Really outstanding performances by the lead actors,Hoffman, Sarandon and sometimes hard to read, Gyllenhaal's eyes. Even though it starts out sort of wishy washy, not guiding the viewer with much direction, it does eventually reel you in with the hook. A family is grieving the death of their only daughter along side of her fiancee. Plans that were made before her tragic death, are kept in place allowing the almost "son-in-law," a role in her fathers business. As the family is trying to come to terms with her death, Gyllenhaal must reveal a disturbing secret that's been holding him back instead of allowing him to move ahead.Ben Floss (Dustin Hoffman), and his wife JoJo (Susan Sarandon), along with their almost son in law Joe Nast (Jake Gyllenhaal), are morning the tragic loss of Diane, the Floss's only child. Her life was cut short by being in the wrong place and the wrong time, when she was shot and killed by a man at the local diner. Another woman, who can identify the shooter, clings to life after being shot in the head two times. Though Ben, Joe and JoJo rarely mention Diane by name, the family will go through the motion of saying goodbye to their daughter at her funeral and wake at their home. Ben prattles through the empty hallways, paying special attention to small details, like canceling the wedding invitations that have already been posted. It's Joe's job to visit the local post office and stop the invites from being mailed and there he meets Bertie (Ellen Pompeo). Her boyfriend has been MIA in Vietnam and together the two form a special bond in a transition stage. Now Joe has to tell the parents he's not the perfect almost son, they think he is.
My favorite quote of the movie - "You gave us all a huge enema of truth - a rooto rooter of the mind."
Buena Vista Pictures DistributionDirector: Brad Silberling
Writer: Brad Silberling
Producers :Brad Silberling, Mark Johnson
I viewed 5/09
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