Film Review: FLAG DAY (2021): Sean Penn Delivers a Powerful Family Drama

Flag Day Review

Flag Day (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Sean Penn and starring Sean Penn, Dylan Penn, Josh Brolin, Regina King, Tom Anniko, Addison Tymec, Katheryn Winnick, Cole Flynn, Beckam Crawford, Jadyn Rylee, Rick Skene, Bailey Noble, James Russo, Dale Dickey, Hopper Penn and Norbert Leo Butz.

Sean Penn has given us some very memorable characterizations through the roles he’s played throughout the years from his work in Dead Man Walking or She’s So Lovely to his Oscar-winning roles in Mystic River and Milk. He even played a part in the 2011 Terrence Malick masterpiece The Tree of Life. As a director of films such as The Pledge and Into the Wild, he’s displayed some phenomenal ways of creating raw, authentic character development. In his new film, Flag Day, which he both stars in and directed, he adds another emotionally draining dramatic powerhouse film to his resume. His real-life daughter, Dylan Penn, gives a performance so terrific that one can only hope she is able to carve out as great a career for herself as her dad has. Based on her work in this film, that shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Flag Day is an adaptation of journalist Jennifer Vogel’s memoir based on her difficult relationship with her father, John, who was a known counterfeiter. John (played by Sean Penn) was born on Flag Day; hence the film’s title. This film traces his life from the early days of him being a father to the later, more devastating ones. Dylan Penn in a terrific star-making turn plays Jennifer as a teenager and as an adult while Addison Tymec and Jadyn Rylee portray the character at different stages in her life as a younger girl. Katheryn Winnick plays the role of Jennifer’s troubled mother Patty.

In the movie’s earlier scenes we see John’s relationship with his daughter which is eventually derailed by John’s involvement with some shady characters and his inability to make an honest living. When, as a teenager, Jennifer is almost sexually assaulted by Patty’s new love interest, she decides to go live with her estranged father who ends up forming a bond with her. Jennifer wants him to get honest work and some of the film’s most realistic scenes revolve around John’s unsuccessful attempts to go “straight” and make a respectable life for himself.

The plot gets complicated when John is caught lying about his job and things get even more complex as Jennifer realizes they cannot live together because of John’s lies and inability to do what regular people are supposed to do (i.e. work). He robs a bank instead and gets caught. For some time, Jennifer wanders aimlessly and eventually becomes homeless before deciding to take control of her life and pursue her ambitions to be a journalist.

There are scenes of this film that hit the audience really hard with emotion. One such scene is on a small boat John takes Jennifer on in order to win back her respect. Jennifer, who has undergone a transformation for the better, can no longer tolerate John’s delusions that he can live a normal, respectable life. Too many bad things have happened and Jennifer has to let her dad know that she is aware of his false ideals.

The film is framed in the beginning and the end by Jennifer’s interaction with the U.S. Marshal played by Regina King. We learn right from the beginning that John was a counterfeiter and the movie keeps us guessing what led John to this way of life and the movie gives the audience some heartbreaking answers.

In support, Josh Brolin appears briefly as Jennifer’s uncle and Hopper Penn, Sean’s son and Dylan’s brother, appears as John’s son/Jennifer’s brother Nick. Both offer brief but decent turns in the picture.

What makes Flag Day a definite success are the performances by Sean and Dylan Penn. Sean Penn’s John could be written off as a total loser in a lesser film but the movie adds considerable depth to the character through Sean Penn’s fierce, brave performance. We feel for his character and see him as he makes mistakes that end up costing him more than he could ever print in phony money–he loses the respect of his daughter and, for him, that’s everything.

Dylan Penn matches her dad note for note in what is a movie rarity–a fully fleshed out female character who isn’t perfect but who the audience respects every step of the way. We want to see her overcome the obstacles she faces throughout the picture. This character goes through some physical changes throughout the film as well and wears different hairstyles with different hair colors during the course of the movie. Dylan Penn captures her character’s vulnerability and need to be strong so she can overcome the deceit her father thrusts upon her at given moments. But, does she become too strong? After all, John is still her dad, for better or worse.

The emotional conclusion of Flag Day is very powerful. Although the film takes some time to get going in the beginning with some difficult to watch shaky camera work along the way, it must be seen. Sean and Dylan Penn are masters of the acting game and their work creates fully fleshed out characters who the audience is able to sympathize with during the course of the film. It’s a very good picture.

Rating: 8/10

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