Search - Trucker on DVD

Tough (but worthy) watch, bare bones DVD

Steve Kuehl | Ben Lomond, CA | 01/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This can be one of those films where a reviewer can write paragraphs of material about the narrative, performances, nuances, subtlety of emotions, and loads of other wonderful stuff, but when the credits suddenly appeared I had to wait a day to scribe some thoughts.

A character/performance film all the way, with Michelle Monaghan being given her first chance at carrying a film - and without hesitation I think she did an outstanding job. The story follows our main gal as she trucks for a living, unburdened by any emotional or long term physical relationships. She is suddenly given the responsibility of having to take care of her estranged boy, last seen when he was an infant. The rest (and majority) of the film covers their new relationship and the pitfalls they both face with her road life. Very dry at times, but some genuine moments and strong showings make for a solid film. Would have liked to see more happen with certain roles (I liked Serenity so it was nice to see Fillion) but I suppose the ending had to be ambiguous.

The picture clarity is average at times, clear in a few outdoor spots and the sound is a weak 5.1 with most everything directed through the center channel. The supplements are extremely weak and should not have even been added:
* Actress Prepares for her Role, less than 2 minutes. A music montaged slide show of Michelle walking around a truck stop - forgettable.
* Behind the Scenes Slideshow, less than a minute. Same thing - forgettable.

Would have hoped for some stellar supplements from Monterey as I am a big fan of their work (especially Humble Pie, Local Color and The Village Barbershop) but this will have to stand alone as a character film. 4 stars for Michelle but zero for anything else."

A Nicely-Wrought but Predictable Movie

Richard B. Schwartz | Columbia, Missouri USA | 04/25/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A mother has left the (to her) cloying world of motherhood and become an over the road trucker. The child's father has had custody for the last ten years of his 11 year-old's life and is loved deeply by his son. When he contracts cancer and his wife's parent dies, the father turns to the trucker to take care of the son while he enters the hospital to either recuperate or die. The mother and son begin with recriminations, anger and harsh words, move on to understanding and end up loving one another (all as one would hope and expect).

Michele Monaghan as the mother, Diane, carries the movie and she does so expertly. James Mottern's direction is strong, the production values high, particularly considering the twin facts of a 19-day shoot and a one and a half million-dollar budget. This is a small film, but done very nicely with superb performances all around. It is a story about love and responsibility, the latter a slippery notion for Diane, who has abandoned her son but built an economic life by scrimping to complete the payments on her truck and making progress on the mortgage-free ownership of her one-bedroom house somewhere in a place like Barstow. Her self-indulgent private life, which consists of hard drinking and one-night stands, is about to change and we enjoy her (and her son's) somewhat uneasy but altogether predictable transformation. This is a small gem."