Audience Member
Even the perfect family can be shot down like the moon Albert Finney, Diane Keaton, Karen Allen, and Peter Weller After years of marriage, the seemingly perfect relationship between accomplished writer George Dunlap and his wife, Faith is rapidly deteriorating While George becomes involved in an affair with the lovely Sandy, Faith begins a romance with handsome contractor Frank These infidelities not only take a toll on George and Faith, they affect their four daughters, who start to resent their father in particular The late Dana Hill as Sherry, she's affected the worst by her fathers decision to leave In response she becomes the other parent even though she doesn't want to and can't stand how broken their family is Love, pain, anger and tears mixed with needing, hoping and facing the truth It's a drama about marriage; the way it hurts, when it falls apart A film that is honest, compelling, and uncompromising with its subject matter A majority of this takes its time so it might frustrate some viewers But it boils down to how matrimony can fall hard on not just the spouses but their kids too All the cards are laid on the table when push comes to shove There's some good raw emotions sprinkled in this plus it helps the creators' own experience with divorce transcends the story A domestic drama that is entirely realistic with its share of heartaches
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/23/24
Full Review
Audience Member
This movie is especially triggering for kids whose parents separated and went through a 'messy' aka HORRIBLE divorce. The eldest daughter of 4 kids played by Dana Hill sees everything crystal clear. Albert Finney plays the cheating father. Keaton plays the mother who seems to be able to manage 4 children extremely well . Finney, Hill and Keaton are excellent but Dana Hill outshines these veterans easily. Her portrayal is so heartbreakingly real, truthful, honest and restrained it utterly demonstrates the horrible pain children endure when their parents separate. She sees through her feable father's lies, adultery, and recognizes his betrayal of her whole family. They're are scenes that are terrifyingly real that #1 are not for children to watch, #2 definitely not for watching if your family is in the middle of breaking apart #3 are violent and extremely difficult to watch. Let's say that I would hope that 40+ years down the road from when this film was shot, the father would have been jailed for several of his violent freak outs. Finney does a brilliant job playing a pathetic LOSER with a major inadequacy complex who takes it out on his wife and kids. He even managed to finish off his ex wife's dying father. He really is as slimy and low and completely narcissistic as they come. The thing that sickens me the most this minute, because this film has upset me and will piss me off for some time yet, is that the mother keeps trying to placate him and be reasonable and accommodating. This film hits too close to home for me. Keaton does a dazzling job going through the onslaught of emotions that happen while breaking up, being left by your husband for a younger woman, try to keep looking after 4 kids who are confused, hurt, angry and intelligent so they are all too aware of everything happening. Cannot say enough about Dana Hill's talent and how upsetting it is to know she died so young, at only 32, from diabetes.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/11/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Even the perfect family can be shot down like the moon
Albert Finney, Diane Keaton, Karen Allen, and Peter Weller
After years of marriage, the seemingly perfect relationship between accomplished writer George Dunlap and his wife, Faith is rapidly deteriorating
While George becomes involved in an affair with the lovely Sandy, Faith begins a romance with handsome contractor Frank
These infidelities not only take a toll on George and Faith, they affect their four daughters, who start to resent their father in particular
The late Dana Hill as Sherry, she's affected the worst by her fathers decision to leave
In response she becomes the other parent even though she doesn't want to and can't stand how broken their family is
Love, pain, anger and tears mixed with needing, hoping and facing the truth
It's a drama about marriage; the way it hurts, when it falls apart
A film that is honest, compelling, and uncompromising with its subject matter
A majority of this takes its time so it might frustrate some viewers
But it boils down to how matrimony can fall hard on not just the spouses but their kids too
All the cards are laid on the table when push comes to shove
There's some good raw emotions sprinkled in this plus it helps the creators' own experience with divorce transcends the story
A domestic drama that is entirely realistic with its share of heartaches
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/22/23
Full Review
uncle p
Story/Screenplay: (3/5) Was a mostly decent drama that mostly held together until the end, then it took a tumble. Overall, the story wasn't bad, but our male protagonist has a bit of an anger issue that I can't readily comprehend.
Duration/Tempo: (3/5) At 2 hours and 4 minutes, it's a long movie that felt about the same. Pacing is slow.
Cast & Crew: (3.5/5) Albert Finney and Diane Keaton were good. Dana Hill was fun to watch.
Summary: (3/5) The cast was good, but the story was a bit flawed and the film felt like it should have been shorter. A borderline thumbs down.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
steve d
It drags and you don't care about the characters.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Way over rated. Great acting, but it all feels so pandering and artificial. Role your eyes at the stereotypical sitcom-like kids. That ridiculous restaurant fight is awful. In no reality would people do this without all others in the place complaining way more, and the management stepping in way sooner. That kind of artificiality permeates every scene.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
04/27/19
Full Review
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