Best movie of this year hands down!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I had the pleasure of viewing this movie just tonight, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, the acting was amazing. I have never been as impressed and blown away with Donald Sutherland's acting as I was after seeing his performance. This role and his role in Ordinary People have to be his two best roles that I have seen. His performance as an aging grandfather with Parkinson's and ongoing dementia was accurate, heartbreaking and hilarious all at the same time. If I had any influence in the industry, I would try to vouch for him getting at least an Oscar nomination, if not the award itself. Everyone in the movie is amazing as well. It's not often that you see a movie where you forget that you are watching movie stars but actually see the characters in the story, but this film achieved that, and no small feat considering the numerous well known actors in it. I highly recommend the film.

I was fortunate enough to catch the final showing of this film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and was left breathless by the time it ended. A wonderful script written by Brent Boyd about a young man struggling to deal with family issues, love, and his own future is magnificently captured by director James Burke. Donald Sutherland gives one of the best performances of his fantastic career and Joshua Jackson can finally shed the image of Pacey from Dawson's Creek with a solid performance as well. The film was an unexpected, pleasant surprise and I strongly recommend it as one of the best films I've seen so far in 2006.

I saw a screening of this movie last night and absolutely loved it. I went in with little to no expectations, and the film definitely delivered. The performances were subtle yet perfectly spot on, with the standouts being Joshua Jackson and Donald Sutherland. This is a true leading man role for Jackson, and takes him beyond just being "Pacey" into being a great, adult actor. Donald Sutherland is also a revelation, and their acting chemistry is fantastic.The film isn't manipulative or preachy, it just tells a story and tells it well and manages to make you care about every single character, which is quite an accomplishment. This is James Burke's first film, and I hope he makes many more because he is a talent. He has quite a way with actors (he got a great performance out of everyone, even the smallest characters) and a great sense of tone and control. He also was able to balance the humor of the script with the pathos, and never make it feel forced.If you like films about real characters and real emotions, you should see this movie -- you won't be disappointed.

While at the Tri Be Ca Film Festival last week, I luckily happened into a screening of "Aurora Borealis" and left the theatre in tears and awe by the sheer range of humanity expressed in this film. When the movie ended I was upset because I wanted to keep following the life of Duncan. His character had captivated me with his honesty, innocence and good hearted approach to the world. The main character could be any one of us, lost in this world, looking for some meaning in our lives. A good soul, but without direction since his dad died mysteriously ten years earlier and no mother in the picture, Josh Jackson plays a young man trying to find himself as he floats from job to job until finds work in his grandparents' apartment building as an assistant to the super. There he befriends the residents of this "retirement" home and finds himself deeply entwined with the life struggle of his ailing, Alzheimer's afflicted grandfather, played brilliantly by Donald Sutherland. Louise Fletcher is perfect as the physically healthy, level headed, yet frustrated spouse to Sutherland's ornery and belligerent senior citizen. Every scene with Sutherland is exquisite and sad, yet beautiful, as he forces us to face our own mortality and that of our aging parents and grandparents. Jackson's character is seen as a failure by his financially successful, but fidelity-challenged brother and by his boyhood buddies with the usual jobs of twenty-somethings. Duncan shines, however, as he reluctantly, yet dutifully and lovingly cares for his needy grandfather all the while falling for his grandfather's nurse, played sweetly by Juliet Lewis. The direction and photography are beautiful with wonderful shots of Minneapolis/St. Paul and the film moves with a perfect pace. The score is incredible throughout, but the opening Bob Dylan song was amazing and is still playing in my head as an accompaniment in my life.