A Family Thing

PG-13

Released Mar 29, 1996

1 hr. 49 min.

Drama

List

73%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Following the death of the white woman he thought was his mother, a shocked Earl Pilcher Jr. (Robert Duvall) learns he is half black. Shaken to the core by this revelation of decades of lies, an impassioned Pilcher travels to Chicago to find his biological family and meets Roy Murdock (James Earl Jones), his half-brother. Unfortunately, Murdock refuses to accept the aging Southerner. Desperate for a connection, the grieving Pilcher struggles to convince Murdock to open his mind.

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Steve D

Sadly not as deep as it should be.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely love this movie, Watched by chance with my mother as she recorded it in the old VHS days. I was hooked from start to finish, Great writing, an amazing cast, and acting, So many emotions in this film, Irma P Hall was amazing. I have shown friends who thought they wouldn't have liked it but loved it too, No had a friend who disliked it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Light hearted drama with humor and geniality. The premise makes the plot predictable but the storyline and the acting are strong enough to carry the movie. It would make for a great school play!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

jon c

Director Richard Pierce presents a story about family no matter how black and white things may seem. Everything is relative so to speak. Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones co-star. Earl is a white southerner. He's just learned his mother who died wasn't actually his mother. His real birth mother actually had another child he didn't know about. Earl sets off to find out who his half brother is...his biggest surprise is that he's half African American. He's so shaken to the core being that his whole life was full of lies. When traveling to Chicago he meets Roy, a police officer who also shares his shock to the news. Roy of course refuses to let the idea sink in. Over the course of time though Earl is desperate to connect to the rest of his family. The truth is we never really know what it's like for someone else, you're treated one way when you're white you're treated another when you're black, it's hard to learn about your roots when you've been brought up a certain way, you can save another person if you want to be saved Duvall and Jones bounce off one another so wonderfully. Family is family and skin color shouldn't limit the bonds. Really nice shadings in the performances with Pierce showing that all family members can make it work.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

With heartwarming moments and a more optimistic approach to racial differences, these classy actors give perfect dramady performances in what is a potentially relatable film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is yet another movie that gets better over time. 22 years after its release it is still important and poignant. Beautifully acted. Some funny relief, but clearly consistent with 2018.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Richard Pearce

Director

Robert Duvall

Earl Pilcher Jr.

James Earl Jones

Ray Murdock

Michael Beach

Virgil

Irma P. Hall

Aunt T.

Grace Zabriskie

Ruby

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Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2002

Full Review

Alison Macor

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

As it is, it's a superior entertainment, warm-hearted and touching, and with some nice shadings in the performances.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Underrated family drama; Duvall and Jones are terrific

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 7, 2005

Full Review

Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Rated: 3/5

May 8, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Following the death of the white woman he thought was his mother, a shocked Earl Pilcher Jr. (Robert Duvall) learns he is half black. Shaken to the core by this revelation of decades of lies, an impassioned Pilcher travels to Chicago to find his biological family and meets Roy Murdock (James Earl Jones), his half-brother. Unfortunately, Murdock refuses to accept the aging Southerner. Desperate for a connection, the grieving Pilcher struggles to convince Murdock to open his mind.

Director: Richard Pearce
Executive Producer: Michael Hausman
Screenwriter: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 1996, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.1M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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