"The Magic of Belle Isle" is a bit predictable...but I can accept that. This is because the story was so wonderfully well made...with great, easygoing acting and an incredible musical score.
The story begins with Monte (Morgan Freeman) moving to a country retreat for the summer. He's an alcoholic and misanthrope....and although a famous writer, he hasn't written anything in years. In other words, he's a mess. However, when he's befriended by a neighboring family, Monte slowly comes out of his shell and finds some things to care about instead of just feeling sorry for himself.
Morgan Freeman simply is terrific and I think the director and writer did a lot of smart things here by allowing Freeman just to act....slowly and meticulously. He's like a workshop on how to make acting look natural and real. He's also ably assisted by a great cast and I really enjoyed the film....and I think its current score of 7 is a bit low.
The story begins with Monte (Morgan Freeman) moving to a country retreat for the summer. He's an alcoholic and misanthrope....and although a famous writer, he hasn't written anything in years. In other words, he's a mess. However, when he's befriended by a neighboring family, Monte slowly comes out of his shell and finds some things to care about instead of just feeling sorry for himself.
Morgan Freeman simply is terrific and I think the director and writer did a lot of smart things here by allowing Freeman just to act....slowly and meticulously. He's like a workshop on how to make acting look natural and real. He's also ably assisted by a great cast and I really enjoyed the film....and I think its current score of 7 is a bit low.