Self-reflection through honest dialogue between children and adults
Come on, come on
I'm a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, so I went to see "Come On, Come On" without any prior knowledge, knowing it was the lead actor. His amazing performance in the previous film, "Joker," was still fresh in my mind, so I felt a sense of contrast, but I also remember being left with the afterglow of having seen a flat yet special film.
This film depicts the gradual connection between Johnny, played by Joaquin, and his 9-year-old nephew, Jesse. Dialogue is at the heart of the story. Jesse relentlessly asks simple questions, forcing Johnny to confront questions he didn't have answers for or had naturally avoided. Seeing this turn of events lead to a positive direction made me realize the importance of speaking, even though I'm not a big talker myself.
The film is also sprinkled with good words, such as honest remarks from children and quotes from books, and I notice something different every time I watch it, but one line that is particularly memorable is when Johnny says about his job recording interviews, "It's so cool to make something ordinary immortal."
As a poet who continues to try to turn everyday life into tanka, I felt a certain similarity in the film, and it was encouraging. Even though the dramatic developments don't really move you, the more you immerse yourself in the film's worldview, the more the flavor seeps in, like a boiled egg. That's what makes a film so moving for me. I think it will naturally have an effect on your life even after the story has concluded.
