Performance Review: ‘The Nest’
Fans of Sean Durkin’s feature film debut Martha Marcy May Marlene may be eager to see his latest, which recently swept up at the Deauville American Film Festival, taking home a number of accolades that included the grand prize. The period piece takes place in the ‘80s and centers on the O’Hara family, led by parents Rory (Jude Law) and Allison (Carrie Coon). Rory, a UK native, convinces the family to move from their home in suburban America to England for a commodities broker job opportunity that he’s received from his former firm. But as Allison and their children attempt to adapt to their new life, the family begins to unravel, just as Rory’s plans for a lucrative fresh start suffer the same fate. Keep reading to find out how Law and Coon delivered in their roles, richly written by Durkin.
Jude Law
Law brings some serious star power to the indie film. Rom-com fans may know him for his heartwarming turn as single dad Graham in Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday or as the titular womanizer in Charles Shyer’s Alfie. Other blockbuster titles to his name include the Warner Bros. feature Sherlock Holmes, opposite Robert Downey Jr., and Paramount’s recent action-packed drama The Rhythm Section, opposite Blake Lively. And while his characters in those films all have a certain depth to them, Durkin’s script offers Law an incredibly complex role. Rory starts the film as the consummate family man who drives the children to school and gets in a backyard soccer game with his son before dinner. But cracks in his picture-perfect image soon emerge, most notably once he moves the family to England for the opportunity to work at his old firm. At the welcome-back work party, we discover he solicited the return to his previous employer rather than being sought after for it as he’d suggested to Allison, who’d been reticent to uproot their family for the career move.
It’s the first of Rory’s many lies that are exposed as the film unfolds. Law gives a strong portrayal of a man who presents himself to be confident and successful, believing that the next big deal will bring the wealth and status that he pretends to already possess. The actor infuses in Rory a certain mercurial quality that bubbles underneath his often-jovial exterior. His character is essentially a salesman in every area of his life, whether he’s trying to sell business acquaintances or family members on the lucrative life he thinks is just around the corner. Law smartly delivers many of Rory’s lines in a manner bordering on manic, especially as the film reaches its climax. This volatile embodiment of the character is summed up during a well-played fight scene with Allison. “I take risks — sometimes I’m up and sometimes I’m down,” Rory explains. “That’s who I am, Allison.” During the same exchange, he calls his wife stupid, an occurrence that happens many times throughout the film. And while Law is working with a character who’s often unlikable in both his interpersonal relationships and choices, another actor might have inspired more sympathy for a man trying desperately to keep things together as they continue to fall apart. Overall, though, the actor utilizes the depth of Durkin’s script to deliver a well-rounded performance.
Carrie Coon
You may know Coon from series such as The Leftovers, Fargo, and The Sinner. Or perhaps you’re familiar with her work due to her role as Margo Dunne in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, the actor’s impressive feature film debut. Regardless, it’s safe to say that Coon is no stranger to the genre of drama, and she brings a precise blend of intensity and vulnerability to her role in The Nest. IndieWire calls it “one of her most riveting performances to date,” and we couldn’t agree more. Coon’s Allison is an indomitable spirit who serves as the heartbeat of the film. The actor walks a fine line with the role, presenting Allison at the top of the film as a no-nonsense businesswoman who works as an equestrian trainer. When the move forces her to leave the position, Coon maintains the strength of her character as Allison attempts to help her children through the process of being uprooted and then replanted in their unwanted new home. The actor deftly allows the deeply-caring side of Allison to break through her tough exterior when she’s interacting with her daughter and son. The same goes for scenes with her beloved horse, the only familiar piece of home that made it to their new life in England.
Coon delivers a masterful performance that is grounded and gritty, with the latter quality especially put on display during exchanges with Rory. As you see the house of cards her husband built begin to fall around her, Allison’s unyielding will is revealed. She begins to rebel against his deceit, most notably at a climactic moment in the film when she reveals his fabrications at a business dinner. Coon expertly plays the moment before this “mic-drop” moment for Allison. You see her wrestle with the decision and come to realize as the viewer that she’s reached her breaking point. Then, with bated breath, you get to watch as the actor unleashes, albeit in a very staid manner. It is Allison’s self-possession that makes the abandonment Coon displays in a soon-following dance sequence that much more effective. The scene is a work of art thanks to the actor’s commitment, and it reflects the overall incredible work Coon delivers in The Nest.
Besides Law and Coon, there are also strong performances given by actors in secondary roles. Oona Roche and Charlie Shotwell give solid, respective portrayals of Samantha and Benjamin, the O’Hara children caught in their parent’s dysfunction. And Michael Culkin gives a memorable turn as the slimy head of Rory’s firm. You can catch all these performances and more when The Nest releases in select theaters September 18.
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