Wuchak ***This review contains some PLOT SPOILERS*** Released in 2005 and directed by Rebecca Miller, Daniel Day-Lewis's wife, "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" tells the story of a Scottish immigrant, Jack (Day-Lewis), and his daughter, Rose, who live alone on an isle off the East coast. The time is 1986 and their home is an ex-commune that attracted a lot of people in the early 70s.Jack's wealthy due to an inheritance, but he's struggling with a weak heart and could buy the farm any day. He suddenly realizes that his daughter's attachment to him is getting unhealthy when she declares she's going to die when he dies, which is magnified by the fact that she's coming-of-age. So he makes the rash decision to have his sometime-girlfriend and her two sons from the mainland to come live with them. The "experiment" doesn't go well because it stirs up the jealous wrath of Rose, not to mention it's her first real exposure to society -- and sexuality. On top of all this, Jack conflicts with a land developer (Beau Bridges) who's building colonial-style homes on the wetlands next to the ex-commune.Although I loved this film my wife called it "stupid," indicating that this is pretty much a love it/hate it piece.NOTEWORTHY ITEMS: Although there's thankfully no incest the subject does come up (which is probably what turned my wife off). Boundaries must be established in any loving relationship, ahead of time, if you know what I mean.Although the story takes place in the USA it was filmed on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Good locations.Everyone talks about how beautiful the girl who plays Rose is (Camilla Belle), but -- c'mon -- what is she, 16 years-old? Jack's redheaded girlfriend (Catherine Keener) is the real beauty here. She fills out a pair of jeans real nice, lol.The two sons of Jack's girlfriend are like day and night. Rodney is intelligent, unique and nigh-spiritual, while Thadius possesses a rodent-like feral disposition and isn't remotely appealing. Jenna Malone plays a friend visiting from the mainland; I couldn't figure out what she found attractive about Thadius, except maybe that he was the only eligible, virile male within 50 miles.Rose has her first-time sexual experience and I felt sorry for the poor girl. The scene successfully shows that sex apart from true love (which includes commitment in my book) is mechanical, boring and meaningless.Jack is an ex-hippie radical idealist who lives free of the shackles of capitalism (but mostly because of his inheritance), but the counterculture movement expired long ago. It's only natural that he would conflict with the housing developer pushing "progress." But what do you do when you discover you're not so different from your nemesis and he's actual a quality soul? The psychology is obvious and interesting. Jack's a good man and father but he made a mistake to isolate Rose on the island with him. Her attachment grew unhealthy and he wisely sets a proper boundary. He also asks her to forgive him.The soundtrack includes songs by Bob Dylan and Creedance. I don't usually like Dylan but a great song by him is included here -- "One More Cup of Coffee." Watch for it late in the story when Jack and Rose leave the island to confront the real estate developer. Unfortunately it's only a snippet.Did they take the names Jack and Rose from "Titanic"? FINAL ANALYSIS: What I like best about "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" is its originality and unpredictability. I'm personally weary of 'summer blockbusters' and everything that goes with 'em. A movie like this is the perfect remedy.The film runs 10 minutes shy of 2 hours.GRADE: A-

Miss_Cardinale Not for the squeamish of heart. Not because of violence or anything, but it is a disturbing kind of movie, touching on isolation, bad parenting, snakes, incest, urban sprawl, drugs, ideals gone awry, the similarities of enemies and death.I'm usually fond of Catherine Keener, but I really wanted to slap the ever-lovin' crap out of her in this movie. Then set the snake on her. Bitch.Camilla Belle is weirdly transcendent as Rose, the dangerously innocent teenaged daughter. "Wild Thing" as Keener's character's extra-creepy son puts it. (there are two sons. One extra-creepy, one only mildly creepy) Daniel Day-Lewis continually amazes me at the rigors he puts himself through to achieve accuracy of role. As Jack, it is quite believable that he's a man on the short road to death. His body looks as though a light wind would knock him down, and when I saw him shirtless, I wondered how he could breathe with no space for his lungs to exist in his sunken chest. It was like looking at Gollum.Beautifully directed by Rebecca Miller, who also wrote the novel on which it's based. Cinematographically (is that a word?) it's stunning- she's well on her way to being a much sought out director if she can direct someone else's works with the same deft touch as she uses on her own.Anyway- not one for the kiddies, and it's left me feeling melancholy and kind of empty. Sad for the characters I was pulling so hard for.I liked it. :)

DJJOEINC The Ballad of Jack & Rose A compelling look @ a father and daughter on an island commune-Daniel day Lewis shares his own island refuge with his 13 year old daughter- they live off the land - it is idyllic,peaceful,perfect- but Jack is getting sick and he needs help.It is hard for me to be objective about this film- since I was snagged from Suburbia by my parents and subjected to farm life for most of my formative years.They did a good job capturing the good and bad parts of living off the land.But of course all things must have act 2 conflicts-Beau Bridges is an evil developer building cookie-cutter dwellings(It is frustrating how generic housing is now) and Katherine Keener is sort of hired to be a surrogate mom for Rose- the experiment yields drama.This is a well told and acted flick and will probably hit home for other granola generation offspring like myself. B+

jackjack-2 I should have known better. Any movie with Catherine Keener is going to be a stinker and this one was. The story did not make a lot of sense to begin with and it is presented in rather piece meal fashion so that it jerks a long without smooth transitions. The movie really falls apart at the end.Aside from Keener's less than mediocre performance, it was often difficult to understand what Daniel Day-Lewis, the father is saying, because of his heavy Scottish accent. Sub-titles would have been appropriate. It is a very dreary story with little suspense or excitement and a waste of time.