For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!
... View MoreIt was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.
... View MoreBy the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
... View MoreTrue to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
... View MoreYou see the names Dana Delany, Sada Thompson, Ellen Burstyn... and you think, "Wow, this has got to be a great movie." Unfortunately, the best part of the movie was the opening credits and it goes downhill from there. I don't know if something was lost in translation from the book to the screen, but this movie lacked emotion. I didn't really care for Dana Delany's character, Rose. In fact, I came to despise her. It almost seems as if the producers of this film looked at every Lifetime movie over the last 10 years, grabbed scenes off the cutting-room floor, spliced them together and came up with this travesty. The ending was horrible... what happened? Did Rose, Son and Cecilia live happily ever after? Did the first husband come back? Did the daughter, Cecilia, ever forgive her mother or get to know her real father? Did Sister Evangeline (Sada Thompson) ever get out of that dang kitchen? And what was the deal with the healing spring? There were a lot of unanswered questions. My advice - skip this movie and go hug your family.
... View MoreIt is a weak movie, but it is based on a great book. The Patron Saint of Liars is a sad story of a woman unhappy with who she is. It details how she runs from her life then she puts herself into another life. She is never quite happy with her second life either. The story is sad, but interesting. You relate to her and feel sorry for her at the same time. The movie is much slower than the book, and not as deep. The book takes you in more and allows you to relate more to the characters and their feelings. Dana Delany is kind of bland in the lead role. It does have a small early role for Maggie Gyllenhal.It is worth a watch, but definitely worth reading.
... View MoreAnn Patchett's book is much better but as movie adaptations go this is fine. It is worth watching just to see the great Sada Thompson as Sister Evangeline. That doesn't mean the other actors aren't fine it is just that Sada stands out. People may wonder why Dana Delaney sets off for Kentucky. I read the book so long ago I don't know if this was gone into. There is also fine work from Clancy Brown who plays Mr. Niceguy. A far cry from the demonic minister he played on two seasons of HBO'S CARNIVALE. The featured players are good too. Filmed on location in North Carolina which probably comes close to Kentucky where the story takes place. Read the book and watch the movie and see why Sada Thompson is one of America's finest actresses.
... View MoreWell, it's a typical, melodramatic chick-flick with overdone performances, the film does have a good cast with Dana Delany, Marisa Ribisi, Ellen Burstyn, and Clancy Brown. Stephen Gyllenhaal's direction isn't bad since he does offer some excellent scenery and poignant moments in the film.Fans of Maggie though will see her in the 2nd half of the film as a friend of Delany's daughter for about 5-7 minutes in a standout performance as a pregnant teen with multiple ear piercings and bad light blonde dye hair. It's a good film about a woman questioning her Catholic faith while living in a Catholic retreat home for pregnant women while looking for love and understanding.
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