'The Yellow Handkerchief' is a lovely film about redemption, faith and love.
The main character is no doubt Brett Hanson (William Hurt) and he is amazing as a middle-aged, drained man. I have not seen many films with him, but I loved how he represented a life that lost its way and the unlikely road that leads back.
Brett (Hurt) is a man who one night looses all that he has in a fit of anger. The journey begins when he meets Gordy, the masterful Eddie Redmayne and the 'plain-jane' Martine, an ever frustrating Kristen Stewart. Gordy, Martine and Brett take off on a Louisanna crossing to get Brett home. Martine and Gordy seem to be up for anything and that really shows as they all travel together. There is little character development on the part of Martine and Gordy, but enough to understand why it is so important that these three loss souls meet one another.
If knowledge is in the journey, these three characters learn who they are and what they want out of life. It is beautiful and heartbreaking to watch the pain of discovery. Maria Bello and her short scenes are amazing as well. What this film lacks in story- it often moves a little too slow for me- it makes up double in the acting by the leads, except for Kristen. Kristen struggles throughout the film with her Southern accent- sometimes it is on full force and other times there is nothing there and that is troubling, but even more then that is her constant need to stare into space, play with her hair and bite her lip. At first I thought it was a young twitch or something, but after seeing a few movies with her in it- it really distracts from the characters she plays, and this is true with Martine.
Redmayne, Hurt, Bello are in a class alone and their relationships are the heart of the film. Redmayne, the lost youth who does not seem to belong anywhere. Hurt, the man looking for redemption and meaning in a world gone mad. And Bello, waiting to heal old wounds.
A heart-warming film about the roads life takes us on and the people we meet along the way that teach us.
The main character is no doubt Brett Hanson (William Hurt) and he is amazing as a middle-aged, drained man. I have not seen many films with him, but I loved how he represented a life that lost its way and the unlikely road that leads back.
Brett (Hurt) is a man who one night looses all that he has in a fit of anger. The journey begins when he meets Gordy, the masterful Eddie Redmayne and the 'plain-jane' Martine, an ever frustrating Kristen Stewart. Gordy, Martine and Brett take off on a Louisanna crossing to get Brett home. Martine and Gordy seem to be up for anything and that really shows as they all travel together. There is little character development on the part of Martine and Gordy, but enough to understand why it is so important that these three loss souls meet one another.
If knowledge is in the journey, these three characters learn who they are and what they want out of life. It is beautiful and heartbreaking to watch the pain of discovery. Maria Bello and her short scenes are amazing as well. What this film lacks in story- it often moves a little too slow for me- it makes up double in the acting by the leads, except for Kristen. Kristen struggles throughout the film with her Southern accent- sometimes it is on full force and other times there is nothing there and that is troubling, but even more then that is her constant need to stare into space, play with her hair and bite her lip. At first I thought it was a young twitch or something, but after seeing a few movies with her in it- it really distracts from the characters she plays, and this is true with Martine.
Redmayne, Hurt, Bello are in a class alone and their relationships are the heart of the film. Redmayne, the lost youth who does not seem to belong anywhere. Hurt, the man looking for redemption and meaning in a world gone mad. And Bello, waiting to heal old wounds.
A heart-warming film about the roads life takes us on and the people we meet along the way that teach us.