With its top billing from an Oscar-winning actor, “Tenderness” is bound to cause copious head-scratching: How could a Russell Crowe vehicle go so far under the radar? Despite the name above the title, Crowe is a supporting player in this story about neglected and disaffected teens living on the run in upstate New York.
AdvertisementLori Cranston (Sophie Traub) is 15 and emotionally toxic thanks to her miserable family life and lack of real prospects.
She becomes obsessed with Eric (Jon Foster), a teen recently released from juvenile detention, where he served time for killing his parents.
On the surface, Eric seems rehabilitated, but detective Cristofuoro (Crowe) insists on trailing him upon release, telling Eric that he’s a sociopath and that, without question, he will kill again.
Cristofuoro follows Lori and Eric on their rough path through the state. Eric is looking to meet an acquaintance (Alexis Dziena of “Entourage”) at an amusement park, and there is a good chance she could be his next victim.
When it focuses on Lori, “Tenderness” is a solid character study.
Traub fares well as a dead-end girl who, by following Eric, seems to be committing suicide by proxy.
But the film soon succumbs to the rote thriller conventions favored by its director, John Polson (“Swimfan,” “Hide and Seek”).
Crowe is solid, but viewers expect more than that. “Tenderness” feels like a walk-through for this gifted actor.
Source: Newsok
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