Good movie but grossly overrated

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

while attending the montana state fair in Great Falls we stopped for lunch at the cascade county search and rescue food booth and ordered. sitting next to me was a very nice girl. I would have been 14 at the time and she was very easy to talk to and just a fun person to be around. Little did we know she was a movie star let alone one being filmed that day. In short Patricia Arquette is a very kind and down to earth person I will always respect her. After she finished eating there was fight between her and some man with a brief case and we couldn't believe what was happening the girl we had lunch with was fighting with some guy. then it happened again and again then we figured out that it was part of a movie. later we followed along and were able to be part of the crowd at the fair and in many other scenes that were left on the cutting room floor. But a will say that the movie is worth watching and Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a self absorbed bastard. what the heck it was directed by Leonard Nimoy it is worth watching

Betsy (Patricia Arquette) and Peter (Tate Donovan) rob a carnival and go on the run. To hide out they return to the religious commune where Peter grew up. He hides the money and then promptly dies. To remain in the commune and find the money Betsy marries Peter's younger brother Ezekiel (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), leading to "comedy", "adventure" and "love".....What could be better than a comedy set in an Amish-style community starring Patricia Arquette and directed by Spock? Well - quite a lot actually. The plot is pretty thin and all the "comedy" revolves around the mis-match of the boy and his adult wife. This gets very thin very quickly, leaving only the "thriller" plot of the dirty FBI agent hunting the money himself (John Schuck). Unfortunately the thriller element doesn't work either.Patricia Arquette is poor in the lead role playing a very unsympathetic character that flicks between two emotions - angry and repentant. Gordon-Levitt is good as Ezekiel and has some of the few funny moments in the film. However he is hampered by the poor material he has to work with. Support from Donovan and Schuck is as poor as you'd expect.It's not a terrible film but it's just all so lame. There's nothing to really make you feel strongly either way and to me that's worse than a film that's laughably bad. The whole project is pointless.

Why can't more movies like this be put in for oscar awards. There is not much more to say than complete excellence. I just wish Dan Cossolini would do more movies. He is a superb actor & I believe it is a shame that he hasn't done any movies lately. This movie is a classic & you can't even find it on DVD. I wish I could get my hands on a copy!!!

If ever a film is a lost cause, this one is. I agree, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the best part about it, although Patricia Arquette has her moments. The script and direction are both awful. Skip it unless you are fans of one of the stars.