MovieChat Forums > Bonneville (2008) Discussion > Someone should mention that this movie S...

Someone should mention that this movie SUCKS (spoilers)

posted 15 years ago by joe-809
8 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, what was the point of this story? Do the people who love this film just think that since it has 3 famed actresses it must be good? Come on, let's have higher standards. Even if my top 100 favorite actors were in the same film, if the script was this lame, I wouldn't laud it.

The plot is built around the idea that a woman thinks it is wrong to give her husband's ashes to his daughter, but she agrees to do so...then scatters them anyway. What was her intent? Just refuse or don't. And why would the daughter give her the freedom to carry the ashes cross-country, possibly tricking her, instead of taking them at the beginning of the movie? The daughter had the legal right to do so, because she had the only existing will of the deceased. She did not even need to trade the house for the ashes...but since she made that offer, why didn't she take the ashes immediately to ensure she wasn't tricked?

But since the three women did eventually try to trick the daughter by substituting different ashes, why did they do it so clumsily - letting a beer bottle cap mix in with the ashes?? The characters had fires 3 times in the movie and could have arranged a more convincing swap.

Finally, the daughter breaks the urn. But instead of this accident proving to everyone how silly the whole fight for possession of the ashes, it's just a device to expose the sloppy ash switch. In fact, at the end of the movie, none of the characters learned or grew. Nothing was resolved and we were left with no clear idea what would happen.

Jessica Lange acted like she was stoned the whole movie.

Joan Allen's character was totally confusing. Why include all those hints about her repressed background and do nothing with it? Why emphasize her uptight morality but make her be the character who tried to cheat the daughter? Oh, and since she happened into winning $176,000 but didn't want to keep the money, why didn't she give it to her best friend who was being forced to give up her husband's ashes in exchange for a place to live?

Kathy Bates and Tom Skerritt tried to save the movie, but even their relationship felt contrived.

[–] macinlaguna 15 years ago

Amen...this film had a lot going for it, except a better plot. And as mean
as it sounds, I can not get past Jessica Langes appearance. Kathy Bates looked like a human sitting next to a corpse.

[–] FordKing_17 15 years ago

I watched this movie because I saw that Kathy Bates was in it. About 3/4 thru I thought about this site and how nobody could possibly say anything negative about it (except possibly Lange's appearance) then I find this thread authored by JOE-809 the eternal pessimist. It just goes to show you that anything and everything will always have critics. Joe get a frickin' life, this was a nice little heartwarming movie especially for the older set.

"Law just don't go 'round here law-dawg"

[–] whdove88 15 years ago

Im seeing this movie for the first time today & I happen to like it.
Whomever wrote this scathing critique, you are way too picky! This is just a sweet movie. Im enjoying for what it is. The point of the movie is about relationships, emotions, things people feel and go through in life. People are confusing sometimes. People do have backgrounds that affect them for life. Why make a big deal about why this and that, why not just sit back and enjoy the movie? These women are enjoying their adventure,and feel, love, laugh and do funny or odd things that take place a long the way! As for the ashses and being dealt with clumsily and getting caught, aint that what life is all about?
*beep* HAPPENS! BESIDES,,,ITS A MOVIE!
These arent truly deceiptful woman, just woman caught up in their own emotions and changes in their lives! Emotions always run high when a loved one dies! And people react differently, not always predictable. But the grace, love and humor,and dignity these women share between themselves is worth watching!

[–] justalottapage 15 years ago

Agreed whdove88, it is just_a_sweet movie !! I'm watching it for the second time in a week. 5am and nothing else on, but it's still enjoyable to watch. Alot better than 27 Dresses.

It's about being able to move on without your spouse, your life friend. Arvilla couldn't even begin to think about the house or anything until she said (and experienced) her goodbyes. It's about respecting one's memories and relationsips since, life experiences make up who that person is today and will be tomorrow.

And for a guy who loves Mad Max, Drop Dead Sexy, Drowning Mona, and Rob Zombie films, this one isn't so bad, I gave it a 7. Since I'm rewatching it and am still enjoying the view, it qualifies for an 8 in my ratings. It does, afterall, feature a great looking classic convertible, a road trip through some stunning desert scenery, and even a stop in Vegas. I found Arvilla to be a very sweet, endearing, and introspective character.

Best scenes: Arvilla with the ashes during the last night out in the desert, and Arvilla pwnting that punk guy at the gas station trying to steal her friend's purse !!

[–] Adler-99 15 years ago

"Jessica Lange acted like she was stoned the whole movie."

Her character was in shock over the death of her husband. Has the most important person in the world to you ever died? If so, you know that sometimes you don't know what day it is or even where you are.

[–] prophotodude 15 years ago

I agree completely with joe-809....put yourself in the position of the daughter (which I have been) I wanted to hate her because the actress always plays a bitch, but she was more than understanding about the handling of her father's remains. She inherited the house in Pocatello (if Arvilla's husband wanted to amend his will-in the twenty years they were married he would have), and she had no obligation to her father's second wife. I certainly don't think (since nothing was in writing) that it was unreasonable to want her fathers ashes close to family and home of 60 years (per the daughter). Basically Arvilla only thought of herself throughout the whole movie (why stop in Vegas and gamble when her beloved just died?) She agreed to the funeral and then every step of the movie-did whatever she wanted no matter how it affected others. To me Arvilla was a totally self-centered ass throughout the whole film. -and when Joan Allen won the money-I thought ok good--house bought-problem over...
If you do the math -husband lived in Santa Barbara 60 years then lived/traveled with Arvilla for 20 years -was 80 when he died--much older than Jessica Lange (seems like just wanted an older richer man to take care of her--what was her profession again?-ever mention she did anything than be with Joe?)
BTW Joan Allen seems to get better looking the older she gets--and what was with Tom Skerrit's teeth? I cringed everytime he smiled....and I live in Pocatello, and before release it was presented with a special screening here--I didnt see it then -just yesterday on hbo--however per the credits it was never even filmed in Idaho, the only thing I saw correct about Pocatello was the Idaho license plates....

[–] jfd0210 15 years ago

To anyone who lives in Pocatello: isn't there an airport closer to your city than Salt Lake City, Utah? I might have missed something early on, and maybe there was another reason the three women had to leave from that city, but if not, I don't get the reasoning.
And then a hitchiker just HAPPENS to be walking across the salt flats? I know it is a movie so there has to be a suspension of disbelief, but this was pushing it.
And one more thing, how many times was the car being driven in the left lane or down the middle of the highway? Again, I know it is just a movie, but a little bit of realism helps.

[–] SpikeHat 14 years ago

Are these ladies trying to be the female 3 Stooges? This movie contained too many eye-rolling oh-brother scenes, like when they break the MagicFingers bed, or gang up on the wife-beater character who steals Joan's purse (after he pounds on the door saying "Come on, lady!" as if this is a James Cagney movie), or the houseboat hung up on a sandbar(?) in Lake Mead, burning dinner and-- tossing it overboard!

We also get to see the wacky "Urn-Full-of-Ashes" story line, always good for comedy ; we've seen this plot device before in 29 other shows (as recent as Elizabethtown).

I hate to bash Bonerville so much, but it's pretty contrived... well, I did like the car.