Don't understand the critic's poor rating. Is it because it's a heart warming film without the violence, and the special effects that seem to drive most movies nowadays? I'm a fan of TCM and this film could easily be one from the 50's because it has that sense of family, faith and neighborly theme with a mystery that keeps you entertained. It's a good family movie and well worth your time.
49 Reviews
Left me wanting more
vizfam7 March 2020
I decided to watch this film on Netflix only because it had Rachel Bronhahan in it, who I love. I knew nothing about the plot prior to viewing. At the end I was left wanting more. It has all the ingredients: love, compassion; community, spirituality, humanness, but they never come together to create a satisfying narrative. It is a difficult movie to figure out, maybe that is what the writer intended. Who knows. The movie to me is like a downhill racer who has the best skis, the best boots, the best poles, the best goggles and the best intentions, but still can only come in 6th.
Beautiful movie!
monihawk19 June 2021
I just had an aneurysm..
corbinmd10 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I just had an aneurysm trying to understand what I just wasted two hours of my life watching.
Here are my takeaway thoughts/questions:
So she's a dead and now a bird angel thingee?
So the birds are answers to prayers? But she also was a bird???
So she saved the old suicidal man...only for him to die at the end of the movie?
What was the cop's story and what was the last scene about? Someone please tell me why this was included!
What was the black lady's story with her son and why was it included? And what were her students wearing at the end of the movie?
Why would a bird angel have to pay rent...and decorate her house?
Why is everyone okay with a lady with severe Parkinson's using power tools? And don't get me started on the coffin...
Why would Rachel Brosnahan do this movie? (You're killing me Midge!)
Who was it that watched the final cut of this movie and said, "Wow you did it! Send it out to the world!" ...because I desperately want him to be my boss.
Here are my takeaway thoughts/questions:
So she's a dead and now a bird angel thingee?
So the birds are answers to prayers? But she also was a bird???
So she saved the old suicidal man...only for him to die at the end of the movie?
What was the cop's story and what was the last scene about? Someone please tell me why this was included!
What was the black lady's story with her son and why was it included? And what were her students wearing at the end of the movie?
Why would a bird angel have to pay rent...and decorate her house?
Why is everyone okay with a lady with severe Parkinson's using power tools? And don't get me started on the coffin...
Why would Rachel Brosnahan do this movie? (You're killing me Midge!)
Who was it that watched the final cut of this movie and said, "Wow you did it! Send it out to the world!" ...because I desperately want him to be my boss.
Too many loose ends...
kjpchantman14 April 2020
I was with this movie all the way to the end, and then it was over, and I am in the crowd of those who said, "huh?" OK, maybe the explanation of what happened is pretty simple (won't give it away). But I felt like there was more than one intriguing plot development that was never resolved. Like Sheldon Cooper, I like my stories tied up in neat packages.
That notwithstanding, this quirky neighborhood with its endearing oddballs merits a 7/10. And I am also in the crowd of people who love Rachel Brosnahan. Loved the work she did in "House of Cards", love her lots in "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and she is lovely in this film as well.
That notwithstanding, this quirky neighborhood with its endearing oddballs merits a 7/10. And I am also in the crowd of people who love Rachel Brosnahan. Loved the work she did in "House of Cards", love her lots in "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and she is lovely in this film as well.
What in the world did I just watch?
agibson-973968 March 2020
Gorgeously beautiful mysterious and an excellent cast
rt-594931 December 2018
I do not understand the low rating for this movie. It may seem slow at first, but because the acting and action is rather slow - quite peaceful - perhaps it doesn't suit the modern aesthetic.
However, that being said, it is a simple, beautifully written and acted story based on prayers and angels. But not your usual angels or prayers, a totally real and significant modern take. Perhaps the modern mentality cannot abide such a concept , but for those who can, this movie is a very good experience.
However, that being said, it is a simple, beautifully written and acted story based on prayers and angels. But not your usual angels or prayers, a totally real and significant modern take. Perhaps the modern mentality cannot abide such a concept , but for those who can, this movie is a very good experience.
