User reviews

Many films that are set outside of large metropolitan areas, or away from other well-known places, use fictional names for their settings, but not "Big Stone Gap" (PG-13, 1:43). Big Stone Gap is a real place, thank you very much. It's a small mining town in Virginia, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, so far west in the state that seven other state capitals are closer to the town than its own state capital of Richmond. The nearest city of at least 100,000 people is over two hours away – and in another state! Big Stone Gap has a population of under 6,000 and has only grown by about 1,000 people since the late 1970s. This might not sound like the kind of place that warrants a feature film bearing its name. Well, it helps that writer Adriana Trigiani grew up there. After some success writing for TV sitcoms, she became a novelist. In 2000, she published her first novel, "Big Stone Gap", telling about her hometown as she knew it as a young woman. Then, she got the chance to write and direct a movie based on her book.

Big Stone Gap is a close-knit town full of colorful characters, who are hard-working and compassionate – simple, but proud salt-of-the-earth folks. The central character is Ave Maria Mulligan (Ashley Judd), a pretty, 40-year-old woman who never married and proclaims herself the town spinster, with pride… and just a touch of melancholy. She owns and operates the town's pharmacy, whose only other employee is the stubborn but sweet Fleeta Mullins (Whoopi Goldberg, sporting a full-sized late-70s afro). Ave (pronounced AH-vay, like the Catholic prayer after which she is named) is the kind of woman who personally delivers prescriptions to the town's residents and then returns home at the end of a long day to take care of her aging widowed mother, an Italian immigrant named Fiammetta (Angelina Fiordellisi).

Ave also directs the town's annual outdoor drama. Her cast and crew include most of the movie's main characters. The show's co-stars are Ave's long-term boyfriend, Yankee transplant Theodore Tipton (John Benjamin Hickey), and the man-obsessed and self-absorbed Sweet Sue Tinsley (Jane Krakowski). Vivacious librarian and bookmobile driver Iva Lou Wade (Jenna Elfman) sells the tickets and the town's attorney and paramedic, Spec Broadwater (Anthony LaPaglia) helps out behind the scenes. Then there's Jack MacChesney (Patrick Wilson), who is one of the show's musicians. During the day, Jack is one of the town's many coal miners. He and Ave came up through school together and have remained friends over the years. Jack has been seeing Sweet Sue for a long time, but we wonder why he's 40 and still single.

When Ave's mother dies and Spec gets to work on fulfilling Fiammetta's final requests, Ave learns a family secret that turns her entire self-concept and, really, her whole world, upside-down. The implications of this discovery could cost her the pharmacy and even her home, not to mention that Ave is trying to figure out how she should react to the information that she has learned about her family. But she can't just stop her life and focus on these issues, as important as they are. Real life continues to happen all around her. Ave has taken a lonely bi-racial teen (Bridget Gabbe) under her wing. Ave tries to build up the girl's self-esteem, bring some purpose into her life and help her and her mother (Jasmine Guy), who both live outside of the town – physically, socially and economically. Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you the REALLY big news that's going to affect everybody in town! (Based on a real-life incident in Big Stone Gap in 1978!) John Warner, the Republican Candidate to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate, is going to make a campaign stop in Big Stone Gap – and he's bringing his new wife – Elizabeth Taylor!! Why that's enough to make a country hog stop rolling in the mud and learn to mind his manners! "Big Stone Gap" is a pleasant and enjoyable movie. There are enough interpersonal conflicts to keep things interesting, but none of the main characters cross over into becoming unlikeable. There's enough drama to keep the plot going, but without overwhelming other important aspects of the movie. And, most importantly for this film, there's enough country charm to give Movie Fans a good sense of time and place, but without becoming syrupy sweet or allowing the characterizations of small-town folks to become disrespectful parody. This film isn't about big issues or big events (except from the point of view of those directly involved in the goings-on), but it is about big hearts. This isn't the kind of film that will change your life, but it is the kind of film that will leave you feeling really good. "B"

A small town woman in the late 70s whose at that age when she should be married with children, by the standards of the town, discovers who her real father is, which causes her to take a second look at life.

The story is laid out perfectly as Ashley Judd leads and ensemble cast that features Whoopi Goldberg, Jenna Elfman, and Patrick Wilson. It's one of those things that delivers by the third act, and it makes you feel good inside.

However the first two acts are not that inspiring for me. The jokes seem off and the delivery was pretty lackluster.

The whole thing may have been too corny for my taste and more suitable for the small town folks the story is about.

The movie ends strong, but not so strong that I would recommend watching the entire thing.

It's 1978. Big Stone Gap is a coal mining town in the mountains of Virginia. Ave Maria Mulligan (Ashley Judd) is the 40 year old spinster who runs her late mean-spirited father's pharmacy. After her mother's death, she gets a letter from her revealing her real Italian biological father. She has a longtime love of quiet miner Jack MacChesney (Patrick Wilson) but gold-digging divorcee Sweet Sue Tinsley (Jane Krakowski) has set her sights on him. Fleeta Mullins (Whoopi Goldberg) is her one employee.

