Ellen-Burstyn Movie Reviews

This film really is spectacular. From the very opening(which is slightly disorienting-but becomes clear quickly), it weaves a tale filled with some very odd and fascinating characters. Nicholson plays a radio deejay of sorts that spouts some fictionalized, but engrossingly told tales. The story itself deals with his visit to his brother-played by Bruce Dern, who he must attempt to talk out of some financial scheming. Dern turns in a fine performance-comparable to his performance in SMILE(very different characters, both great performances). Ellen Burstyn is also terrific. Photography by Laszlo Kovacs ranks up with his best. A welcome follow-up to Rafelson's FIVE EASY PIECES(a follow-up that doesn't get the press it deserves). Looks beautiful on dvd!

The film opens with Nicholson in a tight shot talking to someone. We aren't sure at first to whom he's talking or why. From that opening scene I was hooked. Nicholson is a radio personality (David) who one day gets a phone call from his brother Jason (Bruce Dern) who is in jail. Jason is basically a big-time loser who has been trying all his life to make something big happen. His latest scheme is to encourage his brother to join him and his female companions (played by Ellyn Burstyn and Julia Anne Robinson) in Atlantic City while contemplating the purchase of an island near Hawaii. Many strange events happen along the way, not the least of which finds the two women competing for Jason's affection. A very strange scene occurs involving a fire on the beach. Without giving too much away, I will say that this is a turning point that has tremendous impact later in the story. So few films today have even slightly interesting characters. These characters are so vivid and interesting that you can't help but be intrigued, wondering what's going to happen next. Each scene seems to have no rhyme or reason, until finally the pieces fall into place. When the pieces do come together, you realize that you've witnessed something very unique, original, and haunting.

The four leading actors are all at the top of their form. I have never seen Nicholson timid, unsure, or at a loss for words before. Dern is hopelessly reckless. Robinson is an innocent in an evil environment. Burstyn is perfect as the key to the whole story, which is one that I'll never forget. You'll think about this quiet little film long after the credits are over.

Dont miss it, you'll be sorry if you do

"Christmas Box" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I've been itching for the beautiful prequel "Timepiece" to come out. Told in the frame of reminiscence, this is the backstory of the dignified Mary Parkin of the other movie, and of her husband and daughter.

Kevin Kilner is astonishingly good as David Parkin, the owner of a successful company during WW2. David is a bachelor with odd social habits; among other things, his best friend is a black clockmaker named Lawrence (James Earl Jones, who is OBVIOUSLY amazing), considered an eccentricity in the upper crust of the 1940s noveau riche.

A young English woman, Mary Anne Chandler, arrives and somehow ends up as David's secretary. But he isn't yet aware that she has a secret: She's pregnant by a deceased soldier, and unwed, a major stigma at that time. David marries her nevertheless, and for a time they are immensely happy together. David considers her daughter to be his, and soon about five years have passed.

Meanwhile Lawrence befriends an elderly, kindly spinster with a wastrel nephew. When she dies, she gives all of her money to charities - except for a beautiful, valuable clock that she leaves to Lawrence. The nephew and his friends, needless to say, aren't too pleased. When the nephew shows up, drunk, there's a scuffle and he's accidently shot with his own gun. David dives in to take the blame, knowing that a court would try Lawrence unjustly. This good deed results in an outpouring of both love and hate, with tragic results...

I've only seen Kilner in one other role -- that of the first lead on Earth: Final Conflict--and was not impressed by his acting abilities. And, additionally, I was groaning in pain when I found out he had been cast as David; I thought he was all wrong for the part. This movie, however, lets him shine. Naomi Watts is excellent as the woman whose hardships forge her into a much stronger person, showing indications of the dignified older woman of "Christmas Box."

James Earl Jones is a jewel as Lawrence Flynn, an elderly black man who must suddenly deal with the prejudice of some of the town's residents, alongside his friend, Miss Maud Gannon. Jones is, needless to say, amazing. Richard Thomas doesn't really star -- he's in a cameo, at best, artificially aged, but it's a good cameo that sets up the whole movie. Mercedes Kastner, the girl playing little Andrea Parkin is pretty good for a child actor, but not stellar; at times she's a little too affected.

