Uma Razão para o Amor

I have enjoyed Criminal Intent series of Law and Order for a long time. Kathryn Erbe, Det. Alexandra Eames, the female detective is rather hard and seems a bit bitter in the Criminal Intent Series. See her other side in this movie.

This movie shows the marvelous soft side of this talented actresses and if you are a Criminal Intent fan this movie is a revelry in her acting and you get a pretty darn good yarn of family hardships in the South.

I did not like Albert Finneys role in this movie because he did such a convincing acting job of the older Southern fellow that is hard headed and intolerant and unaccepting of change. He reminds me of so many men from my youth and the portrayal is divine, but you will likely find him hard to like in this movie.

Katryn Erbe is easy to like in this movie and why I recommend it as a 10 star for Criminal Intent, law and order fans.

"Rich in Love" is a slice-of-life film which takes the viewer into the goings on of a somewhat quirky Charleston, SC family. Highly romanticized, beautifully shot, well written and acted, "RIL" washes over you like a summer breeze as its plotless meandering breathes life into the characters such that at film's end you'll feel like an old friend of the family.

A wonderfully crafted character-driven film from the director of "Driving Miss Daisy", "RIL" is a somewhat obscure little "sleeper" which will appeal most to mature audiences.

An exquisite little film from director Bruce Beresford, from Josephine Humphrey's wonderful novel. An ensemble cast does terrific work with Albert Finney and Jill Clayburg outstanding in their roles. The true gem of a performance comes from Kathryn Erbe in a part she gives depth and beauty. As the young high school girl coming-of-age, she is nothing less than superb. Once she steps before the camera, she is mesmerizing in her loveliness and her gifts as an actor are electric on screen. It is certainly a performance deserving of an Oscar nomination and I expected such after I saw this in the theater. By all rights, this should have been a star making role for Erbe and though she has done very well in her distinguished career, for some reason Hollywood powers did not take note of the stunning talent she displayed in this movie. She is worthy of far more recognition than she has received if only an Emmy for her wonderful portrayal of Detective Alex Eames in Law and Order: Criminal Intent. She gave that understated character complexity, sensitivity, and humanity while too often in the shadow of her co-star. She held her own, however, and Eames is some of her finest work. Perhaps the casting couch was simply not worth it to Erbe and she chose to act without compromising her honor. Whatever the reason, one can only watch this film and wonder why she isn't given roles played by much less talented actresses today. The script is also well written, intelligent, and often moving. One of the most touching films about the South, youth awakening to the real world, and life itself. A beautiful film with some outstanding acting that some how slipped under the radar and never was as acclaimed as it should have been.

This wonderful film explores matters of the heart neither in a sentimental way nor in a cynical way--rather honestly, giving respect to the feelings, hopes and thoughts of the characters. Set in present-day South Carolina, Albert Finney portrays a retired contractor, who appears to have retired from life before he retired from his job. His performance is so spot-on as to be transparent, allowing the viewer to enter completely into his character and almost "be him." The story opens with his wife leaving him, and the core of the film focusses on how he and his younger daughter, played by Kathryn Erbe, deal with this unexpected event. Miss Erbe is as good as Mr. Finney and surpasses him in delineating a "real" Southern human being, not the typical stereotype or the northerner in disguise (see: Susan Sarandon in The Client or Charles Mitchell in Cookie's Fortune--good performances but about as southern as Sherlock Holmes). This is very much an ensemble film, with good performances also coming from Suzy Amis, Piper Laurie, Alfre Woodard, and Ethan Hawke. I particularly liked Miss Amis who has a difficult partto create, sustain and evolve in a plausible fashion. She walks the actor's proverbial "tightrope" beautifully. The plot has several strands, including Miss Erbe's dealing with budding sexuality (she plays a graduating high school senior), the older sister's arrival on the scene, and others you MUST see for yourself. This movie was directed by Bruce Beresford and should have received a much wider audience when released in theatres. But its subtlety, lack of sex and violence, and its refusal to sacrifice quality for the chance of a wider audience. I strongly recommend this film.

`Rich in Love' is one of those unfortunate middling films. If not for Kathryn Erbe, there would be little worth writing about--unless of course one loves to see the south in film. Perhaps an expansion and toughening up of Erbe's role and that of Jill Clayburgh's would make this a much better film. As it is there is too much stereotype in every character, and too much soap to support it. It's the plot's very few dark moments that most awaken the viewer. As does, of course, the very original, likeable and snappy acting of Kathryn Erbe. It is a flaw in the film, I think, that her independent life can be questioned, with effect, by the packaged entities around her. Her conforming to them makes her role less convincing--and takes something away from her superior acting.