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July 26, 2006

Winter Passing - 7

Like the poster for the film suggests this is about a strange group of people who find themselves in the same house, and learn to care and understand each other (Somewhat similar to Love Song for Bobby Long, but better).
The story is really about Reese (played well by Zooey Deschanel) and her loneliness, as her parents are both egocentric writer's, and she has left them behind to pursue an acting career. She returns after 7 years to find that her mother has passed, and her father (played by Ed Harris) has taken in two strangers to live in his house, he has also taken up golf, and to sleeping in the garage. She originally comes to find some letters that a publisher will pay dearly for, but soon discovers that she has come to a place that may offer her more - restoration. The story works because every time it could stoop to sappy sentimentality, it doesn't. In the end, not everything is perfect, but the strangers have learned about each other's pain and it has helped them be more human. Will Ferrell plays a serious, yet comic role - which at first seems strange, but works. (Hat tip to Scott for the recommendation).

3 comments:

Jason said...

I was definitely interested in seeing this, after I viewed the trailer. Especially since my dream woman Zooey is in it.

Gideon Strauss said...

Erm, the Zip.ca review says it contains "intense horror." I am not so good at coping with "intense horror" ... would you nonetheless recommend the movie to someone like me?

~greg said...

Not sure where they got "intense horror" from Gideon, but this film is more a emotional story of people dealing with the brokenness of their lives.
I stand by my recommendation.