Flaws? Well, there are some dissimilarities to the book, in more than altered dialogue. In the book, Andrea was not fathered by a deceased soldier, but just some abusive jerk. Richard Thomas's gray artificial eyebrows look like dust bunnies, and he really isn't convincing as an old man. He looks like a young man trying to look old. The effects of the attack on Lawrence is much more severe in the book; but as there are children watching this movie, it's just as well.

Nevertheless, this is truly beautifully made. The sets and settings are amazing, and I get the feeling that the actors were enjoying what they were making. If you feel in the mood for a really lovely movie, or enjoyed the other movie, you should definitely watch "Timepiece."

My daughters and I watched this after the Christmas Box on
Christmas night (which has become a tradition for us). We absolutely loved it!We were once again overwhelmed by the story of the Parkin's.The loss of their daughter made us
sob as did the unexpected ending.I have come to expect this
from the writings of Mr. Evans,what a talented man!He hits on every emotion possible but the one most evident to me is "HOPE".He makes us believe that there is hope in every situation especially when you think all is lost.The actors in this movie were perfect in their roles and brought this wonderful story to life.I hope to treasure these movies for years to come. They say that each time you watch a movie you catch something that you missed the first time and I'm sure this will be the same.I can't wait to see it again.

The gorgeous bookshelves in the study at the start of this movie had my attention and then the theme of clocks and watches was quite unique. Even if you have not seen "The Christmas Box," you can enjoy this story. This sequel focuses more on the life of David and Mary and how they find one another and keep their marriage together.

Timepiece is one of those stories some will find hard to believe would ever happen in real life. Strange, yet true, not only did someone leave Christmas presents on our doorstep one year in real life, my brother also survived meningitis. So, two aspects of this movie made complete sense to me.

The first half is more of a love story and the middle is filled with tragedy. The ending is so beautiful in that the characters learn to forgive and by doing so, bring beauty back into their lives.

The true meanings of friendship, loyalty and love are also explored. The emotions at times border on being overly sentimental, but for the most part, the story flows nicely.

The beauty of this story is more in how the characters react to tragedies in their lives. They discover what it means to forgive and share their lives with those who have also suffered.

As many in America face a Christmas filled with the pain of loosing those they loved this year, I felt this movie could almost be a guide as to how we can turn our personal suffering into joy and hope.

We may not always understand why God allows tragedy into our lives. The story of Mary and David Parkin shows how when you look for ways to make other people happy, you can find joy again and can even learn to appreciate life in a more altruistic way.

Dedicated to someone very important in my life who showed me a new way of looking at situations and makes me laugh.

This is an important movie to watch. It is never boring. I have seen this movie several times and I learn something new with each viewing.

I saw this video in my U.S. History II class as a junior in high school and was moved by it more than any other movie i've ever seen. To this day, I tell people that it is a must-see. Although the footage and letters are heartbreaking, the movie deals with something extremely important in American history. I would recommend this video specifically to high school teachers and students.

my own father is a veteran of the vietnam war. i've always wanted to know more about it, but my dad has never exactly opened up. i saw this video in my u.s. history class like the previous reviewer and like their class, my class also got emotional. the video does justice to all of the young boys who sacrificed their youth and yet received little appreciation. it does a wonderful job of helping younger generations see the human side of war, instead of desensitizing us further.

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Vermont. One of the best things which happened during this, our annual visit to this special place, was our visit to a bookstore where the owner suggested "Spitfire Grill" as a wonderful movie filmed in nearby Peacham, VT. Having visited Peacham one of my first priorities on getting home was to rent the video. After watching the film this evening I can only say that it's everything our new friend said it would be when she recommended it. Fictional Gilead, Maine, the story's location, is so typical of a small town's hesitancy to welcome a newcomer, yet Percy's presence changes this little town forever. Its citizens learn through a tragic experience to look beneath the surface appearance of a person to discover the soul within. Watching the film is truly a spiritual experience. The acting is superb, and the beauty of rural Peacham, Vermont is the perfect setting for such a touching story. While I rented the film watching it once is truly not enough. I'm definitely purchasing this one! A wonderful story to watch over and over again and to share with your family and friends.

