Wow, I talk about really making me view someone as a movie star who acts into a top caliber actor: Lucy Liu. I had viewed Lucy Liu as a glamorous movie star who did action, comedies, some scares and drama. Yet after watching Liu be Irene, I was utterly blown away. Liu nailed down all the characteristics of talk, tone, looks, movement, facial expressions, mannerisms that made Liu be Irene. Every detail in being the character was accomplished by Liu. From the get go, it was Irene and not Liu. I've seen other actors, not many, such as Streep, who can drop their movie star image and totally become the character. It is not an easy thing to do when one has a movie star persona from red carpets and interviews, to have this leave the mind of the viewer and be all in the character. Liu gave an Oscar, SAG, Golden Globe lead actor-winning performance. The director, Eric Lin, really brought together immensely soulful, painful human experience in such a candid way that it did not spare punches and made me think I was observing an actual family. The entire cast contributed immensely to making this story feel so real. Go watch this movie but be prepared to feel the pain of a mother and son really dealing with way too much more than any person(s) should have to go through. From the introduction, to the middle to the conclusion, everything was perfectly aligned in a flow that keep the tone and, with it, held my attention and everyone in the theater's, and most shed tears. Go see this movie in the cinema. It is one to share with other movie goers!

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