PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

layersofsediment This is a profoundly difficult film. A very strange thing. Ninety percent drivel, technical incompetence, and horrid writing and acting ... and 10% genius.It's weird. I first tried to sit through this thing MORE THAN ELEVEN YEARS AGO. I hated it. It made me so angry. The over-acting. The technical glitches (shots out-of-focus, weird lighting) and the illogic throughout - both of the "nobody would ever behave or react that way" variety as well as the "how could she hear what her father's saying when she's so far away and he's speaking in a quiet voice, and we can only hear her reply because she's shouting?" variety.I hated Riegert. I hated the wife. I hated the daughter. I hated the story. The acting. The editing. Everything about it.And then, more than eleven years later, I forced myself to finish it. Out of spite, I guess. I don't know. It's on youtube for free, so I watched to the end.And I discovered plutonium.At the 45 minute mark, it transmogrifies into a completely different film.Leo goes crazy and I begin laughing hysterically and I start to care deeply about what happens next to these people and ... and the whole dam thing becomes RIVETING.For awhile. And then it goes back to being comatose. And sloooooow. And unwatchable. But I forced myself to continue on, like Job.Then near the end, at the funeral, I cried. Tears ran down my face. And when Leo notices (as did I) that "the companion" is off by herself, and he includes her, I at that moment ... began to love him.DAM YOU, RIEGERT. WHY COULDN'T THE WHOLE FILM HAVE BEEN THIS STUNNING? Geez.Here is my original review, more than eleven years ago (Oct 25, 2006):It's nice that Riegert went on the road, etc etc - but nice does not a good film make. Isabella as the wife was completely absurd; Eli's over-acting was horrid - screeching like some old crow, desperately mugging for the camera. Hoffman's kid - ridiculously awful.The father & mother wringing their hands over the daughter's lateness - simply not believably acted at all. There's more (a lot more) - but no point to continue.What can I say? I *wanted* to love this thing, but it's just plain awful.Maybe if Riegert makes a better film in the future, he'd have a better chance at distribution.

fdrey1 It's been 3 days since I've seen this wonderful movie and still thinking about it and all the wonderful stories it contains. It should have been included with all the movies up for awards this year. There is something in this movie for everyone to relate to in their life.I just left a woman of 101 who used the line "Why is it so hard to die"? How many people have felt the same?How many have been caught in a routine position where there is always the fear of losing their job and not really feeling happy or appreciated for their work?How many of us have worried about our teenage children?All of these relevant subjects have been developed in this marvelous film with deep thought and much humor.

katecunning This was an affecting film with a tremendous cast about the "sandwich" generation stuck between ailing parents and rebellious children, still struggling to make a living (darkly comical shades of "Death of a Salesman") in the cut-throat world of business in modern America. No Golden Parachutes protect the average worker in this social Darwinian world. I've been a fan of Peter Riegert for a very long time & I'm delighted to see him expanding his significant talents into directing. The film's dialog is wonderful and the challenges and failures of middle age will resonate with the adult audience so long ignored by Hollywood films. There were many wonderful performances, but Eric Bogosian's performance as a maverick rabbi was an especial delight.

imfeit We enjoyed this movie very much. Although a comedy, it provides many serious thoughts and a good satire of our society. The movie raised many questions, but the answers in most cases needed to be provided by the spectator himself. You might consider it a vindication of "Death of a Salesman". It is also refreshing how it handled religion. I strongly recommend it. In rating, I added one star [9] for low budget and for excellent cast, especially Eli Wallach, Peter Rigert, Rita Moreno and Eric Bogosian.Is is good to know that you still can make a very good movie without spending mega-millions.