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he fact a film like "An Unfinished Life" sat on the shelf for 2 years and didn't get released till recently, while films such as "RV", "Date Movie" and 4 "Scary Movies" can be made does not say a whole heck of a lot about the state of Hollywood. Luckily, after 2 years, "An Unfinished Life" was released and it's one heck of a film. I don't see why they were hesitant to release this, as there is nothing wrong with it, and it's one of the better adult dramas to come out in the past year. Sometimes a film comes along that makes you forget you are actually watching a film. You care so deeply and so affectionately about the people involved, you find yourself interested in them, their lives, and what happens to them. You get sad when they fall on down times. You cheer them on to keep going and you cry and smile when they succeed. Then after the credits roll, you wish you could spend a little more time with them. That film is "An Unfinished Life". Jennifer Lopez stars as Jean Gilkyson, who along with her young daughter Griff (Becca Gardner) have finally had enough of the abusive relationship Jean is in with Gary (Damian Lewis). He put her hands on her once again and Jean promised Griff if it occurred again, they would leave and leave they did. Down on her luck with no place to go and no money, she travels to Wyoming to live with her estranged father in law Einar played by the great Robert Redford. The only problem is Robert Redford blames Jennifer Lopez for the death of his son some years ago. He passed away in a car accident and Jennifer Lopez was the one driving. She survived and went onto to have his daughter and named her after him, Griff. Redford has no love loss for the Lopez character and he lets her know this. Through his silent disapproval, his piercing words, and the bitter resentment felt though-out this ranch. Also on the ranch is Mitch Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who is left as a beat down cripple after he was mauled by a bear some many years ago. The film features scenery, landscapes, and mountains that rival "Brokeback Mountain" in terms of being just plain gorgeous and a pleasure to view. The director of "Chocolat" and "Cider House Rules" Lasse Hallstorm along with Robert Redford know their way around this ranch. They pan over the whole ranch with great shots that set the mood and atmosphere for the lives that these people live. It's a really slow, moody, and meandering film. Jennifer Lopez, who everyone loves to pick on is perfectly cast as this beaten down woman full of guilt who is far from perfect. Redford is perfect here though and spot on as this crusty, angry, depressed rancher who can't move on from the death of his son. Morgan Freeman is his usual smart, wise, and resourceful self in the role no one plays better then him. Also, refreshing is Becca Gardner, who in my eyes is the next Dakota Fanning, as she is wonderful in this film. She refuses to be beat down by all the anger and depression that runs through the ranch. The film has an ingenious metaphor about a bear that is seen throughout the duration of this film. The bear is something we all struggle with and deal with in our everyday lives. The bear is what we wrestle with and what holds us back from being happy, having peace and living our lives. If we can let go of that bear, and forgive, we can begin to start living our life as it should be. I loved the undertones of that and how they slipped it in. No cheap tricks here with this film. Just ordinary people living their lives. It's refreshing to see a film about real people dealing with real problems. Redford is just amazing in this role at showing anger with his eyes, his speech, and how he deals with everything. This is one of his best performances in years. Even more impressive is the fact that everything we expect to happen does happen, and how we still care regardless and how much it still gets to us. As I said in my "Brokeback Mountain" review, we need more old fashioned stories well told. This is one of them. Movies like they used to make em. Movies that mean something. Movies that make us question our own lives and how we are living them. That's a film like "An Unfinished Life". Tony Farinella Grade: A email this review to a friend
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