Mildred Hawks (Gena Rowlands) has a troubled relationship with her angry adult daughter Annie (Moira Kelly). She gets Annie a paper route but is forced to do it herself. Annie leaves home in frustration. Her neighbor Monica Warren (Marisa Tomei) is an unstable drunk with abusive husband Frankie and their son J. J. (Jake Lloyd). Mildred's son Ethan and his wife Jeannie are moving to San Francisco. Big Tommy (Gérard Depardieu) is Monica's barfly friend.
At first, I thought this is a movie about Mildred and J. J. Then, it's Mildred and Monica. Annie comes back for a couple of great moments. I don't want to describe this as meandering. Meandering implies a lack of intent in its directions. More than anything, it settles into a movie about Mildred herself. Gena Rowlands and the others are all great actors. Well, Jake is a little kid like that other iconic role. I would probably cut out Big Tommy. I'm not sure what he does to the ending. I'm not sure about a lot of this Nick Cassavetes film except it's a bit of a journey.
At first, I thought this is a movie about Mildred and J. J. Then, it's Mildred and Monica. Annie comes back for a couple of great moments. I don't want to describe this as meandering. Meandering implies a lack of intent in its directions. More than anything, it settles into a movie about Mildred herself. Gena Rowlands and the others are all great actors. Well, Jake is a little kid like that other iconic role. I would probably cut out Big Tommy. I'm not sure what he does to the ending. I'm not sure about a lot of this Nick Cassavetes film except it's a bit of a journey.