and I realise with that one summary, I may have alienated more conservative readers, but hey - you're already preaching to the converted.
So, as an audience, do we really need to see that the mother is a hopeless case AFTER the custody decision has been awarded in her favour?! Does the kid have to die, as a result of the ruling? I realise this is how events MAY have transpired, but some judicious pacing could have been employed, in order that proceedings not feel quite so manipulative.
I'm fully in favour of adoption to a loving home, no matter the sexuality of the prospective parents I am but it would be nice if the individual facts of the case were trusted to speak for themselves, instead of feeling like the undecided have to have their arm twisted behind their back before they can be counted upon to make the right call. A little more subtlety would have made the movie more effective to me, even if marginally less persuasive for those whose verdict is still in the balance.
It's a shame, too, because the message is all in favour of a good cause, and Cumming's performance is masterful. It's a pity for the sake of organic storytelling in entertaining form, that those factors alone were not judged as compelling enough to be able to swing the vote.
So, as an audience, do we really need to see that the mother is a hopeless case AFTER the custody decision has been awarded in her favour?! Does the kid have to die, as a result of the ruling? I realise this is how events MAY have transpired, but some judicious pacing could have been employed, in order that proceedings not feel quite so manipulative.
I'm fully in favour of adoption to a loving home, no matter the sexuality of the prospective parents I am but it would be nice if the individual facts of the case were trusted to speak for themselves, instead of feeling like the undecided have to have their arm twisted behind their back before they can be counted upon to make the right call. A little more subtlety would have made the movie more effective to me, even if marginally less persuasive for those whose verdict is still in the balance.
It's a shame, too, because the message is all in favour of a good cause, and Cumming's performance is masterful. It's a pity for the sake of organic storytelling in entertaining form, that those factors alone were not judged as compelling enough to be able to swing the vote.