Cicely Tyson is superb here as Carrie Watts, an aging woman living with her son Ludie (Blair Underwood) and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Vanessa Williams), in Houston, Texas, in 1952. Carrie is quite unhappy there, as she's constantly bickering and arguing with the imperious Jessie Mae. Carrie yearns to return before she dies,, to her hometown of Bountiful, a small town along the Texas Gulf coast.
One day, when Ludie and Jessie Mae are out of the house, Carrie packs a small bag and heads for the bus depot to try and get to Bountiful after a 20 year absence. Along the way, she'll befriend a sweet young woman (Keke Palmer) on the bus, and encounter various adventures in her journey. If you haven't seen any of the versions of this film or play, I won't write a spoiler as to whether Carrie will get to see Bountiful one last time.
This movie played on the Lifetime channel and is now available on DVD, where I picked up a copy at my local library. As mentioned, there have been several versions of the story, all based on the late acclaimed screenwriter Horton Foote's play and adaptations to the screen or television. I remember seeing the 1985 movie, with Geraldine Page in the lead role, and liked it quite a lot.
All in all, I thought this version, directed by Michael Wilson, was a well presented poignant drama, enhanced by excellent acting all around. It gives viewers a break from the steady stream of films which are filled with gratuitous sex and violence.
One day, when Ludie and Jessie Mae are out of the house, Carrie packs a small bag and heads for the bus depot to try and get to Bountiful after a 20 year absence. Along the way, she'll befriend a sweet young woman (Keke Palmer) on the bus, and encounter various adventures in her journey. If you haven't seen any of the versions of this film or play, I won't write a spoiler as to whether Carrie will get to see Bountiful one last time.
This movie played on the Lifetime channel and is now available on DVD, where I picked up a copy at my local library. As mentioned, there have been several versions of the story, all based on the late acclaimed screenwriter Horton Foote's play and adaptations to the screen or television. I remember seeing the 1985 movie, with Geraldine Page in the lead role, and liked it quite a lot.
All in all, I thought this version, directed by Michael Wilson, was a well presented poignant drama, enhanced by excellent acting all around. It gives viewers a break from the steady stream of films which are filled with gratuitous sex and violence.