An Unfinished Life, 2005

Director: Lasse Hallstrom



Stars: Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, Becca Gardner








When her current boyfriend beats her again, Jean (Lopez) takes her daughter Griff (Gardner) and heads for the only family she has left-- her late husband's father Einar (Redford).  Einar lives on a ranch and cares for his friend Mitch (Freeman), who was mauled by a bear and can't care for himself.  Einar never truly recovered from his son Griff's death, but as he gets to know his granddaughter, he finds the healing he needs.

This is one of those slow-moving movies.  And except for a tiny scene that could have just been left out and implied (yeah, it's about sex), I really liked this movie.

Sweet Home Alabama, 2002

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!

Josh Lucas--Reese Witherspoon



Director: Andy Tenant (Fool's Gold, Hitch, Ever After: A Cinderella Story, Fools Rush In)

Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey

When big New York designer Melanie (Witherspoon) gets engaged to the Mayor's son (Dempsey), she goes back home to Alabama to get something she should have gotten many years ago: a divorce from her husband Jake (Lucas). Married right out of high school, Melanie had fled Alabama and Jake soon after the wedding, and had never come back. Until now.

Now Melanie faces her old home, her husband, her family, and old friends, trying to get Jake to sign the divorce papers. Then somehow, the Mayor gets wind of the situation and shows up in Alabama, trying to avoid a scandal.

I don't like the part where Mel makes a fool of herself, and that's quite a bit since she's so sure of herself (except not), and that never works out well. But this one has a happy ending, and it also has Josh Lucas. :)

Secondhand Lions, 2003

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION

Robert Duvall- Josh Lucas



Director: Tim McCanlies

Stars: Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment, Kyra Sedgwick, Josh Lucas

I love this film.

Walter (Osment) is sent by his selfish mother (Sedgwick) to live with her bachelor uncles Hub (Duvall) and Garth (Caine). Hub and Garth reluctantly take him in, and eventually grow to like him, since he seems to get on the nerves of other relatives who are just coming over to get into the men's wills. Rumor has it, Hub and Garth have millions stashed away somewhere.

A lot of the movie is Garth telling Walter the story of Hub and Garth's lives: how they traveled to Europe, fought in the French Foreign Legion, and lived in Africa. Tales of action, adventure, romance!

This movie is beautiful from start to finish. I can't do it justice at all. You'll love it.