Ulee's Gold

R

Released Jun 13, 1997

1h 51m

Drama

List

94%

51 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Widowed beekeeper and Vietnam veteran Ulysses "Ulee" Jackson (Peter Fonda) raises his granddaughters because his son, Jimmy (Tom Wood), is in prison. When Jimmy finds out that his estranged wife, Helen (Christine Dunford), has gotten herself into trouble with a crew of drug dealers and has run away, he asks Ulee for help. Ulee begrudgingly agrees to find Helen. When he does, he must rely on the unexpected aid of a divorced nurse (Patricia Richardson) to get Helen through her withdrawal.

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Critics Consensus

Led by an outstanding Peter Fonda performance, Ulee's Gold movingly depicts a family in crisis -- and a patriarch willing to sacrifice for the good of others.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Nunez's use of melodrama is as refreshingly anti-Hollywood as ever: the action is entirely in the service of character. What's startling about this quiet, un-hyped-up film is how moving it is.

Feb 28, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

This low-key drama is played slow and sage.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Peter Fonda delivers the performance of his career in this excellent indie hit.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 24, 2021

Full Review

Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

Writer/director Nunez holds the threat of danger over all that happens, but the film is less a study of violence than it is a look at how one makes hard decisions in the face of harsh circumstances.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Deceptively old-fashioned, this is an emotionally quiet but rewarding portrait of a taciturn beekeeper (marvelously played by Peter Fonda, who resembles his dad) forced to emerged out of his solitary, sheltered life and face his family responsibilities

Rated: 4/5

Aug 31, 2006

Full Review

Read all reviews

Martin B

Best movie Fonda Jr ever did including Easy Rider. Has it all. Plot, backdrop, heart warming story line and Peter Fonda's best acting performance. Peter Fonda was never anything close to his father or sister in acting talent except this one moves when he was better then either.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

robert m

Peter Fonda's best movie and one of the best movies about life in the rural South. This movie relies heavily on Fonda and it's impressive. Imagine a movie about the South that gets beyond the insensitivity and the nastiness that's often presented by Hollywood. Fonda's character has some depth and he learns a few things.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ashley h

Ulee's Gold is an excellent film. It is about a reclusive beekeeper slowly pulls his dysfunctional family back together. Peter Fonda and Patricia Richardson give fantastic performances. The script is well written. Victor Nunez did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. Ulee's Gold is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

An emotional and engaging story with strong performances especially from Fonda (who should have won the Academy Award) and Biel.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

In my top 5 all time. Stellar cast and acting, story. Characters well-defined, pacing perfect, lots of nuances and raw emotion. A real gem, highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

6.8/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2Of

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Victor Nunez

Director

Peter Fonda

Ulysses 'Ulee' Jackson

Patricia Richardson

Connie Hope

Jessica Biel

Casey Jackson

J. Kenneth Campbell

Sheriff Bill Floyd

Christine Dunford

Helen Jackson

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Synopsis

Widowed beekeeper and Vietnam veteran Ulysses "Ulee" Jackson (Peter Fonda) raises his granddaughters because his son, Jimmy (Tom Wood), is in prison. When Jimmy finds out that his estranged wife, Helen (Christine Dunford), has gotten herself into trouble with a crew of drug dealers and has run away, he asks Ulee for help. Ulee begrudgingly agrees to find Helen. When he does, he must rely on the unexpected aid of a divorced nurse (Patricia Richardson) to get Helen through her withdrawal.

Director: Victor Nunez
Producer: Edward Saxon, John Sloss
Screenwriter: Victor Nunez
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Orion Pictures
Production Co: Clinica Estetico
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.1M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, 16mm, 1.66:1

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