The Friend

by Julian Spivey

Photo: Bleecker Street

Directors: Scott McGehee & David Siegel
Starring: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray & Bing 
Rated: R (language) 
Runtime: 1 hour & 59 minutes 

 
“The Friend,” directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, is a film about grief and how taxing it can be on humans and our four-legged friends.
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The film, based on Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel, is heavy and not fun to watch. I think folks need to know this because if you watch the trailer or even read some reviews mistakenly referring to the film as a “dramedy,” you’ll be disappointed.

Yes, there’s an adorable Great Dane, and that Great Dane helps the story’s lead, Iris, a New York City writer/professor grieving the suicide of her best friend, cope with her grief. She also helps Apollo, the Great Dane (Bing, one of the best dog actors you’ll come across), cope with his grief. But if you’re looking for a cute dog/single woman buddy film, this is much deeper than that.

So, “The Friend” isn’t fun. But is it good?

Yes.

Naomi Watts anchors the film with a beautiful performance as a woman struggling to figure out why her best friend, Walter (Bill Murray), decided to end his life, while also being tasked with editing a compilation of his correspondents, and then having his 150-pound Great Dane thrust upon her, despite her rent controlled apartment not allowing pets and her not being a dog person.

“The Friend” features the typical giant dog destroying the apartment when left alone for the day, an aspect of any movie of this ilk. However, we realize it isn’t because Apollo is destructive or bored, but because he’s grieving himself. One of the most touching moments of the film is when he commandeers an old sweater of Walter’s to snuggle, which Iris was keeping to remind her of her friend.

The supporting roles in the film are all well-acted with Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni and Ann Dowd all showing up from time to time as participants in Iris or Walter’s lives, but this is mostly Watts and Bing’s film, except for a scene toward the end of the movie when Iris imagines a conversation with Walter about why he did what he did and how to affects those left behind that gives Murray a chance to shine.

The hardest part of “The Friend” for my wife and me was the end when Iris realized the day would come when she’d have to say goodbye to Apollo, too. My wife and I recently said goodbye to the greatest dog we have ever known, and this scene, though beautiful in its narration by Watts, was almost too emotional for us to get through.

“The Friend” will certainly hit an emotional nerve with anyone who’s ever dealt with loss and grief, whether a family member or friend, of the two-legged or four-legged variety. It does so with a reality that is appreciated from a true-life aspect but might be a bit too jarring for anyone currently going through their own bout of grieving.