The Glass Castle is a 2017 film based on Jeannette Walls' memoir of the same name and distributed by Lionsgate. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Brie Larson as Jeannette and Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson as her parents Rose Mary and Rex Walls, respectively, the film follows Jeannette and her siblings' trek through childhood as their parents move around and struggle to provide for their family. Along the way, they learn to take care of themselves and discover how the world works by being thrust headfirst into it.
The first trailer can be viewed here
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Tropes:
- Adaptational Heroism:
- Unlike the book, Rex isn't depicted whipping Jeannette with his belt because she never calls out his and Rose Mary's irresponsible behaviour.
- Uncle Stanley is too. While in the book he tries to touch Jeannette, here he doesn't do anything against her. Overall, Stanley doesn't do as much in the book and stays more like a neutral character.
- Adults Are Useless: The Movie.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Jeannette doesn't seem too keen to announce to the world that her parents are homeless in New York. It's implied that she's reluctant to introduce them to the guy she's dating because of this.Rose Mary: You shouldn't be ashamed of us just because we choose a different lifestyle than you.
- Attempted Rape: Jeanette is nearly date raped by Robbie after Rex deliberately sets her up to distract him for a hustle. Jeanette gets out of the situation by kissing Robbie then showing him her burn scars.
- Babies Ever After: Brian brings his newborn baby and wife to the Thanksgiving dinner at the end.
- Big Applesauce: The kids have moved to New York by adulthood, and have to deal with their parents creeping back into their lives once they decide to become homeless in the big city.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: Just as in the book.
- Book Ends: The story of Jeannette's past begins with her ill-fated attempt to boil hot dogs. Near the end, Jeannette boils some onions for Thanksgiving dinner.
- Daddy's Girl: As the poster displays very well, Jeannette grew up loving her dad despite all his flaws.
- Drives Like Crazy: Rex drives completely off the road and through a fence. On purpose.
- Hands-Off Parenting: Rex and Rose Mary certainly don't put their parenting at the top of their priority list. Trying to provide for themselves proves hard enough.
- Hidden Depths: The kids discover a poem that their father wrote as a child living with his abusive mother."How can someone breathe while drowning in shit?"
- Promotion to Parent: Lori, Jeanette, and Brian to the youngest Maureen.
- Slap-Slap-Kiss: Rex and Rose Mary, to the children's bewilderment.
- The Alcoholic: Rex.
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Lori even as a small child. Jeanette later grows into this.
