The Unfinished Life (2005): Dir: Lasse Hallestrom / Cast: Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, Damien Lewis: One of Lasse Hallestrom's better films, which range from the spellbinding Chocolat to the overrated and disjointed trash The Cider House Rules. It regards forgiveness and moving on as a widowed mother escapes a bad relationship. Robert Redford plays a rancher whose son was killed in an automobile accident and he blames his daughter-in-law. She is played by Jennifer Lopez who accepts a job at a diner while her daughter slowly bonds with the grandfather she didn't know she had. Redford does well as someone struggling to accept the innocence of another but we know where this is headed. Lopez isn't so lucky though. Everything is laid out from her trying to find closure with Redford, to her ex showing up, to the new romance. Morgan Freeman plays a hired hand who was mauled by a bear and must muster up the courage to face it again. Josh Lucas plays a local law enforcement officer whose presence is to bang Lopez at first opportunity. Damien Lewis plays that ever familiar angry ex-boyfriend whom will no doubt have Redford's foot meet his ass. Detailed story flawed with a decision regarding a captured bear. Every character needs to forgive for something and slowly recover what was unfinished by making it whole again. Score: 6 / 10

Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez) is on the run with her daughter Griff (Becca Gardner) from her abusive boyfriend Gary Winston (Damian Lewis). She has no where else to turn to except for her estranged former father-in-law Einar Gilkyson (Robert Redford) who still blames her for the death of his son. Einar is taking care of injured Mitch Bradley (Morgan Freeman) from a bear attack. Both Einar and Mitch must come to terms with the past. Crane Curtis (Josh Lucas) is the sheriff in town who falls for Jean.I don't know what happened to the distribution but I certainly don't remember this movie being released. It's got Redford and Freeman. That alone should have been noteworthy. I get why some people dismiss Lopez but she does a really good job in this one. She's a good actress in the right project. This is an emotionally deep movie with great subtle performances from everybody to match. Director Lasse Hallström isn't bringing any flash to this and it can seem slow for some. Redford is just outstanding and his performance deserves to be rewarded.

This is not a film you watch for the fun of it. It's a very serious film that you watch to see fine acting...specifically from Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman.For Robert Redford, this role is very against-type. And he handles perfectly, giving yet another example of why he is one of the finest actors we have. Here he is a grizzled old man who has forgotten how to live. Tremendous performance.On the other hand, we have Morgan Freeman who plays Morgan Freeman, albeit as an old cowboy. But what more can you want than Morgan Freeman. Almost always a gem.Jennifer Lopez is a bit out of her league here, although she does all right. No criticism, she does her job.Young (then) Becca Gardner is just great as the young daughter. The other supporting actors here do their jobs.In terms of plot, I noticed that a couple of our reviewers said the film is predictable. Yes, I would estimate that 95% of films are predictable. It's not always about where the plot goes, but how it gets there. And that's what makes this film interesting. Again, this is not an exciting movie...it's just a story of some not-so-beautiful lives that get better.

This movie was...okay...for what it was, I guess. Redford IS great in this. He looks very grizzled and worn out and plays his stoic character very well. Some good, tender moments come out of his interaction with his granddaughter. The rest of the cast was functional, although no one else really stood out. The movie was very predictable, and had a few moments of unrealistic sentimentality. The scene near the end where Morgan Freeman and the bear confront each other was, to me, cringe-inducing. Do you think this bear thought to himself "Well, I've already messed this guy up...I think this time I'll give him a pass"? This is a PREDATOR. They don't think in those terms. They sense a threat or a meal, and you are in big trouble. Of course, this was played up for the "Awww" factor, but I found it insulting and unrealistic. Also, there was really no big climax. The penultimate scene, where Redford kicks abusive Gary's ass and sends him on his way was played out much too quickly, and Gary pretty much tucked his tail between his legs, and caught the first bus out of town. That was it. There should have been something much more menacing about Gary. He shouldn't have been that easy to scare off. The movie didn't so much end as it just kind of petered out.The scenery and Redford's acting were first rate, and everyone else did a decent job, but overall I found it to be disappointing.