavier Dolan, beautifully captures the essence of John F. Donovan's life through his visual and aesthetic choices.

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan is a gripping character study that showcases the complexities of life and human relationships. It tackles crucial themes like love, loss, loneliness, fame, and belonging, all done in a way that is both thought-provoking and moving.

In conclusion, The Death & Life of John F. Donovan is a powerful and engaging drama that will captivate audiences with its compelling story and exceptional portrayal of its characters. The film is an ode to friendship, growing up, and the struggle to find oneself in a world that can be unforgiving.