Review

by Sam S

Oscar-winning family drama

A simple yet beautifully filmed drama that does not over-complicate or over-glorify the issues at hand - the film simply feels real, tackling strong emotions without the production feeling like typical Hollywood kitsch. The film does not seem like a TV melodrama either, with the quality of the acting, if nothing else, taking it to a high level. Donald Sutherland gives off one his career's best, most human performances, whilst Timothy Hutton shines as a youth who blames himself for others' problems but yet still contributes a lot of blame to his mother. Some of the scenes are really well edited too, and in fact there is little that jumps out as being a flaw in the film. Arguably, it touches on a psychological base a bit too much, and perhaps there is a bit too much maudlin music, but there is really little wrong with this film, which is perceptive, touching, and far off being ordinary.