There are lots of issues here. Personal struggles, relationships, coping with new situations. It's a bit slow and obscure at times, but patience and persistence are rewarded by superb acting, a real story, and all the signs of great writing, production and directing.
The two main characters are Maddy (Vanessa Redgrave, aged 63 at the time) and Trevor Morgan (14 pretending to be 12) They both have tragedy and grief to cope with. They clash, then slowly become close to each other and then understand lots. It's quite emotional at times.
The support cast is just as good, only we don't see so much of them. Ron Livingston is Uncle Charlie, so cool, so laconic, yet caring greatly for his dead sister's child. Is this just his acting? Or can the writers take some credit too.
Catherine McCormack is Mary, the new step-mother. In real life, this is such a hard place to be, but here, the writing and acting are outstanding (as to be expected from McCormack), and of course, she delivers, ie, when James shouts "You're not my mother". So real, and then Nathan (James's dad, Ray Liotta) also has to cope. So real.
Several really good scenes (Doctor Sam), and lots of memorable dialogue. Well worth the 10.
The two main characters are Maddy (Vanessa Redgrave, aged 63 at the time) and Trevor Morgan (14 pretending to be 12) They both have tragedy and grief to cope with. They clash, then slowly become close to each other and then understand lots. It's quite emotional at times.
The support cast is just as good, only we don't see so much of them. Ron Livingston is Uncle Charlie, so cool, so laconic, yet caring greatly for his dead sister's child. Is this just his acting? Or can the writers take some credit too.
Catherine McCormack is Mary, the new step-mother. In real life, this is such a hard place to be, but here, the writing and acting are outstanding (as to be expected from McCormack), and of course, she delivers, ie, when James shouts "You're not my mother". So real, and then Nathan (James's dad, Ray Liotta) also has to cope. So real.
Several really good scenes (Doctor Sam), and lots of memorable dialogue. Well worth the 10.