copperbeech: blog 
copperbeech's blog
film ~ an unfinished life
Published Jan 2, 2008
This is another of those DVDs neither of us knows how it got into the queue. Due to that I didn't know what to expect from this film. I missed the generational barge that finds Robert Redford the bees' knees, and I'm not a huge fan of JLo The Actress. Morgan Freeman, however, is a class act so I pursued despite the film's dubious appearance in our home. The story is that Jean (JLo), through life circumstances, is forced to return to the home of her deceased husband's father until she can get back on her feet. With daughter in tow she attempts to mend their decade-plus poor relationship. The film accomplishes addressing some very modern sentiments in what one would consider an otherwise remote and ubertraditional setting. For instance, it is up to the viewer to guess what the relationship is between Redford and Freeman's characters, though the young daughter flat out asks them if they are gay. The inquiry rolls off the shoulders of these hardboiled cowboys, very openly hinting at the Brokeback cultural phenomenon (released the same year). Although the film tackles very deep topics in domestic violence, mortality, grief, and despair, it never mires the viewer in the emotional states of the characters. Given that, this film accomplishes addressing very difficult life experiences without emotionally manipulating its audience. This is one film that allows the hardships of life to present themselves realistically, no melodrama in sight. It is this testament to all of the cast that made me a fan of Redford and JLo. The chemistry between every cast member is real and conveys wholly in the film. The plot is quite dense though it's never slow or dull, moving along rather well in spite of its many arcs. The writing is quite tight, lending itself to some great quotes and sarcastic humor, which is part of what keeps the drama from being self-absorbed.
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