I was really liking this movie, not having seen any reviews beforehand, and not really knowing what this was about. The cinematography was excellent. The girl who played CJ gave a nice performance, especially considering it was her first role. The problem I had with the movie was... it was clearly a "message" movie, which is fine, but for me, it sent all the wrong messages. CJ's teen pregnancy, and her dilemma as to whether to have the child or get an abortion. And Hopkins' illicit affair with a married lady. And then CJ's younger brother sneaking out the window to have sex with his girlfriend, and CJ providing condoms. I was hoping that this might be something refreshingly different.... a movie that *gasp* might actually promote virtuosity without sounding preachy or religious. I was ready to give this 8 or 9 stars until the ending. Instead, CJ goes through with the abortion, gets a "fresh" start, and off to college in Philly she goes. And Hopkins even gives his Mom 1/2 the money from the sale of his late Dad's house... the same Mom who taught him to hate his Dad all his life, and never apologized for it. I'm all for "choice" and all, don't get me wrong. But, why can't people make the *right* choices once in a while, in these kinds of films? Or, having made the wrong choices, (which we all do at times), why can't we see the fallout from those bad decisions? Hopkins was *very* lucky he didn't get shot, or at least severely beaten, by the husband of the lady he was having an affair with. He had the gall to ask her to stay with him, with her husband present! This could have been so much better. Huge let-down at the end. Bummer.
Review of Lebanon, Pa.
