De porta em porta

Bill Porter was born with cerebral palsy. As he tells a friend, "The doctor squeezed my head too tight when I was born." Bill had a good sense of humor, we believe he was just making a joke. His dad had been an award-winning salesman, and Bill wanted to follow in his footsteps, but was letting his disability hold him back. Until he told the head of sales, "Give me your worst route, the one no one wants. If I succeed, you're a hero. If I fail, you've lost nothing." Bill finds it very rough going at first, but eventually succeeds by getting to know all his customers and gaining their trust.

Bill Macy is just fabulous as Bill Porter. In this film they let his ears protrude naturally, instead of pinning them back as they have done for all his other films. The story spans 42 years, from 1955 when he gets his first job, to 1997 when he gets his route back after they have closed the door-to-door division, instead selling by phone and the internet. He realized he missed the human element too much.

William H. Macy strikes gold in this wonderfully done film. Not only was Macy the star of the story he was also the co-writer and Producer.

This is the story of Bill Porter, a door to door salesman for the Watkins company, who has cerebral palsy. The story takes us from the early 1950's up to the late 1990's and shows us the life of this salesman and all the people who he has met and affected, for over forty years.

Bill is a loveable, funny, caring, and sympathetic character who the viewer cannot help but fall in love with.

The story is well worth seeing and will leave you in tears at times, and laughing right up until the end. I highly recommend this wonderful film.

Viewers hint: Keep your eyes on the tree!

I don't really understand why this movie was only made for TV, it has a lot of qualities that make it better than half the stuff out today on the big screen. But whether it's a big screen, a small screen, 2 hours, 90 minutes, this is still a good movie. William H. Macy is heartwarming and almost unrecognizable as Bill Porter. It's actually one of his best roles.

The one thing that bugged me were the title cards that had little quotes under the year the section of the movie was taking place, I didn't think those were needed. That aside, this is an overall good movie. It has drama, humour, and some damn fine acting.

My Rating: 7/10

The hardest part for me was getting through each sucessive turmoil in the main characters life. If this doesn't make you see how much you take for granted then nothing will. Bill Porter is a story that's worth telling and done so in a manner that was entirely compelling. Not only was the flick a tear jerker but a real valuable lesson on why people need to be given respect no matter how hard they may have it in life. Respect is most definitely the most important part of a person's life. Persistence in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds make's the challenge all the more rewarding.

You know there's a bunch of talk nowadays about how decadent a culture we have become and how the liberalism of the 60's was a failure. I find the fact that some people really came to like and trust such a decent man as Bill Porter a reflection on the good that does come when people care just as much about their community as they do themselves. No matter who they are or how wrong they may seem in the eyes of society they respected Bill. We live in a world where the only concern has become preservation of wealth, while in many respects preservation of community and peace has slipped by the wayside. This movie in many ways is a wake up call to care for one another, to love thy neighbor and give people the chance to succeed.

This movie reminds us of the things that truly matter in life, such as empathy,respect, patience and humor. Sometimes we all need to think like Bill Porter and put our best foot forward even in the face of ignorance and suffering. It's not so much a question of doing good only for reward but of doing something/anything rather then quitting when odds are that you will lose the fight. Not giving in to that feeling is what makes "Door to Door" such an incredible success for anybody that cares to listen to the messege of the film. In forcing yourself to see the world through Bill's eyes you grow to respect him as a individual person that in his mind is not disabled in anyway not just because he thinks so but because he does so by lifting everyone he encounters in his life up to his altitude. Attitude is 95% of the battle and Bill proves himself a winner in life by winning that battle despite a course that is fraught with obstacles that you or me may never encounter. Thank you Bill Porter.

I've always been suspicious of TV-only productions and TV-driven directors. "Door to Door", however, was a refreshing change in the sea of boredom and mediocrity latest TV productions have used us to.

It was a true delight to watch William H. Macy playing the salesman Bill Porter. We revisit generations from the 60s to the 90s -btw, great music selection - led by this guy who sells door to door. Helen Mirren who was recently in Gosford Park is great. Kathy Baker, the nurse in "The Cider House Rules" is fantastic. Both are short but great parts!

This movie is a must!