De Bem com a Vida

UNHOOK THE STARS (1996) ***1/2 Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei, Gerard Depardeau, Jake Lloyd, Moira Kelly, David Sherrill, Bridgitte Wilson, David Thornton, Clint Howard. Excellent acting by Rowlands and Tomei as a widower and a troubled neighbor, respectively, who become friends after the latter asks the former to babysit her quiet, yet bright boy (Lloyd in a remarkable debut that eschews cuteness for real depth, no easy task for a five year old; Lloyd later was cast as the young Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequel!). Emotionally satisfying thanks to an even-handed directorial debut by Rowlands' son Nick Cassavettes(the late auteur John's prodigy), who co-wrote the well-written scrip with Helen Cladwell. Guaranteed to have you laughing and crying; dare you not to get a lump in your throat by the film's poignant ending between Lloyd and Rowlands. Nice job by all around! ** Personal note: I relate this film to my own upbringing between my mother and grandmother.

What a collection of screwed up folks. Here we have a woman who has lost control of her life, not to mention her mouth; a permanently aggravated daughter; a goofy wife beater who sings Cocker atrociously; and a hot to trot trucker and his blinky, well meaning girlfriend. Together they form one of the best dramas I've seen in a good while as they try, try, try to get their lives on track so they can just be whole and happy. First rate.

This is a story of a mature woman who gets to take care of a little boy,after her own daughter moves out.The two have a great time,and the woman even becomes friends with the boy's mother, who is completely different from her.The older woman is very proper,but caring and the boy's mother is the wilder type. Then there also is a truck-driver, who is a friend of the wild woman,and he falls in love with the older woman.By that time her life isn't what it used to be anymore!

The acting was very good,especially Marisa Tomei was great as Monica Warren,the little boy's mom! Also I very much liked Gerard Depardieu as the truck-driver,but then again, he is always funny. Jake Lloyd put on a great show too,as "JJ" Warren,and also I liked the acting of daughter Annie (Moira Kelly)!

Overall this is a nice drama/comedy!

the title of this film goes along with the song ..."nothing left to do here, but unhook the stars".... After the death of her husband, Gena Rowlands finds herself in a big house, with no family, and nothing to take care of.

She begins to care for the young son of Marisa Tomei, who is involved with an abusive soon to be ex-husband. The actor playing her son does very well, he develops a relationship with Rolands, she becomes a surrogate grandmother.

Such a nice story, because it is realistic, and not overdone. Rolands has another son who lives in San Francisco, and wants her to move into his penthouse; when she realizes her daughter-in-law just wants a live-in babysitter, she says ..."No-I'm done"...; While she loves her children she now realizes it is her turn; her time to do something SHE actually wants.

At the end we see her packing up the house; her younger daughter is upset; there will be no more family home. But Rowlands realizes she is doing the right thing; her relationship with the young boy has faded; she now needs to do something for herself.

There are also a few amusing scenes with Gerard Depardieu, as a truck driver who she meets at a bar with Tomei and her friends. Overall a bittersweet movie which is a nice change, showing a mature woman re-discovering her life, and not taking care of everyone else, at the expense of her own identity. 9/10.

Will start with what did not like from what is visible at IMDB: the title - sounds pretentious. Poster - why Marisa's hair is black ?

Started with showing bad relation with about 20 y. daughter, and by me not that realistic dialog in it. Things gone better and more interesting when loud-mouth neighbor mother came in her life, with her son and marriage problems. While relation with young boy was presented well, and there was developing shown, it missed completely with other and close people. So, we don't have clue why was it bad with her daughter - well, did they think that it is enough that at one point Mildred said that she is good with young children and bad with those older ones ?

I hated that drunk bar scene, especially that goat laughing. Actually, sound was overall pretty bad quality and often irritating.

Whole romance with truck driver seemed very unlikely. Really not sure who to blame more: script or direction. Actors did great job considering given dialogs and direction. And that's for sure best part. Marisa managed to keep it on decent level, even if there was way too much f* word and all kind of trashy talk. Did not see much of comedy in this.

The ending was really weak, better said last 20 minutes. Although it was clearly shown where she will move, but all it was somehow bland and stiff. No wonder that many reviewers asking here where she headed at the end. Well, to the stars, I guess. Or was it alligators ? :-)))