I should start by saying I have a great admiration for all the cast and the filmmaker involved in this movie. The movie looks great, with beautiful shots of the American West. But they have completely lost sight of what makes characters, or a movie in general, interesting. The main character is flat out unlikable. And while unlikable characters are fine, not at the center of a movie that requires us to have some reaction to him. Slow, laconic, mannered and dull as a stump performance by Sam Shepard undermines all the dull scenes he wrote. The waiting for his son on the tossed sofa scene, and if you saw the movie, forgive me for bringing it up -- was flat-out torturous! And the "side potatoes" conversation at the restaurant -- what?? There are great actors on board here and the dialog is frightful. Tim Roth, among others, is completely wasted. I will say that two "speeches" about the feelings of "parentless" children are very heartfelt and well done, but too little, too late. Kudos to Eva Marie Saint, who hasn't lost her appeal, and to Jessica Lange for a touching performance (and doesn't 55 look great!!).
Overall, nothing new story told in a painfully, nothing new way.
Overall, nothing new story told in a painfully, nothing new way.