This is a lot of Hollywood types trying to play hillbillies. It's a wacky artistic group with too many lacking the prerequisite red necks. Judd and Wilson can pass for photogenic country folk but there are too many other wacky coasters. Elfman and Goldberg don't fit. This lacks the authenticity of a 70's coal mining town. Even poor Pearl Grimes' family has a nice house. The coal mining has no realism. It's a bunch of guys with hand shovels. I do like the actors and characters overall. Judd and Wilson are an appealing romantic pairing. It's not quite enough to overcome the lack of a ramshackle setting or believable town folks. have been more intensity but Fry is good.

Fantastic Movie! Captures the heart of a small town, while making every viewer want a taste of this down home country town. The love story compares to no other, the sacrifice, the warmth, the detail. Love Love Love this movie, I simply did not want it to end. Everyone needs to see this movie, it will make you laugh, cry, and even snort a little at times. A film that captures what life is all about, loving others. LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!! The casting fits the bill. And this is a movie that I can honestly say follows the book to a T! All the way through you can trace the movie by the book. This movie makes you feel at home, as if you are living the story right along side Ave Maria and Jack Mack! By far the best movie I have ever seen! Trigiani simply outdone herself with this one.

To the usual stuff you get on freeview....no guns, no deaths by violence, just a village "out back" with a group of people who have known each other for many years. Those who have mentioned the ending - well its worth the wait. Nicely done movie, but Ashley Judd, when this was made, was looking her age

It's like they took a television series and decided to make it a movie instead. Every short scene was a time jump. It left you with a feeling like you missed something. I gave it 3 stars because of the cast and having some potential. I'd pass this one.

Well, it has some cudling moments for the ones who likes to lugh and cry when watching movie, and especially the last will hit a high score. but what we missed, my wife and i, was the true sting to the plot of the story. actually, there are really nothing groundbreaking and unique about this film. the acting are good, and the cast tries to make a beautiful impression, but the jumping jack flashy-feeling are missing here and youll never really '' find that lovly feelin' ''. it would have been a lot more interesting if she left looking for her father.....

its based on a novel, a fine one for sure, but adapting the story into a screenplay are difficult and in this instance i feel the glitch-factor alot. the time line and fast shifting environments and rather awkward editing and direction , makes it hard to follow and rend into the story

its not a rewatch for me , and the grumpy old mans wife does just barely recommend it.

Adriana Trigiani is in love with her home town of Big Stone Gap, with good reason. The scenery is gorgeous. Everything else about this movie is just - meh. The book on which the movie was based was pretty lightweight, the sort of thing you read on an airplane to kill a couple of hours. The characters do not translate well to the screen. Most of them are caricatures. Whoopi Goldberg phones in her usual wisecracking all-knowing black sidekick; Jane whats-her-name is not somebody you'd ever find in small-town Virginia, and Jenna Elfman is adorable but totally wasted. Ashley Judd does her usual generic acting - I can think of at least ten other actresses who could have brought her character to life a lot better (Sandra Bullock used to shine in roles like this). Ashley Judd was around 46 when it was filmed, playing 40 (her character was 35 in the book). Patrick Wilson is the one true gem in the picture, he's so freaking yummy. His real-life wife, the luscious Dagmara Domincyzk, has a bit part as Elizabeth Taylor.

You know those original made-for-TV holiday movies they show on ION-TV - sort of Hallmark Movie of the Week Lite? This is about on that level.

I don't think I stopped smiling from the first frame until the end, even though a few times I was smiling through tears. Call it a chick flick if you will, but this is a film with great heart and more than a little gravitas. I have enjoyed Adriana Trigiani's novels for years and was pleased to see that Big Stone Gap was to be made into a film. I admit that I was a bit skeptical about the author serving as writer and director, but kudos to her for an outstanding job! The cast is excellent -- Ashley Judd and Patrick Wilson are just right as not-so-young single residents of a small Virginia town where everybody wants to mind their business. The supporting cast includes veteran actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jenna Elfman and Judith Ivey, who really pull their weight. It's funny, heartwarming, and absolutely beautiful, shot on location in the real town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where Trigiani grew up (and where Patrick Wilson's grandparents lived. Go figure.) No phony Southern accents in this film - They get it right. Thank you!!

Obvious, it is more a film of actors than one of story. The life in a small town challenges about marriage after 40 years old and the revelation about father are well used . Not the most inspired jokes, few serious fists of cliches but nice in large measure.

Beautiful job of Ashley Judd and Patrick Wilson And fair end , too pink in some measure but fair.

I know people say the book is better but in this case it isn't. This is filmed in my hometown and is about my hometown. The book is awful (I had to force myself to read it) and the movie is worse, especially the changing of facts from the book to fit the movie. The actors and actresses were great, they just didn't have anything to work with!

Having been raised by a southern mother, I hate this country bumpkin stuff. 90% of it relies on weird names with no real depth to any character. It's like High School play level. This includes uninspired camera work, flat lighting, and dumb people.