This is a story of a young woman with a second chance who picks a small town in Maine to start over. She battles with some small-town minds who are unforgiving but gains the love and support of some. The viewer gets to see lives being changed as each of the main characters struggles with their own issues. Suitable for family viewing although one part of the movie will need to be discussed with pre-teens. If you're looking for a movie with some good, old-fashioned messages of love-one-another, this is it. It's well done and worth more than one look.

Having lived both in Maine and in northern New York, I can tell you that the Spitfire Grill captures exquisitely the spirit and essence of a small town in both of these places. Characters abound in these parts of the country --just as they do in this excellent movie, "The Spitfire Grill". This is one of those movies that has a little bit of everything. It is good, clean entertainment that even the kids can watch. It is at times thrilling, at other times heart warming; and it may even bring tears to your eyes. Acting is all around superb! The Spitfire Grill is now one of my all time favorites. Its both in full screen and widescreen.

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Vermont. One of the best things which happened during this, our annual visit to this special place, was our visit to a bookstore where the owner suggested "Spitfire Grill" as a wonderful movie filmed in nearby Peacham, VT. Having visited Peacham one of my first priorities on getting home was to rent the video. After watching the film this evening I can only say that it's everything our new friend said it would be when she recommended it. Fictional Gilead, Maine, the story's location, is so typical of a small town's hesitancy to welcome a newcomer, yet Percy's presence changes this little town forever. Its citizens learn through a tragic experience to look beneath the surface appearance of a person to discover the soul within. Watching the film is truly a spiritual experience. The acting is superb, and the beauty of rural Peacham, Vermont is the perfect setting for such a touching story. While I rented the film watching it once is truly not enough. I'm definitely purchasing this one! A wonderful story to watch over and over again and to share with your family and friends.

This is a story of a young woman with a second chance who picks a small town in Maine to start over. She battles with some small-town minds who are unforgiving but gains the love and support of some. The viewer gets to see lives being changed as each of the main characters struggles with their own issues. Suitable for family viewing although one part of the movie will need to be discussed with pre-teens. If you're looking for a movie with some good, old-fashioned messages of love-one-another, this is it. It's well done and worth more than one look.

Having lived both in Maine and in northern New York, I can tell you that the Spitfire Grill captures exquisitely the spirit and essence of a small town in both of these places. Characters abound in these parts of the country --just as they do in this excellent movie, "The Spitfire Grill". This is one of those movies that has a little bit of everything. It is good, clean entertainment that even the kids can watch. It is at times thrilling, at other times heart warming; and it may even bring tears to your eyes. Acting is all around superb! The Spitfire Grill is now one of my all time favorites. Its both in full screen and widescreen.

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Vermont. One of the best things which happened during this, our annual visit to this special place, was our visit to a bookstore where the owner suggested "Spitfire Grill" as a wonderful movie filmed in nearby Peacham, VT. Having visited Peacham one of my first priorities on getting home was to rent the video. After watching the film this evening I can only say that it's everything our new friend said it would be when she recommended it. Fictional Gilead, Maine, the story's location, is so typical of a small town's hesitancy to welcome a newcomer, yet Percy's presence changes this little town forever. Its citizens learn through a tragic experience to look beneath the surface appearance of a person to discover the soul within. Watching the film is truly a spiritual experience. The acting is superb, and the beauty of rural Peacham, Vermont is the perfect setting for such a touching story. While I rented the film watching it once is truly not enough. I'm definitely purchasing this one! A wonderful story to watch over and over again and to share with your family and friends.

This is a story of a young woman with a second chance who picks a small town in Maine to start over. She battles with some small-town minds who are unforgiving but gains the love and support of some. The viewer gets to see lives being changed as each of the main characters struggles with their own issues. Suitable for family viewing although one part of the movie will need to be discussed with pre-teens. If you're looking for a movie with some good, old-fashioned messages of love-one-another, this is it. It's well done and worth more than one look.

