Drama

Romance

Our Friend

Black Bear Pictures

BBP Friend

Scott Free Productions

United States of America

English

Dakota Johnson

Casey Affleck

Jason Segel

Cherry Jones

Jake Owen

Denée Benton

Gwendoline Christie

Reed Diamond

Isabella Kai

Violet McGraw

Marielle Scott

Ahna O'Reilly

John McConnell

Jeronimo Spinx

Jason Bayle

Sampley Barinaga

Lane Alexander

Paige King

Jacinte Blankenship

Azita Ghanizada

Chandler Head

Veda Joy Martin

T.C. Matherne

Mark Costello

Marguerite Pons

Michael Papajohn

Mike Lutz

Jennifer Pierce Mathus

Gerald Brodin

Susan Williams

Ritchie Montgomery

Richard Speight Jr.

Lindsey Reimann

Evangeline Lindes

Hali Everette

Samantha Englender

Melisa Jusufi

Alana Morshead

Jacenda Burkett

Tiffanie Hudson

Courtney Matthews

Kevin S. Parker

Robert Chen

Shane Hayes

Tom Scott-Toft

Nick Loren

B. Ted Deiker

Sean Vawter

Colin Flaherty

Janelle Canastra

Jean-Paul Chreky

Emily Weston

Joe Anderson

Jason Wittenberg

Timothy Dixon

Beau Bonfe

Niels Lindelien

Dave Isern

Jocelyn Pierce

Jennifer Serio

Jesse Goldberg

David C. Romano

Lyle Weston

Alex Berard

J.M. Logan

Alexis Corrigan

Nick South

Will Files

Lindsey Alvarez

David Esparza

Sarah Balboa

Dan Marino

Matt Banfield

Stephen Fouasnon

Claire Folger

Tiffany Lord

Ryan Baker

Julian Cabrera

Tyler Mann

Will E. Drummond

Susan Smits

John Rezner

Tommy Armstrong

Jennifer Yoo

Maureen Brennan

Scott Levine

Mark Alkofer

Chris Bailey

Sang Kim

Paul Pirola

James Harvey

Brendan Croxon

Tim Tuchrello

Sam Fan

John Simpson

Lisa Simpson

Mike Sowa

Dan Lawler

Justin Kratzer

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Michael A. Pruss

Kevin J. Walsh

Ryan Stowell

Teddy Schwarzman

Colin Patton

Cara Brower

Brad Ingelsby

Rob Simonsen

Ridley Scott

Ben Stillman

Michael Heimler

Matthew Teague

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

2020 was a tough year and 2021 isn’t starting out much better, so it’s poor timing for a studio to release a tearjerker like “Our Friend.” Movies about terminal illness are never fun to watch, but this one is such a downer that it may serve as an unwanted depressant for even the most upbeat viewers.

Based on an award-winning Esquire magazine article, the film tells the true story of journalist Matt Teague (Casey Affleck) and his actress wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson), who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Seeing his best friend coping with a dying wife and struggling to be a good father to his two young daughters (Violet McGraw, Isabella Kai), Dane (Jason Segel) puts his own life on hold and moves in with Matt and Nicole to support them through the roughest of times. It’s a true gesture of steadfast friendship, with Dane standing by the family until the end.

If this sounds like a bittersweet heartwarming story of devotion, it (mostly) is. The story is told in non-linear segments that travel through time and give us a glimpse of how things developed and how they eventually ended. The most horrific parts of Teague’s article are omitted from the film, with director Gabriela Cowperthwaite choosing instead to go the inspirational route. The sugar-coating feels phony and insincere, and even with knockout performances from the three leads, it’s still a huge downer.

It’s a given that Affleck is always powerful in roles like this, but Segel is the real surprise. He gives Dane a sadness and empathy that feels real and is unexpected for an actor who has never shown such depth. A brief supporting turn from Cherry Jones as a home hospice nurse is the most memorable performance, showing a beautiful (and realistic) sympathy towards her client.

I suppose “Our Friend” would be a solid drama for those looking to empty an entire box of Kleenex, but it’s a tough sell in times like these. It’s a story of humanity and friendship that isn’t as uplifting as it sounds, but there’s still a glimmer of joy to be found.

By: Louisa Moore

A Heartbreaking Diagnosis

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Our Friend

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Cast

Dakota Johnson

Casey Affleck

Jason Segel

Cherry Jones

Jake Owen

Denée Benton

Gwendoline Christie

Reed Diamond

Isabella Kai

Violet McGraw

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