Sep 9, 2005 4:48 pm US/Central
An Unfinished Life
Richard Roeper: "See It"
(CBS)
"An Unfinished Life" was originally supposed to be released in November of 2003. Usually when a movie sits on the shelf for two years, it's a very bad sign. Usually.
Because of that delayed release date, I had low expectations for "Unfinished Life," but it's one of the best dramas of the year – an unashamedly emotional, big sky, soap opera that aims straight for your heart and doesn't miss. Robert Redford plays the sour old rancher who has never forgiven Jennifer Lopez for the car accident that killed his son, to whom she was married.
And there's Morgan Freeman, once again playing the loyal, wizened sidekick. It's basically the same part he played in "Million Dollar Baby," but nobody does these roles better than Freeman.
AND THERE'S MORGAN FREEMAN ONCE AGAIN PLAYING THE LOYAL, WIZENED SIDEKICK. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME PART HE PLAYED IN "MILLION DOLLAR BABY," BUT NOBODY DOES THESE ROLES BETTER THAN FREEMAN.
"An Unfinished Life" is directed by Lasse Hallstrom, the sentimental director, whose previous work includes "Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat." He's a great painter with the camera, but yes, he sometimes overdoes it with the tragedy and the poetry and the melodrama.
Rated PG-13, "An Unfinished Life" is an old-fashioned, even corny tearjerker, that defies you to remain cynical. I couldn't resist it. See it.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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