wingedheartart This is a sad movie, quite realistic. The flashbacks to Michael's childhood are so intense. So realistic to the rage a child feels when an adult has the power to control everything and the helplessness the child feels over his/her own life. Everyone has bad childhood memories..bullying, something embarrassing in school, a plethora of situations to look back on and cringe or feel old anger/frustration. However, an abused person, who is still coming to terms as an adult with emotional abuse or physical abuse, it is just heart wrenching. Ryan did a great job as Michael. And the father, played by Willem Dafoe was easy to dislike/hate. I would not be so quick to forgive the father. He may have lost his wife in a car accident, but he really lost her years and years earlier with his cruelty and abuse. He got off way too easily. If this is part biographical, I wonder if the writer/author actually forgave the abuser in his life. I know forgiveness is supposed to be the key to moving on, but you can forgive for past abuse, but you don't have to like the person or want to be around them ever again.All in all a good movie, good story. Just thinking about everyone walking on eggshells around the father, all the way through, made me want to yell at them all that he is an ahole, stop worrying about his lame self and get him out of their lives. But, it didn't happen. All was smiles in the end. Hmmm.

rafecomo I must confess I saw this film just cause it had some of my favorite actors together, such as Willem Dafoe and Julia Roberts, but reading some reviews and opinions on this film I thought I'll be disappointed, however I have it a chance, and ended up very pleasantly surprised.Even though plot wise the movie is not really a deep film and can be quite predictable, it still holds up as a very good piece of art, I'm surprised I liked it this much, since this kind of films that don't really have a lot of depth don't impress me, however, this film presents human relationships and traumas that people grow up with, as well as the treasure that family is. The music of this film is amazingly perfect, creating a calm mood that is present during most of the film, and to be honest it's one of the simplest, yet most beautiful scores I've ever heard. Also, the photography of the film is also perfect, combing colors in shots that look like a painting, and choosing angles to create a very beautiful shot. Overall, it's a very "clean" and calm film, ideal for people that like this kind of movies, and the performances are also very good, even that by Reynolds, who I'm not a fan of, but on this one he does put a good performance as well as the rest of the cast.

slsmoot123 I'm not a literary genius or anything but this movie left me totally confused. Why did it seem like everyone was beating up on Michael, the one who had been abused? Even the aunt Jane whom I thought would have been the most understanding had zero empathy for Michael and defended the father to the death. She said that the book would kill the father (William Dafoe). Well, so effing what if it does? At least the writer could have let the audience know why she cared so much, after all her relation is to Lisa not the father so it makes absolutely no sense to me. She said to Michael "everything you touch turns to sh**", where did that come from? In my eyes it was totally unwarranted and if it had been me she would have gotten punched in the teeth for saying it. Then she never apologized even after Michael found her son. So it just seems like continued abuse on the abused. Then to throw the Manuscript in the fire is supposed to be a sign of forgiveness? So Michael's supposed to feel guilty for his father's sins? What!? Come on....It would have been a better movie if Jane didn't grow up to be such a turncoat b**ch.

Robert W. Fireflies in The Garden was panned by basically everyone. The dysfunctional family story took three years to be released on DVD which is astounding considering the enormous strength of this cast. Many reviewers all say the same thing that movies like this are a dime a dozen and that might be true. That doesn't this cast and this film any less captivating. Perhaps part of the issue that many see in this movie is that it is in no way packaged in a neat little box with sunshine and rainbows. This is a very dark drama about a very messed up family and there isn't a happily ever after for them. If you can handle a dark drama then you will be rewarded with some terrific performances. Ryan Reynolds shines in his role as the grown up son who has many emotional problems because of a verbally abusive father. That father is played with excellent force by Willem Dafoe. Obviously playing a villain type character is not new for Dafoe but his character is so pathetic, with so much depth, you will just despise him and beg for his redemption much like his family does. Emily Watson is sort of ho-hum compared to the rest of the cast. Once you've accepted that Hayden Panettiere somehow grew up to look like Emily Watson...she also loses all her passion for the role. Panettiere is much better as the younger Jane in the movie. Julia Roberts is good in her role though she isn't used all that much and sort of takes a more ceremonious role in the movie. People are always clamouring for Hollywood to do something unique and I give a lot of credit to first time writer and director Dennis Lee for not making everything neat and tidy. Sometimes you can be in the mood for a dark drama and some solid performances makes this one captivating. Ignore the harsh reviews and give it a chance! 8/10