Jack (Daniel Day-Lewis) lives on an island with his daughter, Rose (Camilla Belle). Jack is the last holdout of a 60s commune, and of course, developers are steadily encroaching. But meanwhile, Jack and Rose live an idyllic eco-friendly existence, and are as tight as two entirely isolated people can be. However, Rose is becoming a young woman, and Jack is slowly dying of a heart condition. Enter Kathleen (Catherine Keener), Jack’s girlfriend, who moves in with her two sons, fat, gay, friendly Rodney (Ryan McDonald) and taciturn, grimy Lothario, Thaddius (Paul Dano). Rose resents Kathleen’s presence, and more, her relationship with Jack, and she rebels, determined to chase Kathleen and her brood off the island and regain her father’s sole attention and (quasi-incestuous) love.
Written and directed by Rebecca Miller, the movie is well-acted and beautifully shot, but the plot turns feel forced and the drama often overwrought. Kathleen and her sons are all caricatures, put in solely because they are needed for catalysts. Their thinness is all the more apparent when contrasted with the fascinating characters of Jack and Rose. The biggest problem with The Ballad of Jack and Rose, however, is its out-of-nowhere turning point and abrupt retreat from a realistic and interesting conclusion. Miller seems to shy away from the conflict she’s constructed, and the ending of the film more or less negates everything that came before it.
