seeingbystarlight So writes Wendell Goddard about his parents, in this surprising little gem of a movie.The story revolves around three characters:Emma Riley (Holly Hunter), a charming, divorced woman who's been hired as a live-in housekeeper.Richard Goddard (Michael Moriarty), the old fashioned college professor who hired her.And his aforementioned troubled son Wendell (Kiefer Southerland), an aspiring poet who spends his days locked in his room.The death of Richard's wife Marion (Elaine Pidgen) has caused a rift between the two men.Wendell writes scathing, though not inarticulate, poetry about his unhappy home life.Richard, meanwhile, shakes his head at his son's instability.The arrival of Emma in their lives only makes matters worse as they're both attracted to the lovely woman (and she to them).Though just a little movie, the acting and direction are impressive, making this sleeper one of the best stories about a love triangle that I've ever seen. And there haven't been very many.Also adding to the story is Wendell's 24 hour wife Monica (Carrie Preston), who gives it unexpected levity.The ending really makes the movie, coming to a conclusion in a way that is satisfactory as well as very positive.This is one of my favorites.I'm really impressed that Kiefer Southerland was the director.Originally, Review #125Posted On: July 8, 2011

tmf-fota In the end Emma was already leaving,then the one night stand with the son was just "happened". She was leaving because the father was not interested in being a father again, all he seemed to want was for her to go back to school. She could see she was not going to be happy, so she made her choice, and apparently did not mind the dilemma she put the father and son into. The fact that the father and son became closer after that fact is bizarre considering they did not have a close relationship and the fact she slept with both should have made it worse and not better. And I believe the child is Wendell's as Emma comments she wanted a child after they were "legit" so she was not trying to trick anyone.

karenmcb57 This move was a project of Kiefer's that he really believed in. Then the editors got a hold of it and butchered it quite badly. Kiefer pulled his name from the credits and that is why you see Smithee's name as director. His mother, Shirley Douglas, is listed very high in the opening credits, but in the cut version, you never see her. The author also has a small part and it was also cut. I have to agree with the previous comment that the DVD, and the version you see on the television now, is the cut version. I also notice there is a very large discrepancy of pricing in the VHS versions. I am myself looking for the uncut version, as I have not yet seen it. I am a huge Kiefer fan, and have talked to him personally about this film. Over the years he has allowed his name back on the credits, but still feels bad over what happened

kkbaizan Convincing portrayal of a dysfunctional relationship between father and son. Kiefer Sutherland plays the son Wendell Goddard who harbors a grudge against his father Richard Goddard played by Michael Moriarty for committing his mother to a mental institution before she died with an excellent performance by Holly Hunter as Emma, the housemaid who is hired to maintain the Goddard home. I personally love Kiefer's directorial way of capturing the sensuality in the characters and the environment around them in this captivating movie.