SnoopyStyle It's Empire Falls, Maine by the Knox River. Miles Roby (Ed Harris) runs the diner owned by Francine Whiting (Joanne Woodward). The Whitings own everything worth owning in the town. They have sold the industrial jobs and taken the cash. Francine is a cunning woman married into the family. Miles hopes to get the diner in her will. His father Max (Paul Newman) is a blunt man always looking for a handout. In flashbacks, his mother (Robin Wright Penn) tells him his father is in jail. His daughter Tick (Danielle Panabaker) broke up with her bully boyfriend who picks on loner John Voss (Lou Taylor Pucci). His brother David (Aidan Quinn) grows marijuana. He's interested in waitress Charlene (Theresa Russell). His ex-wife Janine (Helen Hunt) is selfish and thin. Her boyfriend Walt Comeau (Dennis Farina) owns the fitness club.The acting is great and it's populated by great actors. The characters are specific. Newman is the flashy one but I love Ed Harris most of all. He's put upon by everyone but holds it in reserve. There are a lot of characters which could be a problem for some people. One has allow each of these characters their due. It's a terrific TV mini-series.

Rindiana Typically elaborately crafted HBO production with a first-rate cast, a rich small-town atmosphere and some nice narrative vignettes, graced by above average production values.But, and that's a huge 'but', the various subplots, peopled with some likable, mostly annoying caricatures, are paper-thin and go and and on in dull stretches for over three long hours.The often silly story veers uneasily between melodrama, without being entertaining enough, and personal drama, without being profound at all.A shame, because some scenes really shine. Two or three, that is.4 out of 10 grubby Paul Newmans

hannah-twin Some people did some fantastic performances. Pucci's performance was so real, you could say he wasn't acting. You could swear that the actor who played the principal actually had been a principal, and a kind one. Robin Penn Wright didn't have any false notes, which is incredible inasmuch as she had to show what love is like. The fellow who played Zack Minty was near perfect--playing the kid you hated. Helen Hunt was outstanding as the middle-age woman looking for romance. Estelle Parsons played her mother so well you would think she was Helen Hunt's mother. Farina was great. Hoffman had little screen time, and yet was very touching in a way I can't describe. The only problems were with the people who put the movie together. The difference was too great between the old and new Paul Newman. The old Paul Newman was a much deeper character than the portrayal done by a young version of himself. And Joanne Woodward Newman just didn't seem mean enough to be believable. The Newman's knew how to cast everyone but themselves.

jsawyer1 hey y'all i was bored and surfing the net and found the web sight for the man who played Brian. If you want to check out the drunk bus boy's web sight go to www.timmytime.org Brian the drunk bus boy is one of my Dav. I found a new scene that he is in too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc8vHftqAvs He is directing a play that he wrote as well Tim is an amazing man. Feel free to check them out and see for yourselves the scene on you tube is funny as hell. As far as Empire falls i really enjoy how they show Maine. I have grown up here and was excited to see it on TV. Please rent and watch this and judge for your selves at how good this movie is. If you liked to book you will love this movie.