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Being Flynn

Play trailer Poster for Being Flynn R 2012 1h 42m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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49% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) is a young writer trying to define himself. He misses his mother, who recently died, but his father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro), has been out of his life for 18 years. When Jonathan is in danger of losing his job and apartment, he reaches out to his son. Overwhelmed, Nick nonetheless prepares to welcome his father back into his life, then Jonathan quickly disappears again. When Nick later finds the man at a homeless shelter, he must make a big decision.
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Being Flynn

Being Flynn

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Critics Consensus

Robert De Niro gives a sincere, gripping performance, but Being Flynn is an uneasy mix of drama and comedy that fails to emotionally resonate as a whole.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 03/23/2012
2.5/5
On the whole, the film feels detached and morose, just like its characters. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 03/17/2012
2.5/4
It's captured a corner of a my imagination, getting me to think like I haven't in ages, and for all my mixed feelings those are traits I'll happily celebrate now and until the end of time. Go to Full Review Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch 03/16/2012
3/4
He might be guilty of showboating, but De Niro's knockout performance is a declaration that the star of "Raging Bull" isn't ready to hang up his gloves. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension 03/16/2021
Despite all this, Weitz and his camera are infatuated with DeNiro, who is performing more than he is acting in a film that only he and the director don't understand is more suited to the latter... Go to Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse 01/31/2021
3/5
A bleak character study that scrapes by on the strength of its performances. Go to Full Review Brent McKnight The Last Thing I See 07/11/2020
B+
a film that plumbs the depths of addiction, poverty, family, and ultimately identity, doesn't pull any punches, and approaches all of these themes from a personal angle that makes them accessible. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/24/2022 Some decent performances in this soft-hearted take on addiction surrounding a father and his son, but addiction isn't really soft-hearted so it didn't feel quite like it's self. It does have a subtle good message in the end that could benefit a few people, most of which who will likely miss it as it goes over their head. See more 01/16/2021 Being Flynn is a good son and father relationship drama. Robert De Niro gives an excellent performance one of his better performances in years. The script is solid and the movie moves briskly along for the most part and the few slow scenes. The flashback scenes with his mother don’t seem to be fully developed though it seems to take away from the main story. Still a decent film worth watching. See more 09/14/2018 This movie moves fast but is very relatable to the fast pace of life. Robert is amazing as always. See more 05/28/2018 Loved this movie. very sensitive acting, and the story is by no means banal or hackneyed. See more Donald B 11/26/2017 The creators of Being Flynn would like it to be considered a deep and insightful look at both mental illness and substance abuse, but it comes up hollow. Maybe if the filmmakers could decide on a single main character, instead of focusing on two, then something could have been salvaged from this one. Also, the lack of focus is exasperated by the poor story telling aesthetic, which constantly switches from one narrator to the next as if hey are jostling for our attention. See more lise l 11/04/2017 I liked it! Serious matters in unsentimental ways. Loved Danas very low key character and de Niro being too much without being too much. See more Read all reviews
Being Flynn

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Weitz

Director

Robert De Niro

Jonathan Flynn

Paul Dano

Nick Flynn

Julianne Moore

Jody Flynn

Olivia Thirlby

Denise

Eddie Rouse

Carlos

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Being Flynn

Robert De Niro as Jonthan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." (L-R) Paul Dano as Nick Flynn and Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn and Julianne Moore as Jody Flynn in "Being Flynn." Lili Taylor as Joy in "Being Flynn." (L-R) Robert De Niro as Jonthan Flynn and Paul Dano as Nick Flynn in "Being Flynn." Robert De Niro as Jonathan Flynn in "Being Flynn." Julianne Moore as Jody Flynn in "Being Flynn." Paul Dano as Nick Flynn and Olivia Thirlby as Denise in "Being Flynn." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Nick Flynn (Paul Dano) is a young writer trying to define himself. He misses his mother, who recently died, but his father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro), has been out of his life for 18 years. When Jonathan is in danger of losing his job and apartment, he reaches out to his son. Overwhelmed, Nick nonetheless prepares to welcome his father back into his life, then Jonathan quickly disappears again. When Nick later finds the man at a homeless shelter, he must make a big decision.
Director
Paul Weitz
Producer
Paul Weitz, Andrew Miano, Michael Costigan
Screenwriter
Paul Weitz
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Community Films, Depth of Field, Tribeca Productions, Focus Features
Rating
R (Drug Use|Brief Nudity|Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$526.3K
Runtime
1h 42m
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