ChicRawIdol
A brilliant film that helped define a genre
Tobias Burrows
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Reno Rangan
Katie Holmes directional debut film. Adapted from the novel of the same name. I really had not planned to love it. I thought it was another passing-by film in my life. Surprisingly, it was so much better. I simply loved it. Because anything about life struggle really intrigues me. Especially the struggles of the aging people, women, children themes.This was about a mother and her teenage daughter. After escaping from her latest boyfriend, they decide to hit the road, travelling randomly. That reminded me 'The Glass Castle'. Their road adventure came to an end at some point, then set a tone similar to 'Safe Haven'. So they end up in a diner. Their lives begin to take shape around it. With so many turns, where the remaining narration heads were told by deciding their fate.For some people, it was a drama where nothing much happens. But I felt every moment. The life does not just change like turning a coin to the other side. That's the detail, especially the relationship with others were nicely built. The whole story was narrated from the kid's perspective, like how she saw her mother struggling with boyfriends, alcohol and finally finding their own place to call home to lead a normal life.It was almost a sentimental film. They should have created a more melodic track or borrowed one from the outside for it, because it deserves one. That would have set a tone for the film. It was just like another 'Infinitely Polar Bear', except it was mother-daughter thing. I think families would love such film. This really says that Katie Holmes has potential to be a great director. She also jointly produced it. Believe me. It is a totally underrated film. All I say is, it's a must see. If you listen to the haters, then you're missing out something wonderful!8.5/10
Xland
Well, I haven't read the novel...yet. I just watched the movie as I always do, patiently, and I can tell you the acting was great, really top notch from everyone. I don't care how many movies shared a similar plot, I can tell you for sure this one was done right. It's true it's a bit slow at times, but it's understandable. A movie for people who can still feel with their heart, not with stupid super-heroes, not with cgi or something which nowadays appear way too often in movies. For an indie debut movie, excellent.
riversideriverside
The film has the strengths aforementioned on this site. But the improvisation, and other scenes like it, in the house between mother and daughter near the end failed and were very annoying. And there was something particularly unbelievable about Ruthie's rebelliousness at one point when things improved for her and her mother. Luke Wilson's role was performed masterfully.
wrightiswright
How many times have I seen the formula for this film? Answer: Too many times.An alcoholic woman goes on the run with her bratty but more responsible teenage daughter in a crappy car. Along the way they get involved in escapades involving slimy boyfriends, petty shoplifting and a transsexual waitress. The mother's currency of choice is sex, and she utilises it relentlessly to try and pay for her motor repairs, keep her new job and house etc. while her petulant child just mopes around and complains. A likable pair, they ain't.A shaggy dog story at heart with a few easily navigable pitfalls along the way, the movie struggles to hold your attention during it's far too drawn-out 100 minute runtime, finally even switching the personalities of the main duo near the end to create some artificial tension. This is done with absolutely no foreshadowing or fanfare, proving that the director Katie Holmes (who drove Tom Cruise to jump onto Oprah's sofa. As you do) cares a lot more about the predictable banalities of the plot than anything approaching character development.I'm sure there are much better films of this ilk about. What are they? No idea. How's about you do your own homework, lazy? 5/10
