This was very slow going. Its a "dialogue-driven character study" that watches a bit like a play, involving a short fused ex-con (Live Schreiber) who takes a job in parks-maintenance and then finds stability and camaraderie with his older co-worker Murph (Ned Beatty). The pair bond over a year long period and nothing much else happens.Ultimately this was slow and boring even with the fantastic performances from Beatty and Schreiber who, despite their initial differences develop a nice friendship, and eventually form an almost father-son relationship. I'll be honest though, 1/2 an hour in and I was hitting the FF button.As an FYI this was shot in sequence over a one-year period, against the backdrop of the changing seasons. Yeah at least that happened. 03.23.14

If you read about a movie before you watch it, then you already have some idea of what it's about. So if you don't want to see what is basically a play, set outdoors, then don't watch this one. But if you do, and you're a thoughtful guy, you will probably love this one.I say "guy," because the main characters are guys, and the stuff they talk about is "guy stuff." Although, if you are a gal, and have a strong appreciation for a dialogue-based film, you may still enjoy it. A couple of female characters make brief appearances.In this play, the parks are the sets, and the seasons are the borders of each act. How often do you see a film about ordinary people, living ordinary lives? That trend was more common in the 70s.It takes genuine talent to make the ordinary interesting, and these writers, directors, and performers nail this one. I've been a city landscaper, working with a partner, and this is exactly what is was like. We worked, but we had great conversations throughout the day.Although I'm conservative, watching this one really made me wish I could be a public employee again, with no heavy supervision, no quotas, and no pressure. Top that off with working outdoors, and I would be in heaven.Since these guys didn't have to worry about the normal pressures of private sector work, or even the stultifying routine of working at the DMV, etc., they were able to spend their days musing about the meaning of life, while casually painting a fence or raking some leaves.Ned Beatty's character has figured out how to get through life without major hassles. He doesn't complain much, or sweat the little things. He has a little life and he knows it, but he seems to be o.k. with it, save one major regret regarding his son.The Liev Schriber character, being much younger, is a seeker. He's reading books and developing his philosophy of life. You get to watch him grow and mature during the course of a year, working alongside a father figure.The best scene in the film comes at the beginning and involves a brief appearance by little known actor Campbell Scott, the son of screen legend George C. Scott. He plays his character to such perfection in this brief scene, that it wets your appetite for the rest of the film.Watch it if you're a deep thinker and you don't mind a couple of minor Left Wing references, about Gays in the Scouts, and class warfare.

A rare delight for those of us who watch a movie more for the acting techniques than for the explosions and bikini babes. