ldeweerd-1
This lovely film proves that you don't need millions of dollars to make a compelling movie, just a story and characters that the audience can invest in and care about. For my taste, there are never enough films featuring a strong, complex woman in a leading role, let alone a woman over 50, and the marvelous Kathleen Chalfant gets to shine here, along with an outstanding supporting cast. This film is equal parts funny and touching and was clearly made with tremendous care and passion, which is evident on the screen. Highly recommended!
Connecticut_Bob
Kathleen Chalfant turns in a memorable performance as the prickly matriarch of a Connecticut family who learns her days are numbered. In the time she has left, "Joan" has to try to heal old wounds and make amends for her actions.This low-budget gem has all the elements of a stage production that has been expanded for the cinema. But the performances are what this film is about! Ms. Chalfant is joined by veteran stage and screen actors Keir Dullea, Mia Dillon, and Malachy McCourt. And a fine supporting cast rounds out the family, featuring Broadway's Alice Ripley ("Next To Normal") and up-and-comers Nick Stevenson, Jonah Young and Alexandra Mingione.Directed by Michael Patrick Kelly and written by Kathleen Kiley, the film pulls you into the lives of these dysfunctional, but ultimately hopeful people, and by the end you'll find yourself cheering for them to find the happiness and contentment that has so far eluded them!
kkonig
"Isn't It Delicious?" The answer is yes! The cast is led by the luminous Kathleen Chalfont who manages to create a character cantankerous and irritating and endearing at the same time. The film is not always easy to watch, as it should be when dealing with death and dying, but as also it sparkles also with humor, well, you laugh, you cry. Particularly amusing was the comic use of the theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey", presumably a tribute to the handsome and engaging Keir Dullea who plays Ms. Chalfont's long suffering husband. Kudos to director, Michael Patrick Kelly for his light touch and for what I understand is a husband and wife producing team of Mr. Kelly and Suzanne Hayes, who also has a delightful cameo as the fun and frothy lesbian side-kick to Ms. Chalfont's character's lesbian daughter. Here's to indie films!
Deirdre NYC
I saw the film in New York. It had lots of genuine humor, some moments of "Wow! I'm glad that never happened to me" and a sneakily-moving end. It's hard to love characters that are hard to love, but each had their humanity out for all to see.While it's clear that the film was a modest one, the emotional content is the element on which no expense was spared. I was surprised by the emotional depth and quality performances that the producers and director managed to achieve in this small-budget gem. It's clear the roots of the film were nourished deep in the pain and pleasure of life. I'm glad that the film showed the way that those two realities play off of one another. Great performance by Kathleen Chalfant!