Before and After - 7 stars out of 10

Before and After - 7 stars out of 10

Meryl Streep is stunning in this character-driven piece about a family who is ripped apart (and pulled together) when their son is accused of murder. The story was excellent with a script that demanded excellent actors for these emotional roles... and they were cast perfectly. Neeson delivers a good performance as he strikes the balance between anger and compassion, but is overshadowed by Streep who is in her element with this dramatic role (though one could argue that she is in her element with a comedic role, or any other role for that matter). If I was on the Academy, I would've nominated Streep for an Oscar. Then again, I'd nominate her for her performance in just about any movie. The other standout performance comes from Molina as the lawyer who may not have a heart but knows how to win a case. This may be his finest role. I think that the children could have been cast better, but it's worth watching for the main three adult actors. Though the ending isn't entirely satisfying, it's definitely the right ending. This film is very underrated and I'd recommend it to any fan of Streep or Molina.