13 out of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Wonderfully nuanced film of family reconciliation

milnerv from Dorset, 8th October, 2005

The film is firmly anchored by a superb film script crafted over many years and thirty drafts by first time director Jordan Roberts, and then realized by a perfect cast. Although about death this film is completely without sentiment.

We launch into the film with Michael Caine (he should be nominated a national treasure) as Henry the great grandfather of the four generation patriarchy; a role reflecting the affection and frustrations we all feel for aging relations.

The father Turner (Walken) who deserted his family thirty years ago suddenly returns from prison, confronting his son Jason (Lucas) with all the loss of those intervening years, stirring up hidden family secrets. The script handles the situation perfectly, Henry’s joy, Zack his grandsons curiosity and instead of a violent confrontation with his son Jason they reach an unspoken sullen acceptance of each other.

When the grandfather dies he leaves complicated instructions and rituals for the disposal of his ashes taking several days and providing the opportunity for reconciliation. As the father, son and grandson (excellent child performance from Bobo) travel in the battered old camper van we are drawn into the family drama and end up knowing these people. What more can one ask of a film?

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7 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Odd...but good

A Customer from Bmth, England, 1st February, 2006

I enjoyed this film. Wasn't expecting anything in particular so was pleasantly surprised. Just an easy going, amusing, male role model, bonding story. Even Michael Cain wan't too bad. Christopher Walken - brilliant.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

A Nice Surprise

A Customer from Highbury, London, 14th November, 2005

Think rights of passage, endings, reconcilliations. Four generations of men in the same family having to sort out 30 years of stuff pretty damn quick. Think Hollywood, but not too tacky. Think entertainment, and a happy(ish) ending. Some chacterisation - some deeper than others....Walken really manages to seem like there's a real living breathing person - you know complex? - in there. The others don't really manage that depth, though the youngster is okay. The best bit? Well Michael Caine does not last long!

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strange film

A Customer from Worthing, 26th June, 2009

a strange film but watchable

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Worth watching

A Customer from UK, 2nd May, 2006

A good film - well acted and well worth the time. Its an emothional story not particulary fast moving but its one with a lot of depth. I only discovered the film by chance - how is it that good movies like this can just slip through the net like that?

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1 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Dreadful

coconut1 from East Sussex, 26th January, 2006

Dull dreary dismal and decidedly dreadful. We cannot think why we should have wasted an evening watching this silly pointless and awfull movie. There was so little sense in the plot and so little going on we would rather have spent the evening watching a soap or reality show - and they are to us the worst of modern t.v.

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