Sonhos Femininos

GAS FOOD LODGING (1992) *** 1/2 Brooke Adams, Ione Skye, Fairuza Balk, Donovan Leitch, Robert Knepper, James Brolin, David Lansbury, Jacob Vargas. Delightful and at times melancholy story of a single mother raising her troubled daughters as a truck stop waitress. Balk is winning as the introverted younger sibling who has a penchant for Spanish melodramas and '70s nostalgia. Directed nicely by Allison Anders, her debut.

I absolutely loved this movie. There's no other way to put it.

Great acting from Fairuza and Ione and no matter what anyone says Ione Skye is a fabulous, talented actress. Every woman should see this movie and ultimately relate to it. We're all in search of a long-lasting relationship, but there are worse things in the world than being lonely. That's what I took away from the movie. For a change this film actually had an intelligent screenplay and top quality acting and directing. Again, I highly recommend the movie especially to women. Don't let this one go unnoticed!!

Keen adaptation of Richard Peck's novel "Don't Look and It Won't Hurt", starring Brooke Adams in a terrific performance as the single mother of two headstrong young daughters who hopes for a better existence outside their backwater town in New Mexico, but not knowing just how to go about finding it. Arty, intriguing showcase for some very fine actresses (Adams, Ione Skye and the inscrutable Fairuza Balk), as well as James Brolin in a small but telling role as the girls' dreamy-quiet, estranged father. Director Allison Anders, who also adapted the screenplay, does hit an awkward snag or two in exploring these characters' emotions, but her feel for Nowhere U.S.A. is rich with complexity. Moody and unusual, it's a film worth seeing. *** from ****

I watched this with several guy friends and they all hated it after 10 minutes. I liked this film a lot, even if it didn't have a plot. Ione Skye and Fairuza Balk are really good in this film. Give this one a shot, you might be surprised.

One thing that was disconcerting was the way Allison Anders made this film. It almost seems like the incidents of the film go day after day, and you really can't tell that time has passed at all. But otherwise it's pretty good. 3/5 stars.

Nora (Brooke Adams) is a single mom trying to raise two daughters in a small New Mexico town. Shade (Fairuza Balk) is a nice girl obsessed with a latina cinema heroine Elvia Rivero. Trudi (Ione Skye) is rebellious and sexually promiscuous.

Director Allison Anders has made a small movie about mother-daughter and sister-sister relationships. This is mostly about their love lives. The three female leads have created good compelling characters. There is one missing element from the movie. There isn't a one central idea to drive the plot. It's basically watching their love lives slowly unfold. The movie doesn't really have a direction. However, the three leads do a good job. The meandering love stories have memorable moments and are compelling.