Simply Perfect

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Blistering performances.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Emotion filled Family Drama set in 1940's Virginia. Nice script for the all star ensemble of Actors !! Rich characters. All round Good Film, especially the Courtroom scenes. Narration top notch !!

I have always maintained that we should not compare books to movies. Each format is a distinctly different way to tell a story. And, this story is a case in point: although I am a fan of author Baldacci, I didn't particularly enjoy this particular book. But, I really enjoyed this film (and interestingly, Baldacci wrote the screen play for the movie). This film is what I refer to as a serious film. I don't just mean that it's a drama; I mean that it's a film to watch when you are in a serious frame of mind.I found aspects of the film predictable. But that's not a bad thing. Because often the joy is in finding HOW we get from start to finish in a film; in fact, we usually know the general thread of a film before it begins. Nevertheless, this film unwinds in an interesting manner, and while the general direction of the film may be somewhat predictable, there are lots of detours that surprise one.The acting here is top notch. Ellen Burstyn proves once again that she is an actress whose potential is often underestimated; solid performance. Mackenzie Foy, as the young girl puts in a strong performance for a child actor. Josh Lucas is excellent as a lawyer who takes an interest in the family..it's a fine performance, with an emphasis on the best meaning of the word fine. You'll hate Ned Bellamy, but it's a good performance. I was particularly impressed with the young Black actor, Alano Miller; I hope we see lots more of him.Having spent most of my life in Virginia, I enjoyed the setting, much of it filmed in the autumn.Recommended for serious film lovers. Very strong.

We found this movie on DVD from our public library. Everything in it has been told many times in various forms so there is another reason to watch it. For the characters and the actors who represent them.It is about a couple of children, maybe 9 and 11, who must move from New York when their dad dies suddenly in a car accident, and their mother is physically uninjured but in a catatonic state. So they go to where their dad was raised, a rural mountainous part of Virginia. To live with their great grandmother who raised their dad after his mother deserted. The great grandmother and land owner is Ellen Burstyn, about 80, as Louisa Mae Cardinal. The side story drama is created by a coal company attempting to buy up all the surrounding land but since Louisa won't leave they try to pressure her.The young girl, maybe 11, and budding author is Mackenzie Foy as Lou Cardinal. (As an aside she played the younger Bursten character in 'Interstellar'.) The family lawyer and all around friendly guy is Josh Lucas is Cotton Longfellow, distantly related to the author Longfellow.Overall this is a nice, small movie with a good message about family and there being more to life than trying to get rich.

Saw this film at the Richmond International Film Festival and was blown away. Made on a small budget, you wouldn't know it from the finished product. Great performances from Ellen Burstyn and Josh Luckas I was expecting but the children in the story, Mackenzie Foy and JP Vandeloo surprised me with wonderful performances as well. Terrific story of a family thrown together after tragedy and their struggles to overcome rural hardships in the 1940's by David Baldacci who I believe wrote the screenplay as well? Great family film, no reason to worry about young children watching it. Shot entirely amongst the beautiful scenery of southwest Virginia. Hope it sees wide distribution so my niece and nephew can see it in theaters.