People are voting emotionally.

Brilliant and touching

Best movie ever!

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It's 1957 Haley, Illinois. Brothers Jacey (Billy Crudup) and Doug Holt (Joaquin Phoenix) live with their mother (Kathy Baker). Lloyd Abbott (Will Patton) is the rich and powerful man around town who is constantly throwing lavish parties. He has 3 daughters. Jacey flirts with middle daughter Eleanor Abbott (Jennifer Connelly). Doug likes the youngest Pamela (Liv Tyler) but also falls for Eleanor. The latest party is to celebrate the announcement of oldest daughter Alice (Joanna Going)'s shotgun wedding. Jacey tells Doug that Lloyd Abbott screwed their family out of money from their father's patent which saved Abbott's company. Lloyd warns the girls against Jacey.First of all, I hate the narration. It adds nothing but annoyance. I hate that Michael Keaton is narrating as an older Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix could have done it himself. The whole thing frustrates me every time it comes up. As for the actors, some of them don't seem to fit. Billy Crudup is suppose to be a ladies man and that's at the edge of his range. Joaquin Phoenix is suppose to be shy and awkward but he's outgrown that Parenthood character. Generally, I don't like the light breezy tone. The material seems to be build for something darker. The movie just doesn't have any tension.

This hidden gem is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I am normally an action-adventure, big explosion fan, looking for limited "feels" in my movies.This is just the opposite. It's a fantastic slice of life picture starring Joaquin Phoenix in a tender, touching and complex role - especially when juxtaposed with his hit of the time as the evil emperor in Gladiator. All of the performances are outstanding, from Liv Tyler as a sweet innocent sister who goes through her own challenges, to Will Paxton as the dominant father who has a soft spot.See the movie. You will thank me.

"In this classic coming-of-age tale, forbidden love and impossible dreams intertwine when the handsome, working class Holt brothers are drawn to the beautiful and wealthy Abbott sisters. With an all-star cast including Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix, and Billy Crudup, 'Inventing the Abbotts' is," according to the DVD sleeve, a strongly told story "of hidden desires and romantic possibilities." Adding Jennifer Connelly and Joanna Going as the other two beautiful Abbott sisters gives you five good-looking performers engaged in various couplings. You will see that their "hidden desires" are all made fairly obvious. The film begins in 1957 small town Haley, Illinois, and has many obvious - but nice - period trappings. Ms. Connelly has an arousing topless scene.The story stresses the pairing of Mr. Phoenix (as Doug) and Ms. Tyler (as Pam), although Mr. Crudup (as Jacey) manages to steal most of the booty (both the film and the women). The "leads" suffer from being cast as teenagers. Doing the math (Phoenix is two years younger than high school senior Crudup) helps explain how they act. A fifteen-year-old would paint on "artificial sideburns" with India Ink while humming Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". So, Phoenix is made to act unnaturally juvenile. As the most beautifully cast sisters, Ms. Going and Ms. Connelly excel in their smaller roles. You can also enjoy both Crudup's angst-ridden older brother, and secretive mother Kathy Baker (as Helen).****** Inventing the Abbotts (4/4/97) Pat O'Connor ~ Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler, Kathy Baker

I read the other user reviews, and boy are you people easily pleased. Why make this movie? We have all been there in one way or another. Teenage angst, young adult angst. Ho-hum. No three dimensional characters, no action, almost no plot, and no life going on around the characters on screen. The acting is fine, but they don't really have much to work with. And it is SO SLOW. Good God, Mr. Director, what did you think was so fascinating about this film that you would take so bloody long with every scene and every shot? I don't have a short attention span, but when scenes drag on with 'meaningful pauses' that don't mean anything, then you teach me that I don't have to pay attention since nothing happens. Another 'ice maiden' performance from Jennifer Connelly, a one level performance from Billy Crudup, and Kathy Bates is the most rounded character, and gives the best performance. However, she is a very minor character in the big picture, and only made me aware of how shallow all the other roles were.It looks great, right on period wise, I think. Although the score, while very catchy, seems out of place. I don't remember all that wonderful boogie music at the start of the film as 1957.It's not awful, it's just sort of nothing and a bit of a waste of time. All these actors have done far better work in the last 10 years.