Bonneville

I have to write about Bonneville in light of the user comment by some of these other users and critics.. I am sick of reading negative or poor reviews from films from all of these sour men. I read a few sub par reviews and thought to myself, Bonneville can't be that boring and it wasn't. I was happy to see a film that fits an older demographic. I went with my grandmother and it has been about 10 years since she has gone to the movies, she was pleased there was something out there she could relate to and not be offended by everything that is on the screen, without giving away much about the film, it was a warm film that highlighted 3 relationships and went through feelings that affect many woman as they reach older age. Worth the ticket, movies like this don't come around every year... all these old men get off these boards and out of the papers and get a life, take films for what they are and why they are made, don't be a hater just because you are sitting at your desk writing about 3 awesome woman.

I watched Bonneville this past week at a screener in New York and this film motivated me to get out there and try and spread the good word and the great feelings of friendship and commitment to your friends. I also give a lot of credit to the producers of the film for bringing such a stellar cast together for a common cause. Kathy Bates doesn't disappoint and she plays a great supporting cast for Jessica Lange. Joan Allen rides in the back seat and she provides a good balance of Bates and Lange as they take the Road Trip through some awesome scenery that is filled with a lot of turns and wonderful moments along the way. I will be looking for the film to come out wide so I can take my Mom and my Aunt out to see this film.

Road movies with female leads are rarer than I thought. The only ones that come to mind are "Thelma & Louise" (which I never saw) and the 1965 sexploitation flick "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (which, despite being a hetero male, I could only take 20 minutes of). "Bonneville" is the only one I've seen all the way through, and it was an enjoyable experience.

The film is very tame by today's standards, and depending on what you're in the mood for, that could be a good thing or a bad thing. It caught me on a day when I was craving a break from the shocking, disturbing, edgy films of late. And if you're in the same mindset, I think you'll like it, too. It reminded me of the kind of film that might have been made in the late 40s, all about good values & morality. The 3 characters are portrayed as being Mormon which accounts for their "old fashioned" customs like not drinking coffee, no swearing, lying or philandering (if that word can be applied to women). But within those confines, we get the story of a bunch of chicks gone wild.

If you like this type of movie, I highly recommend "Ladies in Lavender" (2004) with Judi Dench. Another good one, though touching on a heavy subject (Alzheimer's), is "Away From Her" (2006) with Julie Christie. And for a morbidly good time, check out the classic "Arsenic & Old Lace" (1944). I seem to have a thing for wild & crazy grandmothers.

Three of the four leads have strong theatre backgrounds (Jessica Lange has been on stage, but not to the extent of the other actors), all have extensive movie and TV backgrounds, and all four were hung out to dry with a wretched script and inept direction. No surprises in the script - one knew where and how it was going after the first five minutes. The actors were reduced to playing one dimensional characters with no assistance or inventiveness from the director. I live in hope that when the actors signed on, it was done mainly to have the chance to work together and the expectancy that they could bring depth to a shallow work. No such luck. Hope the paycheck was good. For the audience, it was a loooooooong 90 minutes.

Very little in Bonneville differs from numerous other road-trip movies. I watched it mainly for Joan Allen, and she did not disappoint. The three road-trip ladies were all worth watching, and it was good to see a story where most of the people get along and enjoy it with good humor. There's lots of fantastic Western scenery along the way. The bitter daughter was a major stereotype. All in all, glad I watched it but no desire to see it again.