Trey Yancy Always is one of Spielberg's best. It's an all-round great movie. Based on the WWII air force story, A Guy Named Joe with Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne, it follows the story closely but adds a great touch of humor throughout and is far sweeter than the original. Among other things, Audrey Hepburn makes a better angel than Lionel Barrymore, plus John Goodman brings a great big bouncing kick of life to a role that was played so straight by Ward Bond.Frankly the original seems almost like a very early draft of the remake and not quite ready to go. Setting this version in a fire pilot setting is perfect. It is a far better scenario and the whole idea simply works better.I watch a lot of movies and own a ton of DVDs / Bluerays. I rank this film among my fifty top favorites.

bkoganbing The MGM classic A Guy Named Joe gets a first class remake as Always in this film from Stephen Spielberg. The setting may have changed from World War II to fighting forest fires in Montana, but the love story has changed the same. Film buffs will recognize whole passages of Dalton Trumbo's dialog from the original film.Daredevil pilot Richard Dreyfuss falls for novice pilot Holly Hunter as both work for John Goodman fighting forest fires during those World War II years before the American entry. She loves him dearly, but hates his recklessness when doing his job. Apparently Dreyfuss never learned the difference between being courageous and being foolhardy. Dreyfuss drives Goodman crazy as well. Right up to the point when his ship exploded fighting a nasty fire.As a ghost Dreyfuss still has some human emotions left especially after another pilot played by Brad Johnson shows some interest in Hunter.When you're Stephen Spielberg you command a budget the 1989 equivalent of the best that that Tiffany of studios MGM had in 1943. The results definitely show in both the romance and the special effects.No one can equal Spencer Tracy, but Richard Dreyfuss manages his own interpretation of the lead quite well. Brad Johnson stands in for another Johnson named Van. John Goodman's part was played by Ward Bond in the original, Goodman infuses his role with a lot more humor.I'm still scratching my head over the fact that Irving Berlin would not give Spielberg permission to use his song Always for a film entitled Always. In the original Irene Dunne sang Always so using Always as a title doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Berlin up to the day he died counted every penny and made sure he was paid what he considered his due. As he lived to 101 he left as substantial an estate as he could amass. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes from Jerome Kern serves the same function in this film, appropriate for a film about fighting forest fires.Playing the role of Dreyfuss's heavenly mentor played in the original by Barry Nelson is Audrey Hepburn in her farewell performance. She was only doing occasional film roles at that point, her time taken up mostly with taking over for Danny Kaye at UNICEF.That final scene with Hunter and Dreyfuss in that forest fire is exciting and poignant. Won't leave a dry eye in the house.Spielberg did a wonderful job updating and recreating a Hollywood classic. Wonder what Irene Dunne, Van Johnson, and Barry Nelson thought of it?

sixstud-9-376449 I found this film on Netflix recently and i hadn't seen it in years. In fact I had not seen it since my dad died three years ago in my arms, and it just blew me away, to the point where i could not stop the tears from flowing the entire film. I loved it back when i first saw it many years ago, and it still resonates for me to this day. Why is it so wonderful? Honest, simple filmmaking, an uncomplicated plot, believable actors, and a great but believable story. This is Spielberg before the Jurassic monster he created, and although he made many films before this, this for me was him at his best. Holly Hunter, Richard Dreyfuss, and John Goodman were just so ideal in their roles, and without trying to sound overtly intellectual and snobbish, it's just a beautiful film, and if you love storytelling at its' best, give this a chance. What saddens me about this film and this site is the low rating, especially compared to ALL those "masterpieces" that Tarantino vomits forth. Its a sad world we live in when this is only in the low 6s and dreck like Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, and whatever else he creates are considered to be such great films, and then a touching, lovely and heartbreaking film like this is overlooked. Please watch this film if you already haven't, and give it the rating and love it so richly deserves. Thank you.

Riddler2 After Indiana Jones 3 The Master of Film tried something new a romantic drama about remembering the ones we love and the pain of losing precious memories but also maintaining hope that the one we will always love for eternity will always remember you and love you always! That is the message and theme of this beautiful heartbreaking subtle masterpiece which is so underrated and forgotten that it almost feels like it does not exist to many people but it does but many people hate it because they are not used to seeing Steven Spielberg direct this kind of film which is a shame because it has a subliminal message and essence of love and thoughtfulness and forgiveness because maybe we are not there for the ones we love and the time we would all like to spend with one another is too much or we all get carried away with jobs or work commitments which takes away the time we have with our loved ones so does death in a way and the film explores the themes of what happens after we die do we just enter a void of nothing or do remain a helpful part of the next generation do we support and comfort the people we cherish and help them guide them even though you can't see them they will always be there any time anywhere and that is what Hap Audrey Hepburn's Character explains to Richard Dreyfuss's Character Pete Anything you do for yourself is a wasted spirit your life is over and at the end after Pete tells Hap that he is not ready to say goodbye to Dorinda the woman he loved all those years ago Hap simply says you have to free yourself and let her go otherwise if you don't she will not be set free and ready to move on and look forward to the next goal the next phase of her life your life is over the time you had has gone you had your chance it is time to remember and let her go as Pete learns his lesson he finally lets her go when he says go on go on after a beautiful scene of acceptance and remembrance where Pete tells Dorinda those magic words I love You something he was afraid of saying something uncomfortable for him he never tells Dorinda how he feels he always lets his job get in the way his friends his life outside of his love life he always shrugged or pushed the romantic element of their love aside, Dorinda and Pete's relationship is strained they never could connect or bond they are 2 very different people with different paths or directions they feel are the right choices Dorinda feels insecure about Pete's job as a fire pilot but as you discover throughout the film she never has the confidence to explore different careers she was always happy on the ground Pete's spirit helps her overcome her fears and worries which help her in her life and ends Pete's life fulfilling the purpose of his life to care for her in her time of need and to cherish her thoughts and her dreams Dorinda always shops in her sleep which creates a memory for Pete similar to Jim's Mother's piano melody in Empire of the Sun or Celie and Nettie's hand clapping motion and song in the Color Purple That is Pete's Memory Dorinda creating the shopping list in her sleep that is the core memory the thought that Pete's spirit remembers cherishes holds dear in his heart even in death! I loved Audrey Hepburn's couple of scenes as Hap she is the light in Pete's afterlife and guide she helps him understand how to morn the loss of your own life the loving romance to his wife but also how to grieve and remember the life you have enjoyed and cherished all the friends you made the family you loved and respected I wish there was someone like Hap to guide me through the problems in my life I Really need it right now my life is very worrying and sad my life is not what I expected it to be when I was welcomed into the world by my Mother and Father I am depressed lonely and scared of all the things that could happen to me any day now Back to the film Hap's purpose and the film's purpose is to say look back on all the memories in your life and cherish them for as long as you can and enjoy your life while it lasts because you still have a life to enjoy after all and never feel disappointed in yourself because sometimes the memories that come back to haunt you will never go away and will leave a permanent sense of guilt in your life in conclusion hold to what you have and never look back because sometimes the things we love most they never truly leave us even if that is in life or in death you can always find them in your heart or spirit! Thank you Steven for showing me the light and telling to always look forward never look back and to never forget the things we hold dear in our hearts whether that be good happy memories or sad lonely memories Always is a beautiful romantic thoughtful perspective on life it teaches us all how to live our life's decently and to treat people with compassion and dignity!