What would you do if your teenage son got involved with an older, divorced woman with a child, whose x-husband is still hanging around and wants her back? This is the dilemma faced by Ruth and Matt Fowler (Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson), the parents of Frank Fowler (Nick Stahl), who is determined to take care of his girlfriend, Natalie (Marisa Tomei). Natalie is still tortured emotionally and physically by her x-husband, and since they have a child together, he has the right to be around. When the x-husband kills Frank, the family is of course devastated and becomes committed to seeking justice first in the courts and then by themselves. The movie leaves you very unsatisfied because we never learn whether they get away with what they have done. And the question is posed: "Do 2 wrongs make a right?" The movie never answers that question. This movie moves very slowly. When you think it is over, it is not. When it is over, you wonder why because there are so many unanswered questions. For Academy Awards, Sissy Spacek was nominated as Best Actress, Tom Wilkinson was nominated as Best Actor, and Marisa Tomei was nominated as Best Supporting Actress. The movie itself was nominated for Best Picture. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay. None won. Watch this at your own risk. It is sad and a story about grieving. Why it was nominated for so many Academy Awards, though, is mystifying to me.Read full review
This movie was not what I expected I only saw it because #1 I love Sissy Spacek #2 wanted to see why it warranted so many Academy Award nominations and #3 Wanted to see if Sissy did a better performance than Halle Barry did in "Monster's Ball". I walked away with a new found respect and interest in actor Tom Wilkinson.......... He did an EXCELLENT job as the father fully convincing for me, Sissy's performance was good too, but I have to say I think Halle did deserve the Oscar between the 2, Marisa Tomei didn't have that big of a role after a point in the movie but what scenes she was in was pretty, but nothing PROFOUND. This movie had the writing on the wall from the very beginning you knew it was not going to be some uplifting tale. The atmosphere and setting was PERFECT.. Maine was beautiful, calm and peaceful to set the tone of a lifestyle that this young man had grown up in. A Father (who is the town Doctor)that loved him and a Mother (who was the local high school music teacher) both seeming to be understanding that there son was involved with a Older woman with 2 children, although it is evident that Sissy Spacek does not approve of this relationship. I never really did understand if Marisa was divorced already or in the process of one with her (ex?)husband. I don't want to go into to much detail on the plot because I sometimes think you enjoy a movie more when you don't know WHAT to expect. The grieving in this movie is intense and very real, the frustrations are tangible. The Director did a INCREDIBLE job with letting you feel the emotions to EVERYONE in this movie not just the principal people I mean I KNEW how the friends felt, the nurse at the Doctors office I think that everyone did such a great job in this movie that it rates right up there with some of the best I've ever seen. Beware it does get to a point where it slows down but don't give up on it, you never really know just how much time passes between the death and the end of the movie, but by the time the credits roll it all fits in very well. Respectfully ReviewedRead full review
This is another movie I wore out repeatedly watching on VCR and had to replace with a DVD. Subtle hints of things to come accompany a rich, engaging, slowly-building plot including a fairly early shock, followed by building consequences until things suddenly come to a surprising head. If you watch, wait, and see, you will be rewarded!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Worth watching ... an eye opening movie but a little disturbing. What every parent may think when a child is killed but few act on.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This movie was better than I thought it would be. There were some slow parts of the movie that dragged on longer than needed but the story line was great. The ending was surprising to me which made the movie even better. Does have tear jerker moments that just make you want to hug someone close to you and cry. If you like movies like The Notebook, this one is a must see!
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