Matcollis
This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.
Ameriatch
One of the best films i have seen
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Mabel Munoz
Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?
mark.waltz
"His insides will petrify and his stool will turn to concrete." With that piece of Walt Whitman style poetry, this film expresses its desire to be profound art. This is another "slice of life" drama about one member of a family's desire to get away as another one returns, surrounding these two total strangers in spite of the direct lineage, becoming close as the desires of a younger family member are related to by the returning member and opening up advice, whether wanted or not. I can understand the desire of bright young Reece Thompson to get away from his constantly at each other's throats family (and neighbors), and if somebody tried to pay me for painting with a fat old hog, I'd be out of there on the first greyhound.Kris Kristofferson is the aging prodigal, returning home and creating all sorts of conflict. His children with let him see their mother, and unfinished business with him among the townsfolk creates even more conflict. Idealistic Thompson must deal with his girlfriend's obnoxious man hating mother, while the uninformed family matriarch (a subtle and warmhearted Frances Conroy) thinks she's going crazy because she keeps hearing her ex's guitar. Other than Thompson, the only family member who seems to be somewhat happy over Kristofferson's return is black sheep son Val Kilmer, underacting and likable (somewhat) for a change, showing up unexpectedly for the fishing trip his dad promised but never took him on.With thousands of films on dysfunctional families coming out both in the theater and on TV, they take away from the impact of the issues that surround real families. Much of the time, they focus on rural families, giving good reason why many people leave these communities, head for a big city and rarely, if ever, visit. Fortunately, there's a few characters here who have integrity and aren't embittered clichés, relatable for their dreams and ones whose stories should involve less standard circumstances and predictable situations. Thompson is likable enough to win sympathy, and his performance is outstanding. This just doesn't fully involve you because key pieces are missing in the details, especially concerning Kristofferson's nightmares. A horrifying twist at the end brings out the ugliness in one of the family members (only hinted at through their bitterness), and it moves to a very depressing observation about blood relations. When this works, it strikes a solid cord, but for most of the time, it's just drab and unhopeful.
jotix100
E.F. Bloodworth, a country singer now in his old age, wants to go to the place where he was born and which he left hoping for a fame that obviously never came. In fact, the old man is coming home to die, but what he finds as he gets there is nothing but hatred from the family he left behind. Only his grandchild Fleming appears he is the only one welcoming his return.E.F. had three sons, Warren, Boyd, who is Fleming's father, and Brady, the only one that stayed to work the place and his mother Julia. Fleming is an ambitious young man who knows he must leave the rural area where the land is located if he is to make something out of himself. Encouraged by a local teacher, he secretly years to break out of the environment.Warren, a man that loves his women and booze, introduces his nephew to the pleasures of the flesh. One day Warren takes Fleming to a house where a prostitute Louise Halfacre lives with her daughter, the beautiful Raven. It is clear Fleming sees in the girl a kindred soul. She in turn, introduces the young man in the pleasures of sex, but little does he suspect she has been quite busy with the uncle."Bloodworth" based on a novel by William Gay, which we have not read, kept reminding us of a much better film, "Winter's Bone" in which a much backward family is at its center. Not being able to compare the narrative with the written text, one can see how W. Earl Brown's attraction in adapting it to the cinema. As directed by Shane Dax Taylor, the movie is worth a view by serious viewers. The first half of the film is excellent, making us want it to have kept the good intentions of Mr. Brown until the end.Kris Kristofferson is a busy actor who makes justice of his character. E.F. is not seen much in the film, but in his scenes, the actor makes us understand why he has been so good in his career in front of the camera. A surprising performance by Reece Thompson as Fleming, shows an interesting new face in the movies. We were quite surprised by Hillary Duff's Raven. This actress has wasted too much of her career playing light characters and she clearly made an impression in a more dramatic role. Val Kilmer does not have much to do, and neither does Dwight YoaKam for that matter. The adapter W. Earl Brown has some good moments in the film. Frances Conroy is seen as the mother.
bob-rutzel-1
E.F. Bloodworth (Kristofferson) comes back to his old home in Tennessee after 40-years on the road. He left to pursue a musical career and virtually abandoned his young family. All are up in arms about his return. This is misleading because you think the story is all about E.F. Well, it's not. It's really about his nephew Fleming (Thompson) who wants to leave the homestead too, but is trying to do it the right way, and not the way E.F. did, but to be fair, Fleming is not that conscious about it all. He just wants to do the right thing. He just wants out from a very dysfunctional family who stayed. E.F. is the background, Fleming is the real story and his story should have been developed more. Wasted in here is Val Kilmer. Kilmer needs to find a vehicle to shine once more, but he seems content with small roles that go nowhere. Hillary Duff is a breath of fresh air, but it is Brady (Brown) who ignites (sorry for the pun, which you will understand if you see this movie) the story. His character's delivery is different, unique and solid. To be honest we don't really get to know any of the characters. We get bits and pieces and we are left to read into things. And, because of that, we don't really care one way or the other what happens to any of them, including Fleming. We don't feel anyone's pain. And, being honest again, the story should not have shown E.F. as coming back. Just saying he came back would have been good enough as the family and others bad mouthed him anyway. We would have gotten the point. Why do I say that? Because we expected more from the Kristofferson (E.F.) character and didn't get it. Like I said, this was misleading. Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Yes.
sponge3
I love Val and Kris. And recently, Dwight has shown his acting chops so I had to see this. This is a slow moving story with mostly great acting so it was able to maintain my interest. The Brady Bloodworth character (W. Earl Brown) is over-acted in my opinion but the rest of the characters can hold your interest. You want to see what ultimately happens so you keep watching.Watch this if you are willing to give it time but don't watch if you need car chases, or something to blow up. Mostly great cast and a few classic lines from some Hollywood legends. Beautiful scenery is just a bonus to this film. Bright, vibrant scenery adds to the overall experience of this down home Americana type film.For better or worse, this story is very believable on many levels. Relax, turn off the phone and enjoy."I'm Warren, your son. When I was a boy you said you'd take me fishin, you never did. C'mon."