Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Pluskylang Great Film overall

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

p.newhouse@talk21.com This is a lovely film that I looked for for years, after seeing it on British TV. It gently takes a swipe at human understanding (or lack of), chiding us also for wanting to be self-important whilst losing sight of what is really important in life, but then reminds us that if we stop looking for somebody to come in and make a grand gesture of change in our lives, we can see the small miracles that already have power in our lives. There are some truly fine performances here, especially in the on screen relationship between Mare Winningham and Ruben Blades. Peter Fonda's work here is every bit as crafted and lean as his earlier work in "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things." Eddy Martin is a gem of a find as the young Mexican boy at the centre of events. Salma Hayek, as a debuting director, is to be commended.

alexvargas7935 Absolutely touching movie devoid of sentimentality, clichés, and the "safe" topics sometimes found in family movies. I didn't realize I'd like it so much. Eddy Martin sings beautifully and shows great depth in his portrayal of a boy in search of his father.I like the the very real flavor of the town. The non-glamorized actors seem to be cast perfectly for each character. No single character, with the exception of the "chosen one" were overacted, and even in that case, it's arguable since the extra emotional character of that role called for a little bit of "overacting" -- she cracked me up. The role of the sheriff was highly interesting -- he's not oversimplified as a simple man of the law with no compassion; instead, he plays a kind of "villain" to a young boy's life in his effort to follow the law and preserve a small town, yet goes home every night and literally spoon feeds and cares for his dying, frail, mentally lost mother.

patrokov This was definitely a pleasant surprise. When my wife brought it home, I was very skeptical, but it is an interesting and entertaining movie. Salma does very well with artistic moments--showing poignant images and voiceless narrative--but not letting them bog the movie down. It is impressive how she was able to let us peek into the lives of more than a dozen characters, letting us see their struggles and feel that we know them, without getting lost in a mishmash. She also had the good sense to end the movie when it was done. While not a great movie, it is a good movie and much more watchable than any movie Robert Redford has directed. Keep up the good work.BTW, the song during the end credits is haunting and, interestingly enough, sung by Mare Winningham.

alkhemy I saw this movie on Showtime, because my wife wanted to see it. I like Selma Hyek's acting, but I wasn't especially interested in the story - or what I'd heard about it. Imagine my surprise when I found myself thoroughly enjoying the film.The acting from the main characters was understated, and perfect for the story. The cinematography was beautifully competent, and the set design was exquisite - Showtime showed behind-the-scenes snippets before and after the movie, and the brilliance that was displayed in creating such believable sets on such a small budget (often from the ground up)was nothing short of a miracle itself.All in all, I enjoyed this movie far more than I expected to, and I think the director and her crew show much promise.