Having lived both in Maine and in northern New York, I can tell you that the Spitfire Grill captures exquisitely the spirit and essence of a small town in both of these places. Characters abound in these parts of the country --just as they do in this excellent movie, "The Spitfire Grill". This is one of those movies that has a little bit of everything. It is good, clean entertainment that even the kids can watch. It is at times thrilling, at other times heart warming; and it may even bring tears to your eyes. Acting is all around superb! The Spitfire Grill is now one of my all time favorites. Its both in full screen and widescreen.

Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is an adaptation of a Larry McMurtry novel. Much like most of Mr. McMurty's work, the film is set in Texas. The time is the mid 50's and like many towns at the time, TV was sweeping the land and fewer people were going to the movies, so the only movie theater in town is shutting down. The picture isn't built around that, but more around that the idea of a loss of a more innocent time. The film centers around Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) whose best friend is Duane (Jeff Bridges). They were the captains of the high school football team, but they have since graduated. Sonny still wears the varsity jacket as a sign that he was once something big. He ends up having an affair with the football coaches plain wife. Cloris Leachman plays the wife and she brings a sadness to the role. Sonny helps her feel young and alive, but she can never be with him. Sonny ends up falling for Duane's girlfriend Jaycee (Cybil Shepard) and Duane leaves town. Sonny & Jaycee marry, but in the end everything breaks apart. Mr. Bogdanovich filmed the movie in black and white and town is stark and dusty and we feel a sense of loss. Ben Johnson appears a the all-knowing Lion and he and Ms. Leachman won the 1971 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor & actress respectively. The Last Picture Show is difficult and depressing, but brilliantly made.

The Last Picture Show is one of the best films that I have ever seen. When it first premired in 1971, it garnered both praise and critism, mainly because of the sexual content in it's stories. But don't stress about that, it's really nothing bad at all, especially for today's standards(nothing close to Monster's Ball), remember The Graduate caused an explosion too in 1967.
Adapted from the Novel by Larry McMurty(Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment)and directed to PERFECTION by Peter Bogdanovich, the takes place in fall 1951-fall 1952 in the dying, small town of Anarene, Texas. It includes some of the best characters in a film ever, and the acting by all is simply EXQUISITE. The film mainly follows two best friends, Sonny(Timothy Bottoms) and Duane(Jeff Bridges-in a supporting actor academy award nominated role),in their senior year in high school. Both are begining to get to a time of change and crossroads in their lives. Duane's girlfriend Jacy(Cybill Shepherd-in her wonderful film debut) is the girl who both boys have their eyes on. While Jacy is taken, Sonny starts an affair with the coach's wife(Cloris Leachman-Best Supporting Actress Academy Award), this gets the story rolling. The three women in this film are simply magnificent. Ellen Burstyn was, in a word, wonderful & she was my favorite character, and garnered a Supporting Actress Nomination(she won Best Actress in 1974). Cloris Leachman beat her out for the Oscar that year. Her character changes so much from being meek and quite, to being filled with joy, to being full of anger & in the final moment's of the movie she shows why she has that Oscar. Eileen Brennam is superb as Genevieve the waitress, she serves as a mother-figure for Sonny, and is tough-talking but sincere. One of the Most Memorable roles in the Film is that of Sam the Lion(Ben Johnson),the all-knowing wise man, who owns the picture show. THe scene by the Lake is Classic. THis role won him the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.
The film is shot in black-and-white, which adds to the feeling of depression and gives the lonely dying feeling that the town evokes. The music is true to the time, and is also part of the movie. It only comes from a radio or record player, no background music.
People with "country" roots will especially like this one as will those who like to study films, this one is one of the most importants of all time. It was also nominated for Best Picture, director, and Adapted-screen play too(8 nominations in all).
Check it out, it's important and entertaining.

