Mass                     4 ½ stars

I had the chance to see a 2021 Sundance release in the form of Mass which has just been released in theaters. This is a heavy drama written and directed by Fran Kranz in his debut effort. I remember Kranz from his character on Doll House, the TV series, but he has had several other more significant roles since. The film mostly takes place in a single room in a small town church where two middle aged couples are to meet here for a purpose to be revealed. Before the meeting we see some of the arrangements being coordinated by a pastor’s wife and a woman counsellor. After the four arrive some cordial comments and small talk are made between them. Jay and Gail are portrayed by Jason Isaacs of Star Trek: Discovery and The Death of Stalin and Martha Plimpton of Raising Hope, while Richard and Linda are portrayed by Reed Birney from House of Cards (but I know him from Strawberry Mansion) and Ann Dowd who I remember from many films, but she may be best known for The Handmaid’s Tale. Finally the purpose becomes clear when we find their common experience is losing their children in a horrific school shooting that happened several years before. What follows in an intense outpouring of raw emotion, sorrow and rage as the characters relive the tragedy and the aftermath and seek some kind of explanation for what happened to their children. Not many movies try to tackle this weighty subject, but the performances given here are top notch and completely believable. The film doesn’t try to present an opinion on the subject except to show the level of pain that the loved ones experience in such a tragic event that has become all too common in America. I understand that Kranz has been working on the film for many years and I am glad that he finally succeeded in completing this much needed project.