BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

mjoffe6515 I found the relationship with the mother, Keaton's character, and her eldest daughter, Trini Alverado's character, fascinating. As Mrs. Soffel became more confused about her emotions and how she felt about her life, in general, she became more of what we think of nowadays, as an adolescent, not quite knowing her place in this world and where she fit in. She could see flaws in her present life, for the first time, and many of the possibilities out there for her in the world at large. Her daughter, on the other hand, was a stable "grown-up," knowing her exact place in the world, where she fit in, what was expected of her, and content knowing that this was to be her life, once and for all. And as Mrs. Soffel was becoming more and more dissatisfied with the status quo, SHE was becoming the rebellious teen and her daughter was becoming the stern mother who knew what was best. An interesting take on things!

qnetter It's been years since I've seen this film -- I remember it as being really beautiful but really annoying.But to the earlier poster who thought Mel Gibson's American accent was such an achievement: you are aware, right, that he was born in the US and lived here till he was 12 (till his father won on Jeopardy! and took the family to Australia?)

suzy q123 This one was a nice surprise, I hadn't seen it when it first came out, so I rented it and enjoyed it thoroughly. Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson carry the day in this true tale of a wardens wife who falls for a prisoner. Matthew Modine does a fine job as Mel Gibsons brother, and the entire cast is fine. It's beautifully shot in Pittsburgh, and there is a languid quality about it that I found alluring. Well done all around.

regina989 Continuing my survey/reevaluation of Mel Gibson movies (well, somebody has to do it), I give this one 3 stars out of 4. If I were giving stars. Anyway...beautifully photographed, nicely-directed film of warden's wife (Diane Keaton) in 1901 Pittsburgh, in contact with death-row inmate brothers (Mel and Matthew Modine). Diane's in static marriage with warden Edward Herrmann and four kids; goes to death row to read Bible passages to cons...one in particular...! Mel's waiting' on a hangin' while the darling of local starry-eyed schoolgirls lamenting the handsome con's apparent fate. Diane and Mel strike sparks in this period romance. Film is slow-moving in first half, but stick with it.