This was released in 2005, but I just watched it on DVD this week ... omg ... what a magnificent movie. When it was over I just sat and sobbed for 10 minutes. What an incredibly powerful story. The cast is absolutely wonderful. Robert Redford, who is still the sexiest man who ever lived despite being 500 years old, and Morgan Freeman both give Oscar-capable performances. Jennifer Lopez is fabulous. I have always loved her acting .. I like her music too, but not as much as her acting. The story is about forgiveness and the healing power of love. Redford is a crotchety old rancher who is being eaten alive by his bitterness over the death of his beloved son. He blames Lopez for the death, and so he hates her with a hatred beyond all reason. Freeman is Redford's lifelong friend and lives on the ranch with him, but was crippled by an attack by a grizzly, and so is greatly dependent on Redford for daily care. Due to circumstances you will see as you watch, Lopez is forced to show up one day at the ranch with her 11-year-old daughter and has to beg Redford to let her stay. He didn't even realize he had a granddaughter, and is very cruel to both of them, although he does allow them to stay. The rest of the movie is about the reconciliation between Redford and Lopez, and his acceptance of her back into his life. He also develops a wonderful relationship with his granddaughter. Throughout the story, Freeman's understanding and unfailing friendship underpin everything. He refuses to be bitter over his infirmity, and in fact when the same bear returns and is captured, he is responsible for getting it set free back into the mountains. Redford gradually realizes that love is the most important thing of all. He realizes the connection to his own flesh and blood. He will never get his son back, but he has a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter, and they are alive. The peformances are wonderful, the scenery of the Wyoming mountains is breathtaking, and the truths told are universal and real. I think this is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Sounds like a good one. Although, I tend to steer away from the "tear-jerkers, but a good cry, every once and a while, can really do wonders for your heart. I have a couple of movies to suggest that folks may find entertaining (and a little bit of the tear-jerking too). "Across the Universe" It's a musical that follows the relationship of two young radicals from the 60's who are involved in the anti-war movement. It's all Beatles music done nicely by two artists; one is a "Tina Turner" type, and the other is like a Jimi Hendrix. It's like a surreal, acid trip. The other movie is "Outsourced." It's a bollywood (Indie) movie. It's a comedy about a guy who gets sent over to India to train the company's new Indian employees to take catalog orders over the phone. His company "outsourced" the jobs to India. You get a taste of Indian culture. Kind of touching and funny too.
LOL ... I don't mean that it's a tear-jerker or a chick flick. It's really not, although it did make me cry, but that was mostly because of the scene where the men went to great lengths defending their family, and that sort of thing just gets to me. I think you'd like this movie, Spud ... I really do. Don't worry about it being a chick flick .. lol.
You might find "Across the Universe" at Blockbuster. I saw it on cable. "Outsourced" is a newer Sundance Festival movie that you probably will have to see in the theatre or wait until it comes out on DVD. If you like Indie music, you will like this movie. I bought a copy of the movie soundtrack (which I rarely do).
Cool. Thanks Spud. Just curious ... why would "Across the Universe" have Beatle covers? Why not the originals? Speaking of which ... there was another movie a few years ago that used Beatle covers for the soundtrack. I've forgotten the name, but it had Sean Penn as a mentally handicapped man trying to keep the authorities from taking away his young daughter.
Because the musicians are part of the storyline, so they play Beatle songs during different parts of the movie. It's an urbane setting (I think it takes place in Boston, where I grew up). I recently saw a Woody Allen movie about a Depression era jazz musician - played by Sean Penn - that you might enjoy. I don't recall the title, at the moment. Gotta jump in the sauna... Spud
Oh ok ... I didn't realize you meant the actors were the musicians. Sorry. Wish I had a sauna today. Or a hot tub. It was 25 deg when I got up.
No need to be sorry. My bad. You know how sometimes we can misinterprete what we read or miss the meaning of what is written. We purchased an infrared sauna last year. Cathy uses it in her massage therapy practice. I use it everyday. If you haven't done an infrared sauna before, I highly recommend you try it. Spud
Infrared sauna is a new type of sauna. It's dry heat generated by ceramic heaters that emit infrared heat rays. It does not use a lot of electrical energy though. The infrared sauna has many health benefits. The heat rays penetrate deep into the body. It removes harmful toxins from the body (and it helps to keep your weight down too). If you Google infrared saunas, you will be able to get more information. Spud
Spud -- I just watched "Across the Universe" tonight. I liked it. I loved the Beatle songs, of course, but it was a good movie aside from that. Thanks for the recommendation
Caliente, Glad you liked it. It's hard to know what some people will like. We all have different tastes and come from different backgrounds. I especially liked the movie because it reminded me of the anti-war protests which I took part in during the Viet Nam War (this was after I became disillusioned as a member of the armed-forces). Cheers! Spud
My favorite scene was where they were naked under water. How accurate were those anti-war scenes, do you think? For supposedly being peace-loving hippies, they sure were confrontational.
I think the anti-war scenes were accurate. You have to remember that there were some pretty radical hippies in those days. You had SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and the Weathermen. They were hippies turned "revolutionaries." Remember Patty Hearst and the SLA? I was in a few demonstrations myself and I can tell you that I feared for my safety when the riot police started to chase protesters down and crack their heads with their nightsticks.
