12/6/2023 0 Comments Movie review an unfinished life(The film was actually made in Canada - such was also the case for the Wyoming-based `Brokeback Mountain'). The film brings together three separate stories that merge at the site of Robert Redford's farm in rural Wyoming. In their commentary, they say how Hallstrom finds humour even in the pain of life - and this film does have some good one-liners - and that his primary interest is the telling the story of people who are never black-and-white. The film's producer and editor are a husband-and-wife team who have worked with Hallstrom before. In the accompanying commentary, Hallstrom mentions how he does not like sacrificing character to plot: plot-drive movies for a director like him are "like conducting traffic". Here, Hallstrom demonstrates his interest in real lives through character-driven movies. `An Unfinished Life', though, is in a higher league. I am a big fan of Lasse Hallstrom films, although his most recent movies (at the time of writing) seem to verge dangerously close to kitsch and schmaltz. The extras on the DVD have a director's commentary and a making-of featurette and a look at the training of Bart the Bear, who plays a large role in the movie. That's an important message for everyone. The theme of this film is certainly one about our need for forgiveness and to feel whole again. She handles her character perfectly as someone who's filled with guilt and tortures herself for it day in and day out. It's also nice having Jennifer Lopez back after a long absence. Though this movie won't win any awards, it's still a pure pleasure to watch. I have to say, however, that Redford really looks his age. I don't think Redford and Freeman have ever been better than they are in this film. This is displayed most effectively in how Redford takes care of his crippled friend by helping him to get around, making his meals, playing cards with him, and eventually following his advice about everything. These two men have a strong friendship that knows no bounds. What makes An Unfinished Life truly shine is the interaction between Redford's character and Freeman's. That's when all hell breaks lose and we find out just how tough Redford's character really is. Then, during the last third of the movie, Lopez' abusive boyfriend tracks her down and is intent on having her leave with him. At first Redford feels that Lopez is being unfaithful to the memory of his son, but gradually relents due to the good nature of the sheriff. As this is happening, Lopez develops a relationship with the town's sheriff (played by Josh Lucas). Through trials and tribulations, Redford and the two females slowly start to become close to each other. He doesn't hesitate to tell Redford that he's wrong about blaming Lopez for his son's death in a car accident and that he needs to get to know his granddaughter. As it turns out, Freeman is also Redford's conscious. He stays in the small house adjacent to the main quarters. Freeman's character was mauled by a grizzly bear and is now somewhat of a cripple. The two females move in with Redford and his long-time ranch hand and close friend (played by Freeman). Later, when Redford sees Lopez and Gardiner in town, he has a change of heart and tells them that they're welcome to stay at his place if they want. Of course, there wouldn't be much of a story if that happened. The fact that he's suddenly a grandfather, however, doesn't stop Redford from telling his daughter-in-law that he doesn't want her there and to leave. When Lopez reaches Redford's ranch, it turns out the neither he, nor her daughter, knew of each other. When the car finally reaches its last leg, Lopez has no choice but to head to Wyoming and a father-in-law (played by Redford) who blames her for the death of his only son. The story starts out with Lopez and her teenage daughter, Gardiner, leaving an abusive relationship with hardly any money and a broken-down car. Though a predictable movie, An Unfinished Life is still a very good film with excellent performances by Redford, Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Josh Lucas, and Becca Gardiner. I think An Unfinished Life is one of the few movies that both Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman have made that came on in the theaters one weekend and then disappeared two weeks later.
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