Jackie A
I know that the movie isn't what modern kids would usually turn to, but I felt it had a sweet meaning. I felt it showed the sadness a teen could experience after losing a parent and for me, the guilt the young character expressed at having spoken harsh words to her late mother, was something many teens would truly experience. The strained relationship between the girl and the stepmother and the resentment toward the new wife and dad is also relatable for young kids . Also, as a grandmother to a 14 year old boy, I loved how the teens and her grandmothers relationship grew stronger. Grandchildren have a tendency to fill the emptiness in the lives of some grandparents and I saw just that in this movie. The movie dealt with the jealousy and vindictiveness of teenaged peers, too, which unfortunately, is all too common in their young lives. I also liked the character who was a recovering addict because he showed the young girl how anyone could move forward into a much better place in their lives, and be happier from doing so. The suicidal attempt of the teen touched on whats sadly become too often an occurrence today and I liked the way the movie had the characters deal with that. I feel the movie was more wholesome than most of todays teen movies, and if you ask me, there should be more movies with this vibe and fewer made with characters who lack morals and that can make kids feel they won't fit in unless they're following the crowd and living a looser life. Of course, as an Indiana native, I enjoyed the chosen locations for filming. All in all, I enjoyed this movie, even at 53 years of age.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
05/26/22
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Audience Member
This felt a lot like a tv movie. All nice, all sweet, dramas, so so acting. The film stays even all along though, pacing itself and we just need to let ourselves floating down the river until we make it to the ocean. Faking was good enough. The grandma was doing pretty good though. It was good to see a very old one with a sharp mind to the end.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/20/23
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A bit slow at first, but tells a sweet story that says everybody gets second chances. The movie follows a girl named Julie who moves in with her grandma after her mom dies. At first she is very miserable. But when things aren't looking up her grandma introduces her to theatre where Julie auditions and instantly gets the main part. The movie shows the ups and downs of life.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
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Audience Member
This was rated as a children and family movie on Netflix and they swore in the first scene! I don't think so!
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
02/24/23
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VIEWS ON FILM review by Jesse Burleson
John D. Hancock hasn't made a film in about thirteen years. He's a director that works well with young actors. He's a director that sticks to his Midwestern roots. Lastly, he's the guy that put Robert De Niro on the map (remember 1973's Bang The Drum Slowly?). Although time has passed making Hancock the Hoosier State's version of Terrence Malick, he never misses a beat with his newest vehicle, The Looking Glass.
On April 1st of 2016, I wistfully attended a free screening of this little-known drama. I didn't perceive anything about it as I ventured into the legendary Goshen Theater (located firmly in the Maple City). While its initial running time felt a little draggy, The Looking Glass then turned into a prolonged, powerful, and profound coming-of-age pic. I was also gravitated by its blow-by-blow character study of an ailing grandmother and her suicidal (yet misunderstood) granddaughter. From its opening frame consisting of a sweeping aerial shot to its final frame (harboring a similar shot), "Glass" gives its cast ample room to squeeze in terrific performances. All of this is done to the backdrop of summertime in Northern Indiana.
Now would I classify The Looking Glass as a superior indie? Perhaps if my assumption is correct that it is independently distributed. Did it remind me of 1981's On Golden Pond but fashioned in a Middle America setting? Oh for sure. With "Glass", there's tragedy in numbers, there's plenty of references to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (hence the working title), and the proceedings ultimately further a play within a movie. My list of top picks for 2015 includes a crime drama, a crime biography, a comedy, a historical drama, and a sports drama. Why not add this one to the mix.
Shot on location in South Bend, LaPorte, Michigan City, and Three Oaks, Michigan, "Glass" is written by and stars Dorothy Tristan (John D. Hancock's real-life spouse). Tristan, a Hollywood recluse herself, hasn't acted in a motion picture since Down and Out in Beverly Hills circa 1986. No matter. Her turn as a grandmother/former movie star stricken with early Alzheimer's, is under the radar and worthy of a delayed Oscar. Added to that, her script for The Looking Glass is filled with tender moments, tough love between family members, and insight on how to succeed in the realm of stage and screen.
The story is as follows: Emotionally distraught Julie (played effectively by newcomer Grace Tarnow) is sent to live with her grandmother (Dorothy Tristan as Karen, who looks as though she could be Tarnow's actual nana). Julie's mother died at a young age and she is seemingly alienated from her father and her stepmom. Karen and Julie (at first) don't connect with their relationship stemming from distance and intense encounters. Over time, they bond with Karen reminding Julie that she is talented, can sing, and should try out for a part in a local play. The character of Julie's mom, is almost never seen in flashbacks and there is only a faint photo of her shown in a handful of scenes. Her invisible presence however, stays with you throughout "Glass" and adds to its absorbing palate. The musical score although facile, is sublime. The rural Indiana landscape here is homegrown. Watch for a twist in The Looking Glass that anyone would be hard pressed to reveal.
Not swayed by its compact exposure, I think this is truly a beautiful film. Some people in audience where I sat, cried. A lot of them definitely teared up. Shown on less than 10 screens nationwide, it's a misfortune that this thing didn't get a larger release. My rating: 3 and a half stars.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/10/23
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