Radio Flyer [PG-13] [1992]
Overall movie: ****
EJW content: Lead role with story told from his character's POV; portrayal of a child's inner life is almost too real--it's a relief to remember it's a movie.
Well-done, strong but not sensationalized movie dealing with child abuse. Elijah plays the older of two brothers whose divorced mother marries a man who emotionally abuses both boys and physically abuses the younger one. The stepfather is played by Adam Baldwin, whose face is unseen by the camera because the story is being told from the POV of an abused child's memory--quite an unselfish way for an actor to play a role. The acting in the movie overall is totally believable, sometimes painfully so because of the subject matter.
Elijah's character takes on the responsibility of protecting his younger brother, as well as trying to protect their mother by keeping the abuse a secret from her; both decisions ultimately lead to what was a controversial ending. The original ending was replaced by the one that ultimately became part of the film. That original ending is definitely, unashamedly fantasy. Some people had problems with that (as they thought it was wrong to show a "fantasy" solution to child abuse), so the revised ending is very ambiguous and has led to reviewers coming up with various explanations for it. Additional fantasy elements are incorporated at several other points during the film, and are handled quite well compared to the treatment they would receive in most non-genre movies.
Tom Hanks has an uncredited part playing Elijah's character as an adult. My guess is that the message of this movie prompted both Adam Baldwin and Tom Hanks to make their somewhat anonymous acting contributions.
Finally!! Radio Flyer available on DVD!
