Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

Boobirt Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Tim Johnson Diane and i saw this little beauty at Paradiso two days ago and we were both enchanted by such a simple story told with feeling, understanding and truth: things rarely sen in contemporary Hollywood visual junk. True to form, the negative commentators enumerated all the "usual suspects": plot was "trite", acting was "wooden", nothing happened (read, no exploding cars, no bloody deaths, etc.--all the nonsense we have come to expect from contemporary Hollywood.) Bonneville was a soft film; a film that explored the inner sanctums of human existence with a quiet, deft touch, not the hammer that we normally expect to see from the masters of outrage. Life and its many introspective pathways can, really, be explored without full-body dissection and it can be extremely lovely to watch. We were captivated by the acting of the principals who gave the viewer a chance to deal with three distinct characters, something, again, not often seen because the scripts do not draw the characters clearly enough or the actors are not directed to explore the more subtle aspects of their actor's roles. Bonneville was the exception that proved the rule: the dialog, the exploration of particularly Lange's character, and the gentle exploration of personal mourning was a treat to watch. We congratulate all who contributed to this amazing, gentle story.

Ed Uyeshima Casting three powerhouse actresses of a certain age in a road movie may sound like a promising concept, but I was disappointed by how insular and monotonous the film feels for a shared journey supposedly focused on self-discovery. Director Christopher N. Rowley and screenwriter Daniel D. Davis, both first-timers to feature films, don't really offer the intimidating trio of Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen much to work with in terms of character or story development, and were it not for the three actresses, this little-seen 2008 movie would have surely ended up on Lifetime TV where it most obviously belongs.The plot focuses mainly on Arvilla Holden, who just lost Joe, her husband of twenty years while on vacation in Borneo. Back home in Pocatello, Idaho, it doesn't take long for her resentful stepdaughter Francine to stake a claim on her father's ashes to transport them back for a funeral service the following week in Santa Barbara where she lives. Arvilla, however, promised Joe to scatter his ashes at various places that meant something to them. Francine threatens to take away Arvilla's house unless she complies. Under emotional duress, Arvilla agrees but only if she can deliver the ashes herself. She then turns to her friends, sassy Margene and uptight Carol for support as they head out on a road trip to California taking Joe's beloved '66 Bonneville convertible. The rest of the movie follows their various adventures, which include picking up a young hitchhiker looking for his birth father, flirting with a smitten truck driver, and making the typical stops one would make west of the Rockies.With her shopworn beauty compromised a bit by surgery, Lange is still able to convey the tethered fragility of her early-career work in "Frances" and "Tootsie". She inhabits Arvilla with that lost, Blanche DuBois-like quality that fits the character's delusional aspects very well. Bates ("About Schmidt") is in familiar territory as Margene, supplying comic relief and surprising poignancy through her trademark salt-of-the-earth persona. As the hopelessly prim Carol, a devout Mormon, the versatile Allen ("The Bourne Ultimatum", "The Upside of Anger") uses her arsenal of talent to bring life to a relatively cardboard role. Doing a 180-degree turn from her surgically-inclined cougar in "Mamma Mia!", Christine Baranski is saddled with a no-win role as Francine. Tom Skerritt relies on his familiar toothy charm as the truck driver, while Victor Rasuk ("Raising Victor Vargas") appears to be channeling early Brad Pitt as the low-key hitchhiker.While the various locations - Bryce Canyon, Bonneville Salt Flats, Joshua Tree - are nicely filmed by Jeffrey L. Kimball, those expecting a post-menopausal version of "Thelma and Louise" will likely be disappointed since the film's energy level sputters with every curve of the road, especially as it veers toward a predictably drawn ending. At the same time, when are you likely to see actresses of this caliber share the screen again? The 2008 DVD is short on extras - a standard ten-minute making-of featurette with gushing testimonials by the actresses, several deleted/alternate scenes of varying quality, a one-minute gag reel, and a promotional spot for The Red Hat Society, a social organization for women over fifty.

gradyharp BONNEVILLE creeps up on the viewer. It is a solid marriage of light comedy and sentiment and the somewhat slight story is brought to life by the natural gifts of a trio of superb actors. Why it did not find popularity in the theaters is probably due to the topic of death and the cast of 'older actresses', but it is a solid little film that deserves more attention. Arvilla (Jessica Lange) has lost her husband of 20 years and promised to scatter his ashes over places the couple loved. Her step daughter Francine (Christine Baranski) demands the 'ashes' be buried next to her mother's grave in Santa Barbara, threatening her stepmother with eviction from her Pocatello, Idaho home if Arvilla doesn't comply. Two of Arvilla's friends - the restless widow Margene (Kathy Bates) and the oh-so-Mormon Carol (Joan Allen) support their friend and plan to fly with Arvilla to take the ashes to Santa Barbara. But circumstances begin to change when the threesome bond tightly and decide to take Arvilla's husband's old Bonneville on a road trip to California. From here on the film is a Road Trip - a time when the three women learn lessons about life and death and love and compassion from each other - and from a young hitchhiker Bo (Victor Rasuk of 'Saving Victor Vargas', 'Stop- Loss' etc) and trucker Emmett (Tom Skirrett). The trip from Idaho to California passes through some of the Southwest's most beautiful scenery, places once shared by Arvilla and her late husband, and slowly the urn of ashes is distributed along the way to the dreaded Santa Barbara funeral. Christopher N. Rowley directs this sweet story by Daniel D. Davis with great respect for the gifts of the three fine actors, allowing them to show us just why they remain some of our finest talent on the screen. It is not a great film, but it has such a fine heart that we can relax and just ride along with it. Grady Harp

Martin Toth What a superb feel-good movie!! The acting was right on the characters. The scenery was perfect--and I never would have thought to set the movie in the locations that it was in...but it worked beautifully! But what impressed me the most was the writing...it made you think. Isn't that what a good movie should do? Interstingly, after watching Bonneville, I actually found myself reflecting on life--what is important...and what isn't. And I learned a bit more about taking that chance...doing what is in your gut and you're heart! I would love to say more, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. This is a 'must see' movie for everyone and makes my list of top movies! I will be seeing this one again.