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I first saw this as a kid, in the early 80s, so it brings back fond memories to see it again. Clever dialog written by Neil Simon -- it has his signature all over it! A few surprising appearances as well, including Kiefer Sutherland as a baseball player (and he's not even credited on IMDb for this film), Shelley Morrison, who played Rosario the maid on Will & Grace, and David Morse as a cop. Robards plays Max Dugan, a ne'er-do-well absentee father who returns to the scene with a suitcase full of dubiously obtained money. His dying wish is to get to know his teenage grandson and to reacquaint himself with his daughter after 28 years. It's entertaining, well written, well acted. What's not to like?

You go into a movie like HEADER, based on a novel by Edward Lee, with certain expectations. If you know *anything* about Lee's work, you go in expecting a nauseating bloodbath, a grand guignol for the 21st century. I've seen the movie a few times now, at various screenings (Rhode Island and New York City), and it stays entertaining and fun at each showing. Yes, it's about hillbilly revenge, as another reviewer stated, but it's a balls-to-the-wall, no-holds-barred gorefest and with this in mind -- and it's made clear from the start what this is about -- you go in and have a bloody good time! The performances are over the top (some are: Grandpap Jake, and Travis are wildly exaggerated in their performances, but they're effective, while Jake Suffian as Stewart was more reserved, more in control, but equally effective) but *exuberant*. These guys are having a blast playing their parts.

So why did this make the film festivals? Why not? Seriously, there's room for all forms of entertainment, and there is an audience for all of it. Take me, for example. I loved the hell out of it, and I cite My Fair Lady, The Princess Bride and Finding Nemo and some of my favorite movies. But sometimes you just have to sit back, kick up your feet, and get down and dirty with entertainment that may be a bit (or more than a bit) more extreme than most people can handle. But if you're one of those people who appreciate Edward Lee, and can appreciate a true "Backwoods Greek Tragedy," as this film is affectionately referred to, then you're going to enjoy the hell out of this one. Check it out if you get the chance, because as I've stated elsewhere, I really believe this is destined to become a cult classic.