An attractive movie that fails to deliver anything meaningful.
TxMike18 April 2021
I like Rachel Brosnahan, here she plays Wren, a mysterious young lady who moves into the quiet suburban neighborhood (filmed in White Plains, NY). Right away she starts to get a sack full of mail seemingly every day. When a very nosy neighbor insinuates herself into the above-garage apartment and asks what Wren will do with them she replies simply "Read them."
The overly nosy neighbor is played by Mary Beth Hurt still going strong in her 70s. But her character is hard to take and especially when she criminally steals a stack of unopened mail to read some of the letters.
The name Wren is not trivial, along with her arrival are some rare bird sighting, in one case a bird which should not ever be seen there. There is a scene where some of the letters, rolled into scrolls, seem to turn into birds that fly away. But we never really find out where the letters come from or what they are really about. Brosnahan is good in the role but the story is so obscure that the movie's message, if there is one, is lost on me.
I enjoyed the movie on a certain level, even though the neighbors are often cartoonish, but overall can't give it a high rating. I watched it on Amazon streaming, my wife skipped.
An additional thought, days later: Maybe she represented some sort of spirit, maybe the "letters" were actually prayers, and her role was to answer them or turn them into something positive. If so I still don't get the significance of them turning into birds. Or why she hid from the policeman. Or why the writer made the movie so difficult to understand.
The overly nosy neighbor is played by Mary Beth Hurt still going strong in her 70s. But her character is hard to take and especially when she criminally steals a stack of unopened mail to read some of the letters.
The name Wren is not trivial, along with her arrival are some rare bird sighting, in one case a bird which should not ever be seen there. There is a scene where some of the letters, rolled into scrolls, seem to turn into birds that fly away. But we never really find out where the letters come from or what they are really about. Brosnahan is good in the role but the story is so obscure that the movie's message, if there is one, is lost on me.
I enjoyed the movie on a certain level, even though the neighbors are often cartoonish, but overall can't give it a high rating. I watched it on Amazon streaming, my wife skipped.
An additional thought, days later: Maybe she represented some sort of spirit, maybe the "letters" were actually prayers, and her role was to answer them or turn them into something positive. If so I still don't get the significance of them turning into birds. Or why she hid from the policeman. Or why the writer made the movie so difficult to understand.
Uplifting
barbeetaylor-156-38910329 March 2020
So I didn't know what to expect with this movie but it surpassed even that. I mean it meanders through the lives of several people and you learn little bits of info about them along the path. The reveal is amazing and honestly left me wanting to write a letter ... to myself.
Please see this movie and have no preconceived ideas - just relax and enjoy the journey.
Please see this movie and have no preconceived ideas - just relax and enjoy the journey.
Sweet concept that falls short of being anything much....
spacegirlsunday28 December 2018
I'd like to start off by saying that my modern mentality can infact abide by such a concept as this movie, however, this movie isn't above my head, it's just boring. What it was aiming for is sweet, I get it. The acting is good, production value good all those things decent... It's the writing that missed it's mark. They had so many chances to really delve into each of the storylines in this movie and give you a truly original and sweet movie, but didn't. Instead they save the whole idea for the last few minutes and give you 20 seconds of explanation??? What you end up with is an entire movie where your sitting there asking what's going on? Why am I watching these people's lives like this? Huh??? You only get half stories of each of the characters, if that, but are expected to care deeply about what happens to them?? Pointless. It's all pointless. To many questions left unanswered. I guess if you enjoy a quiet, story-less, random hour+ spent watching something like this go for it. Wish they had actually told the story they had to tell.
Beautiful
bpow058 March 2020
This was an excellent movie- yes the acting seems off and it was a bit slow and odd- but in the end you understand the beauty of it all and everything about the slowness makes sense. We need to slow as humans - we need to see the beauty around and be grateful - this film is something magical, something holy in a sense. Thank you to all the Made it. It touched my soul for good- well done!!! Beautiful
Don't Listen The Critics
bruceleeroy5315 June 2021
In this world of over the top, over-hyped movies, this was a sweet, nice change of pace movie. I cared for these characters. True a lot of questions were left unanswered, but sometimes leaving things up to us to decide what happened isn't a bad thing.
