Lyndsay Page This movie is a masterpiece.It deals with a touchy subject. The actors and actresses play there parts so well. You can actually see the sadness in Malone and the hate in Eldard's face. Its sad because things like this happen all the time. This movie is not some fake movie that someone made up in there head. Its truth this does happen to people. And its sad because Leigh's character as the lonely mother is real there are mothers out there that are stuck between loving there child or there lover. Its a sad situation and this movie shows you life. This movie is for sure excellent 10 stars from me.I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes serious movies that just have you on the edge of your seat.

ted_luster1 We see a lot of nice, beautiful, adrenalin rush, horror, on the screen, these days, but not a lot of thought provoking pseudo docudrama. This story parallels social attitudes, during a period in which our parents lived, when a kid wasn't bottle-fed information, about everything, via movies, TV, & the Internet.This movie isn't just about abuse of a child, but the struggles of the unlearned adult poor, "just making it", in every quarter, of the United States, during the '40s. I've enjoyed J. Leigh for a good many years, & found her up to par, in this movie. I'm gaining a tremendous respect, for the abilities of Miss Malone. I just watched, last night, another of her efforts, "The Ballad of Lucy ????" last night. I recommend this film, even for a minor (with parent present for questions).Ted Luster

StrikinglyStunning I have read this book, Bastard Out Of Carolina by Dorthy Allison, and it was a great book.It was so good, I was interested in watching the movie. It came on Lifetime, and the movie basically covered the book.It's about this girl Anne Boatwright (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who meets this guy Glen Waddell (Ron Eldard). At first, he is this good looking guy who is really nice and wants to be the father of Bone (Jena Malone) and Reese.He asks Reese to call him "Daddy" and she has no problem calling him that. Bone, can't say it for the simple fact that he's not really her dad.He gets angry. This was a man who was all about control. He gets Ruth Anne pregnant, and while she was giving birth, Glen , the two kids, Reese & Bone were in the car. The kids were asleep. Glen wakes Bone up and rapes her in the car. -VERY DISTURBING SCENEIt was too horrible to watch, I had to change the channel. I didn't have the stomach for it.It all about physical abuse, he beats her because Bone was "direspecting him", and Ruth Anne believes Glen over her own daughter Bone.Ruth Anne sends Bone to go and live with Aunt Alma. When no one was in the house with her, Glen rides along, and goes over there. Unfortunately, he rapes her again. Again, I had to change the channel. It was absolutely horrific what he was doing to Bone.The movie is VERY graphic, you see almost everything. I didn't have the stomach to watch all those gruesome parts.I remember watching Sleepers, with Ron Eldard, now, I don't think I can look at him the same. He's good at playing bad guys.It was a good movie. (Although, very disturbing. I' not sure I can watch it again)

Bill5 IMDd's average rating at the time of this post (7.5/10) is about right.This is a good movie, but it suffers from:.Exaggerated/unbelievable southern accents.Insufficient development of Anney's character before Glenn's arrival.Bone is treated more as a supporting character for Anney and Glenn than the protagonist in her own rite (she receives no exclusive scenes of her own -- a major weakness given Jena Malone's acting ability).Raylene's character is pivotal at the end but she almost appears out of nowhere.Bone's illegitimate birth has limited impact on characters' actions (Anney wants a man "to take care of us girls", not "make you legitimate"), yet the last scene portrays it as a major subtext throughout the movie.Had I been Anjelica Huston I would have:.Portrayed more of Anney, Bone, and Reese's life before Glenn.Given Bone at least 50% more screen time, especially not as a pretext for scenes that ultimately center on other characters.Made Glenn less of the stereotypical child abuser (a true type of abuser to be sure, but one that is over-represented by Hollywood). In fact, much greater depth could have been brought to his character.Chosen someone other than Laura Dern to narrate (her languid narration actually dampens otherwise powerful scenes).As stated, this is a good film, but it has even more potential not realized.On the plus side:.Jena Malone's acting ability, especially facial expressions.Atmospheric, though not 100% accurate, representation of the period South.Except for two scenes, mercifully free of gratuitous representations (the beatings were much more powerful portrayed from Anney's side of the door).