Following his notable work in "The Black Phone," Banks Repeta gives another performance in this unusual story about a young boy ("Paul"), who has Jewish heritage, needing to balance his family’s goals for him as he attempts to adjust to a diverse neighborhood. His closest friend at school, "Johnny" (Jaylin Webb), is somewhat troublesome, and Paul's parents would have preferred he didn't spend so much time with him. His grandfather "Aaron" (Sir Anthony Hopkins) shares a strong connection with the boy and tries to guide him toward fairness and integrity in an environment where those qualities aren’t always simple to maintain. Several ideas are explored within the film. At its core, it depicts two children attempting to find their place—one from a more secure and comfortable background than the other. There's also a sense of discrimination present, which is made even more impactful because it isn’t explicitly about race, but rather deals with tolerance, ambition, and affection as experienced through childhood innocence; an innocence that hasn't yet been corrupted by ingrained prejudice that even well-intentioned people struggle to avoid. Sir Anthony Hopkins appears infrequently, but his character effectively serves as a means for young "Paul" to navigate difficult decisions. Webb also delivers a commendable performance, presenting a stark contrast to the cherished and protected "Paul" as their friendship moves toward an expected resolution. Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong are serviceable in their roles as the parents, who are themselves working to ensure that their children have better opportunities than they did. James Gray utilizes the New York setting effectively to give insight into the hardships of their childhoods. However, the film loses some momentum towards the end, and I felt the conclusion diminished much of what came before. Did "Paul" truly experience any growth? Decide for yourself. It can be slow at times and feels a bit long, but it’s definitely worth watching.

Source on TMDB