Very annoying film with not much of a storyline. Middle aged actress, who I always rated, gives mediocre performance. Very few comic moments and very twee at bits.

This adaptation is dramatic, interesting, and a great period piece. I really like that the cast of this film is filled with recognizable actors and actresses who make it a great film.

In a small town in Virginia, the life of middle aged spinster, Ave Marie (Ashley Judd) is shaken up and permanently altered when, after a semi-anticipated unfortunate event, she discovers a family secret that has been buried for a long time. While she tries to figure out why things are the way they are, her eyes are opened to situations and experiences that she never noticed. Ave Marie makes a life altering decision and as a result the whole town unravels.

Since this film is a period piece, I was really intrigued as I watched it. I love all of the romantic aspects that are displayed throughout this film. Along with the romance and bits drama, Big Stone Gap offers great comedy, which really separates the dramatic pieces nicely and gives this film great balance. My favorite character would have to be Fleeta (Whoopi Goldberg) because of the comedy she gives to the film and also because of the boldness and confidence in her character.

Over all, I cannot say this I have a favorite scene, every bit of story line is interesting and entertaining, I will say this all the scenes with Fleeta are very nice to watch due to the way her character interacts with others. Another aspect that I greatly enjoy is the wardrobe, because of how much it's involved in this story, the clothing that is worn, adds different details to each and every character and their personality. Even though sometimes I am a bit confused about the plot line, everything clears up in the end.

A message that I found in Big Stone Gap is that life is always changing, and nothing is set in stone. Another message is that sometimes life is unfair, and we shouldn't dwell on all the inconveniences in life for too long.

I recommend this film for ages 9 to 18, due to its slight suggestive content. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, because of its comedy, romance, and cast.

Big Stone Gap is in theaters October 9th, so please check it out. Reviewed by Brianna B., Age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

I so badly wanted this to be better. It wasn't.

Has about as much plot as an episode of the Gilmore Girls, without the witty dialogue and pre existing character development. And it's about twice the run time. The loose librarian is charming but there's not a stand out performance to be seen. Just flat.

A nice, easy going story with a bit of a 'feel good' factor. However, Ashley Judd looked too old to play a 40 yr old. This was actually very distracting as she looked more like 50. Surely they could've found another actress nearer 40 who could've played this role?

Patrick Wilson was excellent as always and perfectly cast in his role.

Good grief I couldn't even finish watching it. This gives new meaning to the word turd. I have no clue why this movie was even made cause it's not even good enough to be a straight to vhs flick. Yeah thousands of other movies to choose from so don't get duped into watching this stinker. Pardon me while I flush... Put it this way you will get more enjoyment out of watching a stray dog drop a deuce than sitting through this one...

I wanted to like this film but every shot has a problem for me that I'm not sure what should be in focus.

I read where someone said it was a film that would only interest residents of Big Stone Gap. Not true! It does however, depict a way of life that is fast fading away. The movie is set in 1978, as was the book of the same title, but I can tell you having visited the area, that it remains largely unchanged today. Trigiani consistently creates characters in her novels that touch our hearts and become our friends. This movie version of her debut novel truly brings her already vibrant characters to life. I credit the honesty of the film, and it's adherence to the original story, to Trigiani's hands-on approach to movie making. It is obvious her heart and soul went into this project. If the reviewers who criticize would only slow down, step back, and allow themselves to be transported to this simpler time and place, they too would fall in love with Big Stone Gap.

I've spent plenty of time in the Deep South, and I know it's chock full of stupid, but this film doesn't even come close to the actual complexity of the culture and the people. It is completely steeped in southern stereotypes, both in the characters and the awful dialogue. Ashley Judd was the sole high point in an utterly predictable load of pap.

Vaudeville anyone ? Virginia.country balls. Lousy music. No story. Ashley Judd looking very sick. I don"t think its going to wor out. Total flop show.

The writer-director Adriana Trigiana seems to have wisely studied filmmaker Robert Altman when she made this film. It is based on a well-loved popular novel of the same name written by Trigiana. It is a perfect blend of humor and pathos that makes us care about the colorful characters who were part of Trigiana's real life. Ashley Judd is an amazing actress - you can't take your eyes off her. Both Jenna Elfman and Whoopi Goldberg are in full command of their comic gifts! And somehow Patrick Wilson has become the gold standard of masculinity in leading men. This film has a great story that makes you both cheer and cry at the end. A must see!

Adriana Trigiani is a fantastic writer especially if you are from the south and have moved away. Her humor is spot on with her southern twist. Love her books and have anxiously awaited seeing this movie for some time. I hope it gets better distribution soon. Fantastic cast. Ashley Judd, Whoopi & Jenna Elfman were cast perfectly for their characters and so was everyone else. Scenery was beautiful. I have read nearly all of her books and I hope we have a sequel soon because the story just gets better and better in the other books. Prepare to laugh and laugh. Her portrayal of a true small southern town is so special. You feel like you are part of the town and you feel like you know everyone. It's a turn back in time of the way things used to be. It's a special movie full of heart and soul.