'Driveways' A Review

Driveways is a drama about a single mother who inherits a house from her estranged sister. The film opens on Kathy(Hong Chau) and Cody(Lucas Jaye) driving into an unnamed New York state town to sell the house of Kathy's deceased sister who was, they discover, a hoarder making the project significantly longer than they had planned. Sensitive kid Cody strikes up a friendship with the aging widower next door Del(Brian Dennehy).

Chau puts in a wonderfully grounded performance(coming off of her more operatic turn in HBO's Watchmen), subtle but emotional, quiet but powerful. Jaye is a surprisingly raw and vulnerable performer channeling not only the wonder if childhood but also it's crippling discomfort with seemingly effortless honesty. Dennehy gives one of the greatest, and most reserved, performances of his career. We love him when he bellows but here he's quiet and regretful and utterly sincere and it's astonishing. The supporting cast is rounded it out with some lovely character actors, Del's friends at the VFW and a nosy neighbor played by Christine Ebersole, and a compassionate real estate agent but ultimately the three leads take the major focus and the film patiently revolves around them.

Authentic production design and a reserved but effective score bring this fragile, beautiful, moving story to life. There is no real plot to speak of the film simply follows it's characters with interest and utter empathy, as much care is taken with long takes and silences as is taken with what could be considered emotional crescendos.

A kind, hopeful, human film constructed with striking clarity.

Available for rent on most VOD platforms.

Don't Miss It.