The Tender Bar: Film Review
The Tender Bar: Movie Review Cast: Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Christopher Lloyd, Lily Rabe Director: George Clooney Bathed in a sense of nostalgia and swathed in the palette of a picture postcard, George Clooney's The Tender Bar feels like little more than a group of ramshackle coming-of-age vignettes, shot with purpose, but ultimately lacking an engaging cohesion. Based on J.R. Moehringer's memoir, it's the story of J.R. (Daniel Ranieri as the wide-eyed child, Tye Sheridan in the latter years) who's forced to live at his grandpa's place when his single mum (Rabe, powerful at the start, sidelined after a third of the way) has to head home. With his mother's exhortations that he would go to Harvard, JR spends most of his time in the foster father relationship of his uncle Charlie (Affleck, rarely more likeable and affable in this casual role) who works at the local bar. The Tender Bar may be aiming for a gentle mellow vibe, but its lacklustre plotting and sense o...