Not Just A Family Movie
YJM | Somewhere In The South | 12/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As my title says, this movie is hardly just for families. Anyone of any age can appreciate this magnificent film. As far as I'm concerned this film catapults itself into instant classic, just like Bambi, Old Yeller, Benji, Lassie, or any of the classics that came before. There is not a bad performance in this film, not a wasted moment of celluloid, not a single bad line of script. It's simply a beautiful, touching, heart-felt, and most importantly real film. The movie touches on so many different things that I will let you discover them for yourself, as I imagine this movie will be important to people for different reasons.
I also must say Anna Paquin is a true revelation of her generation of actors. She is amazing in a sea of gen y mediocrity. She is delightful here, cute as a button (now a beautiful young woman), and already very accomplished at her young age. Jeff Daniels is his normal great self, never delivers a bad performance in anything he's been in. Dana Delany is also wonderful. The real stars of the movie are the geese, and they do steal the show! What graceful, majestic animals they are, presented in all of their dignified glory in this special movie. The music, oh yes the music, simply as beautiful as the film itself.
This is a must see movie as far as I'm concerned. It's rare when something this beautiful and honest comes out of Hollywood. But every now and then we get a Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, The Wrestler (Micky Roukes new movie), or Fly Away Home, and when we do we are reminded of the power of movies to profoundly affect us, emotionally, and spiritually."