When a promising new artist emerges in North Carolina, gallery owner Madeleine (Davidtz) is advised to make the trip to the sticks to meet and sign him. As chance would have it, her new husband, George (Nivola), is from the same town, so they decide to kill two birds with one stone and combine the trips.
After meeting eccentric, self-taught artist David Wark (Taylor) and seeing his other worldly paintings, the couple (only married for a few months) go to see the Johnsten family and are met with a chilly reception. His mother, Peg (Weston), takes an immediate dislike to Madeleine, who calls her Pat. His father, Eugene (Wilson), is a man of few words, more content to spned time in the basement with his woodworking tools than to interact with his family. His brother, Johnny (McKenzie), is bitter and detached and has not spoken to George in three years. Johnny's wife, Ashley (Adams), is very pregnant (due any day). She is excited about George's homecoming and the chance to meet her new, big city sister,
As the rest of the family, including George, remain distant, Ashley and Madeleine become friends. After an incident with Peg's favorite craft and a shared habit, Ashley is glued to Madeleine. But when complications arise, will the bonds of family survive?
Amy Adams continues to amaze me... she has yet to disappoint me. Perhaps I haven't enjoyed all of her films, but she delivers every time. This is no exception, her Ashley is the sweet center of this film and steals every scene she is in. The rest of the family is good (it is an excellent cast), but there is something about Ashley that pulls you in and deserves all of the recognition she received for this part!
The film moves a leisurely pace, focusing on empty spaces in between scenes and occasionally leaving or entering a room while a character is talking (the dialogue remains during these shifts). If you don't like slower films, this probably isn't the film for you. Each character has little arch, and is given the opportunity to react on their own to different situations. Not all backstory is explained, such as why don't the brothers get along. The characters grow, slightly, over the course of the story and you understand them better... they don't fix everything at the end, but some characters are redeemed. A well made film, with a new, realistic take on family.
Junebug (2005) 106 minutes
Rating: R for sexual content and language.
Director: Phil Morrison
Starring: Embeth Davidtz as Madeleine
Amy Adams as Ashley Johnsten
Ben McKenzie as Johnny Johnsten
Alessandro Nivola as George Johnsten
Celia Weston as Peg Johnsten
Scott Wilson as Eugene Johnsten
Frank Hoyt Taylor as David Wark
After meeting eccentric, self-taught artist David Wark (Taylor) and seeing his other worldly paintings, the couple (only married for a few months) go to see the Johnsten family and are met with a chilly reception. His mother, Peg (Weston), takes an immediate dislike to Madeleine, who calls her Pat. His father, Eugene (Wilson), is a man of few words, more content to spned time in the basement with his woodworking tools than to interact with his family. His brother, Johnny (McKenzie), is bitter and detached and has not spoken to George in three years. Johnny's wife, Ashley (Adams), is very pregnant (due any day). She is excited about George's homecoming and the chance to meet her new, big city sister,
"I wonder what she looks like. I bet she's skinny. She probably is. She's skinnier'n me and prettier too. Now I'll hate her. Oh, I can't wait!"
As the rest of the family, including George, remain distant, Ashley and Madeleine become friends. After an incident with Peg's favorite craft and a shared habit, Ashley is glued to Madeleine. But when complications arise, will the bonds of family survive?
Amy Adams continues to amaze me... she has yet to disappoint me. Perhaps I haven't enjoyed all of her films, but she delivers every time. This is no exception, her Ashley is the sweet center of this film and steals every scene she is in. The rest of the family is good (it is an excellent cast), but there is something about Ashley that pulls you in and deserves all of the recognition she received for this part!
The film moves a leisurely pace, focusing on empty spaces in between scenes and occasionally leaving or entering a room while a character is talking (the dialogue remains during these shifts). If you don't like slower films, this probably isn't the film for you. Each character has little arch, and is given the opportunity to react on their own to different situations. Not all backstory is explained, such as why don't the brothers get along. The characters grow, slightly, over the course of the story and you understand them better... they don't fix everything at the end, but some characters are redeemed. A well made film, with a new, realistic take on family.
Junebug (2005) 106 minutes
Rating: R for sexual content and language.
Director: Phil Morrison
Starring: Embeth Davidtz as Madeleine
Amy Adams as Ashley Johnsten
Ben McKenzie as Johnny Johnsten
Alessandro Nivola as George Johnsten
Celia Weston as Peg Johnsten
Scott Wilson as Eugene Johnsten
Frank Hoyt Taylor as David Wark
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