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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
An Unfinished Life
By Craig Younkin Published September 13, 2005
US Release: September 9, 2005
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Jennifer Lopez , Robert Redford , Morgan Freeman , Josh Lucas
PG-13
Running Time: 107 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $8,535,575
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Jennifer Lopez , Robert Redford , Morgan Freeman , Josh Lucas
PG-13
Running Time: 107 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $8,535,575
B+
Director Lasse Hallstrom is known for sentimental family dramas, but as in the case of ?What's Eating Gilbert Grape,? he has returned to making the ones that really touch your heart.
"An Unfinished Life" begins with a death as a focal point, but the movie is more about how death can be a roadblock to living. Director Lasse Hallstrom is known for sentimental family dramas like ?Cider House Rules? and ?What?s Eating Gilbert Grape,? but as in the case of ?Grape,? he has returned to making the ones that really touch your heart.
Using the beautiful Wyoming landscape as a backdrop, ?An Unfinished Life? begins with Einer (Robert Redford), a rancher who lost his son to a car accident caused by his daughter-in-law, Jean (Jennifer Lopez). Now, after ten years of abusive boyfriends and not much else, Jean returns to the farm with nothing but her daughter (Becca Gardner, holding her own with top notch actors) and a back-pack of belongings looking for a place to stay. Einer takes her in but is less than receptive. He is still mulling over the loss of his son and has pushed almost everyone around him away with his bitterness. The only person he has left is Mitch (Morgan Freeman), an old friend and partner who was the victim of a bear attack.
We always feel like Hallstrom will turn to sappy or manipulative drama, but he never does. He lets these characters progress naturally to where we understand their emotions as well as their ideals. This is a movie about the balance of humanity, and how a mistake can tip that balance to the point of being irreparable. It also shows how forgiveness is the toughest thing to achieve. With the case of Einer and Jean, Einer (excellently played by Redford) must get past his own stubborn, grizzly-like bitterness while Jean (played by Lopez as a woman beaten by the world, holding on to her last remaining ounces of strength) must realize some things cannot be replaced. Mitch and the bear, as we immediately can guess, also figure into this story. Morgan Freeman, again playing the enlightened voice of reason, makes for the best character in the movie because we understand his arrival at forgiveness as well as what it took to finally get there.
This is such a deep, heartfelt film that it?s hard to even fault it when it brings in an old abusive boyfriend (Damian Lewis) of Jean?s later on. This is just one needless addition to a movie that otherwise has a lot of solid drama on its plate. ?An Unfinished Life? was shelved for more than two years before finally getting its release this month. That usually isn?t a good sign but wonders never cease. This is not only the year?s biggest surprise, but also the start of fall on a high note.
Using the beautiful Wyoming landscape as a backdrop, ?An Unfinished Life? begins with Einer (Robert Redford), a rancher who lost his son to a car accident caused by his daughter-in-law, Jean (Jennifer Lopez). Now, after ten years of abusive boyfriends and not much else, Jean returns to the farm with nothing but her daughter (Becca Gardner, holding her own with top notch actors) and a back-pack of belongings looking for a place to stay. Einer takes her in but is less than receptive. He is still mulling over the loss of his son and has pushed almost everyone around him away with his bitterness. The only person he has left is Mitch (Morgan Freeman), an old friend and partner who was the victim of a bear attack.
We always feel like Hallstrom will turn to sappy or manipulative drama, but he never does. He lets these characters progress naturally to where we understand their emotions as well as their ideals. This is a movie about the balance of humanity, and how a mistake can tip that balance to the point of being irreparable. It also shows how forgiveness is the toughest thing to achieve. With the case of Einer and Jean, Einer (excellently played by Redford) must get past his own stubborn, grizzly-like bitterness while Jean (played by Lopez as a woman beaten by the world, holding on to her last remaining ounces of strength) must realize some things cannot be replaced. Mitch and the bear, as we immediately can guess, also figure into this story. Morgan Freeman, again playing the enlightened voice of reason, makes for the best character in the movie because we understand his arrival at forgiveness as well as what it took to finally get there.
This is such a deep, heartfelt film that it?s hard to even fault it when it brings in an old abusive boyfriend (Damian Lewis) of Jean?s later on. This is just one needless addition to a movie that otherwise has a lot of solid drama on its plate. ?An Unfinished Life? was shelved for more than two years before finally getting its release this month. That usually isn?t a good sign but wonders never cease. This is not only the year?s biggest surprise, but also the start of fall on a high note.
Craig's Grade: B+
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
