Firstly, thank 'you' Sissy Spaceck for you trouble and involvement ; secondly, thanks for Robin Wright' presence; thirdly, however Under-toned, thank's for Colin Farrel's impersonation's ...; Wholesemoly, a TRUE and UNIQUE gem of a motion-picture's adaptation of an 'unique' written NOVEL ... !!??Seecondly, more of the same, thank 'you' Sissy Spaceck for your trouble and 'sharing'...Why ?, didn't you ALL share with your "pair's" appraisal of your performance's and/or object's ...Again, and repeated, this fictional depiction of family-related life is way-out-of-reality, however realistically-portrayed !!

I learned that this film was based on a Michael Cunningham novel after I'd seen it and I remembered how over-the-top and melodramatic I'd found one of his previous works, "The Hours". I had looked forward to that film because it featured some great actors, including Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore but I was disappointed because I thought that there was insufficient reason to care about the plight of the characters as the film progressed. I found the same with this film, in spite of excellent acting. I thought the nuanced explication of the characters' complex sexuality was very well-done, but I did not feel strongly enough about most of the characters to care. Consequently, I found much of the film unmoving. I didn't think the depth or the contours of the relationships among the three main leads was sufficiently established that one cared enough about Clare's (Robin Wright Penn) departure. I found the earlier parts of the film, during which Johnny's (Dallas Roberts) character and Bobby's (Colin Farrell) were becoming friends and were growing up, to be more interesting than the section in which they were adults.That said, as with "The Hours", the acting, this time from Colin Farrell, Sissy Spacek, and Robin Wright Penn was excellent. Farrell has shown himself in "Tigerland" and "In Bruges", in "Miami Vice" and "Phone Booth" to be a very versatile and capable actor and this film required a great deal of depth, for which Farrell was never found wanting. It truly was a magnificent performance. Sissy Spacek was fantastic. She seems born to act and that was no less true in this film, in which her suburban routine is upended by Bobby's openness. Robin Wright Penn oozes charisma and I thought she did that excellently here, transforming in the course of the film from a bohemian hipster to a hip mother. At the heart of her character was decency and love and I thought that essence remained constant through the film. My only critique of the acting was that I found Dallas Howard to be a bit passive and bland.I haven't read any of the books, but as with "The Hours", I found the film adaptation to be overly dramatic without giving me as a viewer sufficient reason to care about the emotional plight of the characters.

this movie is so pure. bobby loves who he loves and makes no conditions or boundaries. i just adore all of these characters. there are no agendas, some jealousies, and some leaving. nothing is forever, but what works for now is oftentime enough.robin wright is so right, a little older and wiser than the boys. she knows what she wants and she gets it.this is the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.the movie covers the whole gamut of the '70's. the highs and the lows.it also embraces every emotion.if it doesn't make you tearful and happy you are not human.happy, sad, longing, desire, despair, ENJOY! and the music is amazing.

This is a rare and amazing example of how beautiful, courageous film storytelling can be used to touch people to say things that really make us think, really make us feel. These characters are totally captivating. The dialogue is genuinely unique. Nothing about this film is pat or predictable. I thought Colin Farrell was very good in both The New World and Pride and Glory (great films), but I developed an idea of what he is like, what he is capable of as an actor. His performance in this film showed me that he may be capable of ANYTHING. I was shocked that he could play this character and so wonderfully - totally amazing. I am won over.