i just finish watch this horribly depress drama and realize that and in light of recent drama such a these and the only one who could be consider abnormal be those who be least aware that life be nothing more than tragic . i would suggest how nauseatingly defeatist and counter productive this conclusion be and even if relationship and outlook like those present in this movie be ground in fact to some degree . but and instead and i realize that these film have make the very determination of the great tragedy trivial when the same boring situation and the same suffocating dysfunctional family and friendship continue to play out just have they be over and over again in some sort of attempt to knock out previous distortion of family life ( much of it exist in the 1950s and early with personality and character aberration be make ever so subtle ) and supplant it instead with the reality of how thing actually be . that in fact and what we be watch be no longer the dysfunctional and but in fact and a normal existence and set of circumstance that have actually exist all along and but of which we may have be previously be unaware and thus and have ignore or at least deny . only problem be and that too many film have be try to make this point . and by do so in nearly identical form . when i have read the synopsis for the film and i immediately think of ice storm . while watch the depress lifelessness of the travis family and which seem to endure repeat emotional berating and i immediately recalled american beauty . and and in some regard and the interaction between the parent and the middle child and tim and i draw similarity from igby go down . imaginary hero may be a novel experience and maybe a refresh one deem so for an honest portrayal of character that and a say before and be often not permit to exist in the film of family ( which be idiotic to think anyways and consider we be already see these kind of relationship display in film like ordinary people as early a 1980 and which go back even far than that ) . but and to the well verse viewer and these film may offer nothing new . they have in fact and become a rather tired testimony of too many filmmaker who may try to out do the other with the amount of trauma and apathy they can pack into one family ( and here and it extend to neighbor and friend ) . in fact and imaginary hero and the late in this genre ( i do think there have be enough film to accurately declare it a genre ) and crams so many disaster and surprise into one family and that they would make prize find for a daytime talk show host . it be the story of a family who be test by the suicide of the eldest son and a talented and decorated swimmer who hat the sport with a passion . the young son know this and the father be in a daze and blind by the push for competitiveness in his all star son . and it not clear that the mother and sister have much of a relationship with the young man . grant and it be no less entertaining ( to some extent and for those who find this material exhaustively depress after a while ) and and the performance be quite good and especially by sigourney weaver and jeff daniel . but and i sure hope that filmmaker in the future wish to add to the commentary of struggle familial relationship ( which coincidentally or not always seem to be upper middle class white suburban family ) intend to offer something new by way of material and insight . i should see no distinction ( and consequently and no purpose ) otherwise .