X+Y (AKA A Brilliant Young Mind)

Dir: Morgan Matthews

2015

**

Morgan Matthews' X+Y received a lot of hype upon release but I'm not sure it was worthy of any of it. I will praise any film that raises autism awareness but I think the way it is handled here is very misleading. Morgan Matthews directed a made for TV documentary in 2007 called Beautiful Young Minds. It focused on the British team who were competing in the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad. Many of the competitors had a form of autism and a couple of students in particular gave Matthews an idea for a dramatization of their stories and so X+Y, or A Brilliant Young Mind as it is also known, was born. There are two common stereotypes attached to autism; firstly that they are incapable of love and secondly that they are all Rain Man. X+Y does nothing but fuel that very basic misconception. The conclusion of Morgan Matthews' X+Y also makes a suggestion that autism can be cured somewhat, which again, is misleading. Matthews has taken the public's misconception of autism, put it into a situation he's filmed before and has made an emotionally manipulative drama that is purely intended to pull at people's heartstrings. I find the story to be pretty shallow to be honest. It touches on some lovely ideas here and there, a mathematical formula for love for instance, but it never really goes anywhere, it just looks clever on the film's poster. I absolutely love Sally Hawkins and Eddie Marsan but both performances were over theatrical, although I blame the poor direction for their performances. I don't think Asa Butterfield did a particularly good job at portraying a boy with autism and I'm still far far away from being a Rafe Spall fan. I didn't think much of the direction, I found the pace rather slow and much of the story clichéd. I'm completely puzzled by the hype the film received. Not just puzzled by how good people thought autism was handled or by how beautiful the direction but mainly because hardly anyone has praised what is the film's only saving grace. Jake Davies' supporting performance is absolutely incredible and is the only credible aspect of the entire production. He clearly researched his role and in my opinion he performed it perfectly. Apart from Jake Davies' short but amazing performance it is forgettable, hollow and a missed opportunity.