Just perfect...

hyped garbage

Good movie but grossly overrated

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Kudos to Tim Kirkman for assembling a marvelous cast to tell the poignant story of "Loggerheads," a 2005 independent production filmed in North Carolina. "Loggerheads" (the title refers to large turtles as well as the normal meaning of the word) tells three different stories in three different time periods. The stories eventually intertwine. The first takes place in 1999 and stars Kip Pardue as Mark, an HIV-positive young man working to preserve the loggerheads. Kip is sleeping on Kure Beach in North Carolina until he is taken in by George (Michael Kelly), who lets him stay in the motel he manages. In the second story, which takes place in 2000, an unhappy woman (Bonnie Hunt) who lives with her mother (Michael Learned) wants desperately to find the child she gave up for adoption but isn't having any luck until she meets a detective.The third story is in 2001 and concerns a Christian couple, a minister (Chris Sarandon) and his wife (Tess Harper) who must come to grips with a sad family situation, but the minister's faith holds him back.All three stories are beautifully told and acted. The normally funny Bonnie Hunt is here in a serious role, and she tears at the heart, with Learned offering down to earth, quiet support - they are an ideal mother and daughter. The juvenile-looking Pardue gives a sensitive performance as someone who seems totally alone, at odds with his world and has given up making sense of it. As the minister, Chris Sarandon is powerful as a good man who believes in a punishing God and of a different opinion than his normally acquiescent wife, Harper, who has a tough decision to make. There are two other standouts: Michael Kelly as George, who befriends Mark, and Ann Pierce, an Olympia Dukakis lookalike, as Harper and Sarandon's wise neighbor.Though the pace of the film is a little slow, the stories are intriguing enough to hold the viewer, as are the performances. It's also very well photographed. One IMDb poster stated the ending was clichéd - perhaps it was, but it was nevertheless satisfying. This is a film from a director/writer who has something to say - catch it if you see it for rent or on the Sundance channel.

After seeing this film at Sundance in January 2005, it haunted me for months. Both the story and the actors' performances were heart-wrenching, especially when you know this is based on true events. Kip Pardue,with whom I was unfamiliar until seeing this movie, was particularly memorable in his role. Bonnie Hunt and Tess Harper, too, played their roles well. In discussing this film with friends, we pointed out all of the different ways the story depicted "loggerheads" situations--a great title choice. See it for yourself when it opens this winter, and perhaps you'll agree with me about its great dramatic storyline and powerful resonance. Oh, and don't forget your tissues.

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Tim Kirkman's "Loggerheads". Tim is a graduate of NC State, and he was on hand for a Q&A session after the screening, so it was really interesting to get some insight into the film, and of course it is always rare to see someone from this area "make it" in the "business".As for the film itself, I was very skeptical going in, having been unimpressed by the trailer and synopsis, but I was extremely surprised by how well-crafted "Loggerheads" was. The film is quite slow paced, and driven one hundred percent by its characters, which means even the smallest mistakes stick out, as there is no high style and 'noise' to mask them. It works out very well, though, as the performances were extremely good, and the attention to detail outstanding.Kirkman weaves together three separate but interconnected stories, all taking place in North Carolina (one in the western mountains of the state, one in the middle of the state, and one in the eastern beaches). The film deals with such issues as homosexuality, religion, and suicide, so a delicate touch is required in making the actions of the characters believable. "Loggerheads" felt more "real" to me than any other film I have seen this year, but it could be the North Carolina locations and characters that made it seem that way. I doubt I would have connected with the film on the same level had it been set in another state, and I am not so sure viewers unfamiliar with North Carolina will fully appreciate some of the film's qualities. If anyone reading this sees "Loggerheads", I would be interested in seeing some discussion on that subject. And I definitely would recommend seeing it.

I too was lucky enough to see this at the festival, and it's stayed with me. Yes, it's a little slow moving, but it's thoughtful and kind and the performances are wonderful. Tess Harper (and her eyes!) gives her best performance since Tender Mercies (a film that this is clearly related too) and Bonnie Hunt is revelatory. I've never seen her in such a demanding role, and she rises to the occasion. The photography is gorgeous, and the Patti Griffin songs just perfect. If only there was a soundtrack, I'd recommend that too! All in all, this director is one I'm going to keep my eye on, I think he's got a smart and kind storytelling sense. See it if you have the chance!