Fim da Sentença

Don't let the past control you. That is good advice for anyone and is the gist of what the story here is about.

It starts in Alabama, Logan Lerman is Sean Fogle, at one point he states that his mother had taken care of him for 28 years so that must be his age. He is in prison for theft, it is near the end of his sentence (thus the title) and his mother is very sick. In fact she passes away and her last wish is for her husband and son to go together to her native Ireland and scatter her ashes upon a specific small lake. In their road trip they get a hint why.

But Sean really wants no part of it, he wants nothing to do with his dad, John Hawkes in a very good role as Frank Fogle, and refuses a ride when dad arrives to pick him up as he gets released from prison. Sean and Frank are opposites, Sean blames him for old injuries and Frank may have had a role in Sean getting arrested and convicted.

Still there would be no story if they failed to take the trip, one which included a number of surprises, including Irish actress Sarah Bolger as Jewel who doesn't quite turn out the way she seems.

This is mainly a dad-son relationship movie, each must regroup and move on with life and not let the past control them. It is something his mom had told Sean during her very last visit before she died.

Good movie, my wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. Just the movie and trailer, no "making of" extras. Sarah Bolger is a quite good singer, she does an impromptu number in a pub.

Not usually into this type of movie but really enjoyed this one. It is sad and happy all in one. good acting good story. And it really does remind the viewer that sometimes all that matters is the privilege of having the person you love, love you back.

7.2

Watching the first few minutes of this highly recommendable film will be enough to grip you tight for its remaining duration. From the poignant moment of a terminally ill mother who visits her young son in prison so that she can bid her last good-bye before she passes away to a joyful yet tearful quick swim of an estranged son and a loving father in a freezing cold lake somewhere in Ireland, this film is sure to invite you to take a back seat and be part of the same voyage of self-discovery that father and son begrudgingly embark on. Immaculately acted and well paced, the sentimentality hidden in it will make you relate and endear to the two main characters, especially to the father for whom I felt deeply sorry. His perseverance in salvaging his strained relationship with his son is impressive and will bring tears to your eyes.

Mark my words: this film does not have a bit of waste from the very beginning to the soon-arriving end. You will not want this film to come to an end, and the prospect of a sequel wouldn't be a bad idea after all, because the magic of this film will make you fall in love with the two main characters from the early beginning.

End Of Sentence

The title of this movie signifies the end of a feud between father and son, brought about by the dying wish of both mother and wife. It was also a movie that examined the grieving process on those left behind, following years of care and commitment, and how essential it is to let go of everything in life but the essential bits.

Much of its subtlety lay beyond the script and was largely inferred. Many would have missed many of these subtleties, like how the burden of caring for someone can lead to being self-absorbed and making poor life decisions, and it was this perceived neglect that led to the son going off the rails, or how the father had concealed his own abuse from his son under the guise of modesty.

The female Irish car thief added little and was perhaps both a distraction and overly contrived, this let the movie down, as did the inference of a hidden history of potential infidelity by the mother.

Overall I enjoyed this gentle story, there was good chemistry and it was well acted. I agree it not everyone's cup of tea and it really was about very little.

I give this a weak 6, meaning suitable for Sunday night viewing.

Good story, poignant and beautifully produced. Delinquent son reconciles with estranged father during an eventful and sacred return to picturesque Ireland. Lots of Nordic type names in the closing credits ... an overwhelming reason why this is such a lovely movie ...