Steineded
How sad is this?
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Allison Davies
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
leplatypus
My summary rewrites the famous U2 song from their "War" album because it's appropriate to describe the mood of this movie. In a way, it's a peaceful, almost happy last moments between a boy and his grandfather.Compared to my recent watching of the Swedish "Svinalängorna", it's almost a day and night for a same situation. Here, there isn't tension, cry or shouts. Maybe this difference comes that Al is really warmly with his grandson unlike Noomi was distant and cold with her mother. It may not be the best part of Al but so far, it's the one in which he is almost totally disabled as he doesn't move: he can rely only with his hands and his eyes and in a look similar to the old Godfather at the end of Part III, he manages to pass emotion. The good surprise of the movie is that it has a lot more to offer: it's also a sort of "stand by me" in the big depression as the young boy learns life lessons from unexpected and unusual moments: It's subtle and intelligent as the boy's quest for 25 cents mirrors the demands of the jobless. It has also a clear, colorful vision of the 30s that finally looks like the 50s except for the TV and the music. Its final message about enjoying life whatever happens is hopeful at least. Personally, it parallels also my life as I can also pinpoint my grandparents death with events as grandpa died on Christmas day and grandma died on my nephews birthday. Next, the movie closes as the boy's family urges him kindly to go away from the dead body of his grandfather in a way to protect him. Mine, precisely my mother, slapped me because i didn't want to see the dead body of my grandfather to protect me!
BleekersPorkSword
If you have experienced loss of someone close this movie will surely have an effect on you. It's a wonderful look at a relationship between a boy and his grandfather in the depression era. As always Al Pacino (the best actor who ever lived) is brilliant and heartwarming in this sincere yet all together different role for him. A short but bittersweet film that will take you on a sad but very personal journey. I've seen this film about 10 times and have never made it all the way through without crying. This is a beautiful film in todays blockbuster big movie era. No special effects just emotions. Definitely better than 5.8 out of 10 I would say more like 8 out of 10. Mary Elizabeth and Al are magnificent-
Lucky-63
A movie about how life itself is better than any movie. At least, if you live in the movies. Or better still, it seems to say, in a movie theatre which is IN a movie. Unlike real-life movie theatres.The acting in this movie is not so good. The story-line is pretty predictable. The script shines in the humorous dialog between Al Pacino, the dying grandfather, and the boy, which is where the magic happens. Everything else is, eh.
Jakeroo
Not much action here, but a nice little drama in a big day for grandpa and grandson.