I first saw this film when it was released in '71, when I was 13. Seeing it again over 30 years later, I realize what an incredibly powerful piece of work it is. For people who say it lacks plot and drama, I say there's plenty of it; it's just that the overwhelming talent of each and every actor in the piece brings the characters to the forefront. The accompanying feature dealing with the making of the movie is a revelation. Do you know whose idea it was to shoot the film in black and white (you'll never guess)? Did you know that one of the actor's performances saved a young man from committing suicide? This documentary shows how a masterpiece of film is created by one part luck and three parts hard work. I can't say enough about this stunning work of art; it's truly monumental.

Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show is an adaptation of a Larry McMurtry novel. Much like most of Mr. McMurty's work, the film is set in Texas. The time is the mid 50's and like many towns at the time, TV was sweeping the land and fewer people were going to the movies, so the only movie theater in town is shutting down. The picture isn't built around that, but more around that the idea of a loss of a more innocent time. The film centers around Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) whose best friend is Duane (Jeff Bridges). They were the captains of the high school football team, but they have since graduated. Sonny still wears the varsity jacket as a sign that he was once something big. He ends up having an affair with the football coaches plain wife. Cloris Leachman plays the wife and she brings a sadness to the role. Sonny helps her feel young and alive, but she can never be with him. Sonny ends up falling for Duane's girlfriend Jaycee (Cybil Shepard) and Duane leaves town. Sonny & Jaycee marry, but in the end everything breaks apart. Mr. Bogdanovich filmed the movie in black and white and town is stark and dusty and we feel a sense of loss. Ben Johnson appears a the all-knowing Lion and he and Ms. Leachman won the 1971 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor & actress respectively. The Last Picture Show is difficult and depressing, but brilliantly made.

The Last Picture Show is one of the best films that I have ever seen. When it first premired in 1971, it garnered both praise and critism, mainly because of the sexual content in it's stories. But don't stress about that, it's really nothing bad at all, especially for today's standards(nothing close to Monster's Ball), remember The Graduate caused an explosion too in 1967.
Adapted from the Novel by Larry McMurty(Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment)and directed to PERFECTION by Peter Bogdanovich, the takes place in fall 1951-fall 1952 in the dying, small town of Anarene, Texas. It includes some of the best characters in a film ever, and the acting by all is simply EXQUISITE. The film mainly follows two best friends, Sonny(Timothy Bottoms) and Duane(Jeff Bridges-in a supporting actor academy award nominated role),in their senior year in high school. Both are begining to get to a time of change and crossroads in their lives. Duane's girlfriend Jacy(Cybill Shepherd-in her wonderful film debut) is the girl who both boys have their eyes on. While Jacy is taken, Sonny starts an affair with the coach's wife(Cloris Leachman-Best Supporting Actress Academy Award), this gets the story rolling. The three women in this film are simply magnificent. Ellen Burstyn was, in a word, wonderful & she was my favorite character, and garnered a Supporting Actress Nomination(she won Best Actress in 1974). Cloris Leachman beat her out for the Oscar that year. Her character changes so much from being meek and quite, to being filled with joy, to being full of anger & in the final moment's of the movie she shows why she has that Oscar. Eileen Brennam is superb as Genevieve the waitress, she serves as a mother-figure for Sonny, and is tough-talking but sincere. One of the Most Memorable roles in the Film is that of Sam the Lion(Ben Johnson),the all-knowing wise man, who owns the picture show. THe scene by the Lake is Classic. THis role won him the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.
The film is shot in black-and-white, which adds to the feeling of depression and gives the lonely dying feeling that the town evokes. The music is true to the time, and is also part of the movie. It only comes from a radio or record player, no background music.
People with "country" roots will especially like this one as will those who like to study films, this one is one of the most importants of all time. It was also nominated for Best Picture, director, and Adapted-screen play too(8 nominations in all).
Check it out, it's important and entertaining.

I first saw this film when it was released in '71, when I was 13. Seeing it again over 30 years later, I realize what an incredibly powerful piece of work it is. For people who say it lacks plot and drama, I say there's plenty of it; it's just that the overwhelming talent of each and every actor in the piece brings the characters to the forefront. The accompanying feature dealing with the making of the movie is a revelation. Do you know whose idea it was to shoot the film in black and white (you'll never guess)? Did you know that one of the actor's performances saved a young man from committing suicide? This documentary shows how a masterpiece of film is created by one part luck and three parts hard work. I can't say enough about this stunning work of art; it's truly monumental.

