Open Road - La strada per ricominciare

Good cast but why does Ted Danson have any billing for his bit part. Timberlake and Bridges were great 👍

Great actors (Jeff Bridges always delivers, but even Justin Timberlake and his "girlfriend" in the movie are great too). As the title suggest, you are aware that this going to be a road movie. With characters that have flaws and a story that is very close to the directors heart (see a review of crew member for more information on that), this has everything a road movie needs.

While a few story tweaks may seem a bit far stretched (for something that seems to be so close to life), the whole thing still feels very real. The relationships in the movie are explored nicely without much glamour and there are a few treats along the way. There is not one real bad guy (which you might see as a bad thing or a good thing, depending on how you're going to feel about it), which made me like this even more and might have to do with the influence Jeff B. had on the script.

This movie has it all revealed in the title; we have the typical road movie, the open situations that need closure, the family gathering when almost-tragedy might happen, the girl that almost got away, the father-son estranged yet reliable liaison, the change in the hero's mind along the way.

And above that, it has the sparkling dialog, Jeff Bridges (I just love how he cries in most of his roles, because he can and he's so damn good), the wise replies that might (or not) mean something to you at some point. The open spaces, and a feel-good impression that will make it perfect for a late evening when you just don't feel like sleeping. Or you would feel like taking a long walk somewhere, only it would be wiser not to in the middle of the night.

I probably shouldn't give it a ten, but grades "don't mean nothing" to me, it's all about whether I liked it or not, and I sure did like it.

I thought Timberlake and Bridges were a good match as dysfunctional father and son. Good story line and nice set of subtle twists and turns. Timberlake was impressive as an actor, quite believable really . Kate Mara , soft spoken yet sweet girl next door kind of looks ... A believable , down home story that I thought was well executed. I especially liked that there were no Chase Scenes, Gunshots, , Violence, not much foul language. Good Music too by the way ... Lots of Bluezy ,Jazzy, Piano and Organ Background music, well suited for this flick. Id like to see more films with this kind of score.I especially liked the piano piece in the Lyle Lovette section of the movie! Im not sure if The Open Road will be a blockbuster, especially with whats out there these days , But i guarantee it will please young and Old alike in that it is a somewhat heartwarming, real laid back, enjoyable movie for all to see. I can imagine after a nice run in theaters, it will do very well on DVD and on the HBO and SHOWTIME kinds of movie networks !

I have two concerns though... first, It was a very limited opening in very few theaters in very few Cities ,and second ,not enough advertising,There wasn't even a Poster up in the 20 theater cinaplex I saw it in !

Not even the people who worked in the theater knew ANYTHING about this film ... Lets give "The Open Road" a fighting chance !

The Open Road stars Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake as a pair of baseball players, father and son, at different stages of their careers. They've been estranged for many years, but a health crisis in the life of Mary Steenburgen, wife to Bridges and mother to Timberlake, forces a reconciliation of sorts. But it's not an easy one.

Bridges is a former star who may have just missed the era of free agency and all he knows is baseball. So he now makes a comfortable living at various card shows, telling stories and signing autographs all of which he's well paid. When the crisis comes he's at a show and leaving abruptly would cost him some bucks. Still there is family to consider, something he's not very good at.

Timberlake is a minor league prospect who shows that he might not reach the same heights as Bridges. In fact he's in danger of being cut from the Houston Astros farm club where he's playing. He's got troubles with former girlfriend Kate Mara whom he broke it off with and now realizes that might have been a big mistake and worries now about the failed relationship with Mara and Steenburgen's health may have compromised his abilities. In short he's just not got his head in the game.

In fact Timberlake leaves the team in Texas and goes north to Columbus, Ohio where Bridges is doing a show and he and Mara take him back albeit reluctantly to Texas because Steenburgen wants to see him for the very last time possibly before open heart surgery. You ask why Mara is along with her ex when she has a current boyfriend whom she plans to marry. Bridges gets it, but Timberlake is a bit dense.

Not much of a story line, but some great characterizations by all involved. Bridges is his usual good reliable self and Timberlake shows some ability which blossoms later on in another baseball story Trouble With A Curve. Timberlake plays a similar role there in a film with a similar story. Of course Clint Eastwood's film got a much wider audience.

Basically there's a lot of growing up to do for both Bridges and Timberlake. Baseball is great, but it's not the whole of life for both of them. Timberlake keeps a journal because writing is a sideline for him. I can see him being a future Jim Brosnan or Jim Bouton.

This is not a baseball story as such, it's a story about life and the growth of people. You should really see this very unsung film.