I happened up on this movie just b/c I like Rachel Brosnahan - - and in the end, was glad I watched it b/c all the performances were well done and mostly understated.
A relaxing/soothing hour and a half.
I happened up on this movie just b/c I like Rachel Brosnahan - - and in the end, was glad I watched it b/c all the performances were well done and mostly understated.
A relaxing/soothing hour and a half.
What & Why
goodrichoutdoors23 April 2020
Huh?
vincentlynch-moonoi10 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I have to agree with the reviewer Agibson-97396. I sat through 94 minutes of this film, and I don't know what the 94 minutes' ultimate message was.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy anything about the movie. Some of the characterizations were interesting. I found Satya Bhabha an interesting new actor. Peter Gerety was also interesting.
And some of the subplots were interesting. The interplay between the Gerety character and his wife -- a busybody -- was, perhaps, a bit unique.
On the other hand, Olympia Dukakis' role, while important, was quite small.
Rachel Brosnahan, the nominal star of the film, left me totally uninterested.
Perhaps you need to be flat-lining to really enjoy this film. Pass it by.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy anything about the movie. Some of the characterizations were interesting. I found Satya Bhabha an interesting new actor. Peter Gerety was also interesting.
And some of the subplots were interesting. The interplay between the Gerety character and his wife -- a busybody -- was, perhaps, a bit unique.
On the other hand, Olympia Dukakis' role, while important, was quite small.
Rachel Brosnahan, the nominal star of the film, left me totally uninterested.
Perhaps you need to be flat-lining to really enjoy this film. Pass it by.
a bit of help
SnoopyStyle5 December 2021
It's a quiet neighborhood with older residents; the Lemkes (M. Emmet Walsh, Olympia Dukakis) and the Bayberrys (Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Gerety). Moody (Aidan Quinn) is a cop. Donna (Macy Gray) is a music teacher. Everybody is fascinated when mysterious Wren (Rachel Brosnahan) moves in. She gets lots of letters for unknown reasons. There is bird watching.
There are some great veteran actors. I figured that I would check this out for Brosnahan. She's really doing the quiet mysterious type here. The movie is doing a lot of quiet mysterious setup. The writer and the director seems to be veteran on movie sets who are trying to expand their work. They need one of them to be a veteran of her job to fulfill their vision. They have something here although it's somewhat scattered. They just need a bit of help to create the needed magical surrealism and tie it all together.
There are some great veteran actors. I figured that I would check this out for Brosnahan. She's really doing the quiet mysterious type here. The movie is doing a lot of quiet mysterious setup. The writer and the director seems to be veteran on movie sets who are trying to expand their work. They need one of them to be a veteran of her job to fulfill their vision. They have something here although it's somewhat scattered. They just need a bit of help to create the needed magical surrealism and tie it all together.
All hat, no cattle - even from a 67 year old.
rdunfo15 March 2020
Great cast; good acting; cinematography good; story line confusing as hell; dangling and irrelevant sub-plots all over the place. Feels like a college video class project that earned a C. Oh, also, a 30 minute plot expanded to feature-length.
Beautiful and humble
aoifev8 March 2019
A gorgeous movie, subtle, light and poetic. A delight to see something so refined and wise in our over-thinking modern world. Spiritual, and thankfully not creepily religious like so many potentially lovely movies from USA.
Pleasant, but...
KenW-315 September 2020
His eye is on the sparrow
sonflowerandgrace11 March 2020
There's a plot in here somewhere?
ncohafmuta2 April 2020
The movie goes seemingly nowhere; it just meanders around in set-up and nibbles at the edges of a story. This is what happens when you violate the prime directive of not having a clear Intention and Obstacle. Screenwriting students should watch this as an example of what not to do.
Don't waste your time.
Zhivagommii6 May 2020
What movie?
newcats16 April 2020
Excellent, thought provoking
rcpaws23 June 2020
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