I was so pleased with this film, I loved the way it moved and the acting was suberb! Why don't we see more of this wonderful actor Meadow Sisto? I have seen her in many comedies but would love to see more drama roles for her. I was so surprised how good and how much fun this film was to watch, it's in IFC from time to time, if you miss it there then rent it because you will enjoy!
3 Reviews
One of the best "can't we all just get along" movies
tkenney-226 November 1999
A new border is welcomed in a the midwest. It's farming country, and God fearing. He's black, but that's not noticed. But he knows, and he smokes dope, and he is studying whites. It's "Black Like Me" turned upside down. With care and feeling.
Minimal action, some bare breasts, lots of thought, lots of irony, lots of fun -- gotta pay attention. Be there.
Minimal action, some bare breasts, lots of thought, lots of irony, lots of fun -- gotta pay attention. Be there.
A Slice Of Midwest Life
PeachHamBeach22 May 2002
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING...SPOILERS!!!************************
This is a delightful independent film about the friendship between two women in a small midwestern town. There are many themes in this complex, multilayered story, among them: infedelity, religion and its effect on views of sexuality, the role of friendship and where boundaries are crossed, and of course, the old double standard...men can get away with things but women can't without being "labeled". Jessica (Gwynyth Walsh) has had an extramarital affair, and the town is shocked and outraged at her. She is dubbed the town "tramp" and ostracized by her husband and daughters. Enraged for some reason, Jessica continues to sleep with several different men.
Her best friend Carol (Reedy Gibbs) doesn't understand and is equally shocked and outraged, and takes the sides of the rest of the good, God-fearing people in the small town. Carol seems to have a very firm view on where and when sex is okay, which of course is only within the bonds of marriage. She has a good marriage to her husband Guy (played adorably by J.K. Simmons) while Jessica's hubby is later determined to be a judgemental and hypocritical jerk!!!
Carol's character is wonderful to watch...and probably more complex than Jessica. She seems to be a very "ordered" kind of person who likes things to go smoothly and who clings to traditional/conservative ways of thinking. Carol gets several painful rude awakenings from just about everyone, not just Jessica. Daughter Denise (Meadow Sisto, who in real life is Reedy Gibbs' daughter) would rather embark on a music career than go to college. The young man who boards with them, James, (William James Jones) likes to smoke marijuana. Carol nearly runs herself ragged trying to keep tabs on Denise's behavior and telling James that "she doesn't need marijuana, God helps her with her problems." What a very realistic character...we all know someone like her. Why she feels such a need to criticize everyone else's enjoyment of "sex outside of marriage" is not such a mystery...it was just the way her upbringing/religion has taught her.
A very good, thought provoking film...****.
This is a delightful independent film about the friendship between two women in a small midwestern town. There are many themes in this complex, multilayered story, among them: infedelity, religion and its effect on views of sexuality, the role of friendship and where boundaries are crossed, and of course, the old double standard...men can get away with things but women can't without being "labeled". Jessica (Gwynyth Walsh) has had an extramarital affair, and the town is shocked and outraged at her. She is dubbed the town "tramp" and ostracized by her husband and daughters. Enraged for some reason, Jessica continues to sleep with several different men.
Her best friend Carol (Reedy Gibbs) doesn't understand and is equally shocked and outraged, and takes the sides of the rest of the good, God-fearing people in the small town. Carol seems to have a very firm view on where and when sex is okay, which of course is only within the bonds of marriage. She has a good marriage to her husband Guy (played adorably by J.K. Simmons) while Jessica's hubby is later determined to be a judgemental and hypocritical jerk!!!
Carol's character is wonderful to watch...and probably more complex than Jessica. She seems to be a very "ordered" kind of person who likes things to go smoothly and who clings to traditional/conservative ways of thinking. Carol gets several painful rude awakenings from just about everyone, not just Jessica. Daughter Denise (Meadow Sisto, who in real life is Reedy Gibbs' daughter) would rather embark on a music career than go to college. The young man who boards with them, James, (William James Jones) likes to smoke marijuana. Carol nearly runs herself ragged trying to keep tabs on Denise's behavior and telling James that "she doesn't need marijuana, God helps her with her problems." What a very realistic character...we all know someone like her. Why she feels such a need to criticize everyone else's enjoyment of "sex outside of marriage" is not such a mystery...it was just the way her upbringing/religion has taught her.
A very good, thought provoking film...****.
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