Ellen Burstyn plays Edna a woman who gets into an automobile accident, and loses her husban. When she emerges from the accident she learns that she has a rare gift of healing people. She ends up trying to heal the people in her town, but when the non-believers meet up with her there are consequences. This is an emotional film, with the final scene being the most moving and thought provoking scene ever to be filmed. The late Richard Farnsworth is in stellar form as a gas station attendant in his brief role that takes on added significance as the story progresses. Stage star Eva LeGalliane, though, steals the movie with her portrayal of a supporting mother who will stop at nothing to support her daughter and to protect her from others.
Everyone should get a copy of this film to see how people are suppost to treat others and how we create our own destinies and our own miracles in life.

2 1980 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS:
BEST ACTRESS-ELLEN BURSTYN
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS-EVA LeGALLIENE

Anyone captivated by the 70's Ellen Burstyn ("The Last Picture Show," "The Exorcist," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Same Time Next Year") ought to have this gem as well. As Edna, she steps across the line between life and death but returns, now with the gift to heal. The why is asked, but Burstyn's portrayl of a not-so-perfect human who is given an extraordinary gift makes the why irrelevant. The genius, though, is that the gift - to be healed - can be given only to those who "accept" it (some people need their sickness, Edna explains, after one unsuccessful tent "healing"). "Ressurection" is clearly a Burstyn-driven vehicle, but she's nearly upstaged by French actress Eva LeGallienne as Edna's grandmother. Both women were justly Oscar-nominated, and both are stunning. The film's conclusion is classic. A terminally ill boy whose only fear is for the parents he will leave behind doesn't know he's been healed, and the freeze-frame on Burstyn ends the film with a dosage of "feel-good" for the viewer. A must-see!

Ellen plays a woman who suffers a near death experience and tragedy to find that she has developed the power to heal people. The scene where she climbs into the tragically stricken womans hospital bed to heal her and visually takes the womans deformity into her own body is nothing short of Oscar winning acting at the highest level.The film has a slow start, is typically dated in the costuming and sets, but Ellen shows the actors of today how to take a sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse.This movie is a fantastic choice to curl up with on a bad winter day and get lost in. I highly recommend it and I don't waste my time reviewing ANYTHING unless I truly believe in the product. Buy it.

If you've ever found your soul mate, and for whatever reason couldn't be with them, you need to see this movie. It's about two people who meet by chance (as soul mates do), but they are both happily married - to other people. George and Doris love their spouses and don't want to leave, yet they have found a soul connection in each other that they can explain nor deny. So they meet at the same place, on the same weekend every year. They each assist the other in dealing with obstacles in their lives and they work through the guilt and limits of their relationship. No matter how each of their lives change (mostly Doris') and how different their lives are, they still love each other for who they are. In the beginning it can seem kind of cheesy and the characters can be a little annoying, but throughout the movie you will seem them grow to their full potential.

I saw the stage play of SAME TIME NEXT YEAR in the late 70's or early 80's at Detroit's Fisher Theatre. It was excellent. When the movie came out, I was in line. I then saw it on TV and have subsequently purchased it. It is the only movie that I watch over and over. I love the song, "The Last Time I Felt Like This" and can be found on CD "The Best of Johnny Mathis 1975-1980". The story might appeal to anyone who has ever loved someone outside of a committed marriage. If this were to happen to me, I would be torn as to whether this idea would actually work in real life. It must be a fantasy, but it's a tantalizing idea.

Filmed at Heritage House, a sprawling Bed & Breakfast on California's Mendocino Coast, Same Time Next year features Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn as an adulterous couple who, over a quarter of a century, meet annually for a weekend at the same hideaway. Besides spanning the lives of this couple, who are each married-with-family, the film also spans some of the most convulsive, tumultuous, and confusing years of the country's history.
Beautiful, tasteful, and worth watching again and again.