Comedy

Drama

Ezra

Closer Media

Wayfarer Studios

United States of America

English

Bobby Cannavale

William A. Fitzgerald

Robert De Niro

Rose Byrne

Vera Farmiga

Whoopi Goldberg

Rainn Wilson

Tony Goldwyn

Jackson Frazer

Greer Barnes

Tess Goldwyn

Ella Ayberk

Lois Robbins

Alex Plank

Daphne Rubin-Vega

Matilda Lawler

Joe Pacheco

Amy Sheehan

Geoffrey Owens

Barzin Akhavan

Donna Vivino

Jacqueline Nwabueze

John Donovan Wilson

Joshua Hinck

David Marciano

Dov Davidoff

Sophie Mulligan

Thomas Duverné

Brian Donahue

Myra Lucretia Taylor

Jennifer Plotzke

Jack Parrish

Josh Pesin

Louie Aronowitz

Eddie A. Bryant

Alex Barber

Oliver Morales

Julia Linger

Skyler Wenger

Jimmy Kimmel

Guillermo Rodriguez

Zoe Cali

Emma Willmann

Mia Caro

Bev Sheehan

Megan Hennessy

Tony Spiridakis

Carlos Rafael Rivera

John R. Caccamo

Justin Baldoni

William Horberg

Manu Gargi

Steve Sarowitz

Carla Raij

Jon Kilik

Andrew Calof

Jason Pinardo

Zhang Xin

Jake O'Brien

Sabine Hoffman

Eldo Ray Estes

Paul Schnee

Chryss Hionis

Carla White

Kerry Barden

Daniel Cerone

Jacqueline Fundus

Jerry Popolis

Susan Block

Dan Leigh

Derrick Kollock

Donna Berwick

Daniel Moder

Miles O'Bryan

Rachel Goldman

Sean McKeough

Eduardo Jaramillo

Mitchell Ferm

Moxie Harfeld

Nicole Alvarez Espada

Anthony Pisani

Beso Kacharava

Quinn Showell

Paula Escobar

Vinny Alfano

Vesselin Todorov-Vinnie

Ashley Clemmings

Andre Da Silva

Omotade Fatiregun

James Ortiz

Rory Hanrahan

Joseph Robinson

Anna Frick

Manoj Gurung

Molly Murphy

Jamie Arbuckle

Kellon Innocent

Will Mena

Monica Ruiz-Ziegler

Manny Siverio

Mike Buonanno

Alexander Sanikidze

Courtney R. Alfrey

Nat Jencks

Arjuna Bharathan

Robert Currie

Salome Maisuradze

John Baer

Abby Geoghegan

Andi Ralph

Dachi Abesalashvili

Patrick Christensen

Tina Babakishvili

Nicolette Jackson

Tornike Dzidzikashvili

Brian N. Joseph

Jacqueline McGinn

Adam Adelman

Jennie Breckenridge

Jacob Stahlman

Andrew Dahreddine

Brad Reichel

Dan Buckman

Chuck Girard

Milena Erke

Ike Oedel

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Director Tony Goldwyn‘s “Ezra” is a surprisingly heartfelt family drama that manages to be both funny and emotional in all the right ways. While it can sometimes feel too pedestrian, the story blends a road trip narrative with themes of family dynamics, personal trauma, and the unconditional love between a father and son.

Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a stand-up comedian and a father to Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), a young boy on the autism spectrum. Devoted to his son, Max is fiercely protective of his unique qualities while remaining adamant about not “fixing” him because he believes Ezra is perfect as he is. But when forced to make a tough choice about the boy ‘s future, Max acts rashly, taking Ezra on a cross-country journey without his ex-wife Jenna’s (Rose Byrne) permission. This impulsive move creates both tension and heartfelt moments, as it forces Max to confront the consequences of his actions and the depths of his love for his son.

What sets the film apart is its authentic, raw portrayal of autism (the script is written by Tony Spiridakis, whose own experiences with an autistic son give the story an undeniable sense of realism). Fitzgerald (who is also on the spectrum) interacts with a world in a way that feels incredibly true to life because it is. The film captures the little things, like Ezra’s struggles with physical touch and his love for puzzles and memorization, without ever feeling exploitative. This is a film that doesn’t just shine a light on the challenges of autism, but exposes a world of nuance and individuality. You could say it’s educational in that way.

Cannavale’s performance as a deeply flawed father who’s totally devoted to his son is impressive. I didn’t know the actor had this much range, and he’s quite good. His character’s anger-management issues and rash decisions add a layer of complexity but it’s clear that every wrong step he takes is driven by love that isn’t always expressed in the healthiest way. Byrne provides a grounding balance to the chaos, portraying a character who is the voice of reason, and Robert De Niro’s role as Max’s father, Stan, is written in a way that’s more meaningful than a series of platitudes that often surround a dad trying to make amends for his past failures. Stan’s attempts to connect with Ezra and support his son are touching, and De Niro’s performance adds a depth to the family dynamics that feels earned and real.

The film strikes a perfect balance between drama and humor. There are moments of missteps where you’ll cringe at Max’s choices, but there’s never any doubt about his fierce, unwavering love for his son. This father-son relationship is at the emotional center of the film and serves as a reminder of how love can be messy, complicated, but also transformative.

“Ezra” is a story about family and how love isn’t always perfect. It blends humor and heart so well, providing a funny and moving look at fatherhood, redemption, and the bond between generations.

By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

Best Movies

Ezra

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Bobby Cannavale

William A. Fitzgerald

Robert De Niro

Rose Byrne

Vera Farmiga

Whoopi Goldberg

Rainn Wilson

Tony Goldwyn

Jackson Frazer

Greer Barnes

Box office

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