Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘Causeway’ Offers A Honest Look At How People Heal

REVIEW: ‘Causeway’ Offers A Honest Look At How People Heal

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings10/28/20224 Mins Read
Causeway - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Causeway - But Why Tho

Causeway, the latest collaboration between Apple Original Films and A24, offers a stirring look at how people work through various forms of trauma. It centers on Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence), a soldier who’s recently returned from Afghanistan. Lynsey’s return isn’t entirely voluntary: she was caught in the path of an IED and suffered a brain injury. She manages to work her way through physical therapy and soon returns to her home of New Orleans, intent on getting back into fighting shape.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

However, things don’t exactly work out the way she hopes. She still struggles with lingering pain from her accident, as well as unresolved issues surrounding her family. She finds an unexpected connection with James (Brian Tyree Henry), a mechanic who helps her out when her truck breaks down. And as it turns out, he’s working through some trauma of his own. As Lynsey and James attempt to build a friendship, their respective pasts threaten to sever the fragile bonds holding them together.

This marks the directorial debut of Lila Neugebauer, who keeps things relatively simple. Neugebauer understands that a good film isn’t about the runtime or the flashy camera techniques; it’s the characters within the narrative and the actors’ performances that drive audience interest. Therefore, she and cinematographer Diego Garcia are sure to center their leads in every shot, focusing on their faces. Every so often, she’ll also pull back to showcase that one of the two leads is the only person in their environment. The long, lingering looks on their faces serve as a simple, yet brutally effective way of showcasing how alone they both are.

Causeway also takes an honest look at dealing with mental health issues, thanks to screenwriters Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel, and Elizabeth Sanders. Lynsey keeps insisting that she wants to be redeployed, yet when asked why she wants to be redeployed by her neurologist (Stephen McKinley Henderson), she can’t quite answer. Those answers are slowly revealed during the film, and they have a lot to do with the fractured relationship between Lynsey and her family. What I love about the way this story unfolds is that it doesn’t neatly answer all of Lynsey’s problems. Because life doesn’t work that way. It takes time to work through a traumatic event. And trauma isn’t always inflicted on you by an injury, but rather by people who are close to you.

And none of it would work without the performances of Lawrence and Henry. Lawrence plays a woman who’s suffering and doesn’t know how to express it. This is punctuated with long, silent gazes off into space. Even though she isn’t looking directly at the camera, the pain in Lawrence’s eyes radiates to the audience. It’s a total 180 from her role in Don’t Look Up where she was extremely expressive, but this goes to show the depths of her acting talent. Henry continues to be the best part of anything he’s in, offering some sly observations one minute and some well-placed truth bombs the next. He also has a great rapport with Lawrence, which allows for some funny moments as well as some emotionally devastating ones.

A key example comes toward the end of the film when Lynsey convinces James to go swimming in the backyard of a pool she’s been cleaning at her part-time job. At first reluctant, he joins in and they seem to be enjoying themselves. But soon, an awkward encounter leads to the two having a shouting match, and this is where Lawrence and Henry pour their all into their performances. The words they hurl are meant to hurt, and the horrified look in their eyes makes it clear that they didn’t mean it. It feels like a conversation between real people. If I were to recommend a reason to watch this film, it’d be for this scene alone.

Causeway offers a raw and honest look at how people work through trauma, centered by a great pair of performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry. This film is only the latest in a string of winners for Apple TV and A24 and is definitely worth a watch.

Causeway had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022. It will premiere in select theaters and on Apple TV+ on November 4.

Causeway
  • 9/10
    Ratin - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

Causeway offers a raw and honest look at how people work through trauma, centered by a great pair of performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleADVANCED REVIEW: ‘I Hate Fairyland,’ Issue #1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘May It Please The Court’ Is An Ace Legal Drama
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

The Old Guard 2
5.5

REVIEW: ‘The Old Guard 2’ Is Distracted And Half-Baked

07/02/2025
Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World: Rebirth
5.5

REVIEW: ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Is Best When Nobody Is Talking

06/30/2025
MEGAN 2.0 promotional image
7.0

REVIEW: ‘M3GAN 2.0’ Puts Action First

06/29/2025
F1 (2025) promotional key art
8.0

REVIEW: ‘F1’ Is A High-Octane Blockbuster

06/24/2025
KPop Demon Hunters Promotional image form Netflix
9.0

REVIEW: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Brings Beautiful Animation And An Even Better Message

06/20/2025
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later
8.5

REVIEW: ’28 Years Later’ Is How Franchises Should Return

06/18/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here