This is one of the best contemporary movies made, and I don't hand out kudo's like that lightly. This is not hollywood big wig excecutives throwing some formula junk together just to make a buck type film. This is what film making should be. It's about real people, the characters names may be made up but are taken from bits and pieces of life experiances, they are real. The acting is outstanding, Angie Dickenson is especially noteworthy. The music score is as true and gritty as the characters, it's at just the right level to flow with and complement the film, besides it's just good music. A lot of visual metaphors are used and in a Kubrick sense everything is not spelled out for you. Much of this comes together at the end of the film but will still keep you thinking for days. Have your tissue box at close hand, it's not a sad film nor a stereotypical "tear jerker" just for the sake of being a tear jerker, it's just an emotionaly gripping film. In real life there's ups and downs, stuff happens. So if you like the formula fluff where actresses are paid according to there silocon content and where special effects are expected to make up for lack of script and plot then this film may not be for you. But if you like true, quality film making then check this out!Read full review
Husband and wife Arliss Howard and Debra Winger made this movie based on Mississippi writer Larry Brown's collection of short stories and the main character seems to bear a resemblance to Larry Brown himself. Leon Barlow drinks and he writes and he won't give up on either. His life is about as full of trouble as an old Piedmont Blues song, which is what the soundtrack is full of. Honestly, the music is slightly better than the movie, but that is because the music is very good. Chances are you haven't seen Angie Dickinson in a movie in a long time. She plays Leon's mother, who can't quite understand how he makes such a mess of his life. Nobody else can, either, except for his friend Monroe. This is one of the few films I have seen set in the South that escape condescension- or maybe I was just enjoying the soundtrack so much that I missed it. The plot is not exactly riveting and many of us have had enough drunken evenings of our own to really not need quite so much in the way of dream sequences and disorienting montages, but the atmosphere is true and the whole thing feels about right. It is sad, of course, like a good country song. If you like (or liked) the Oxford American, in any of its incarnations, you will probably like this film. Please see my other reviews and my guides for a better idea of my frame of reference. WTRead full review
I saw this movie years ago and fell in love with it I like movies that doesn't get that big at box office the best movies fly under the radar and this is one of those became aware of this movie from a trailer before "Painted Hero"another good movie just like this one
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Having taught children of returning Vietnam vets going through hell, having taught children of Gulf War vets in Europe, getting lives back together in any way possible is THE issue..great movie, vastly underrated..good people (all with some sort of inner demons) thrust into random situations, choosing their "way", or not..very well acted..Debra Winger is great.
Weird movie with Mrs Winger being the only redeeming quality. Not worth the time to see it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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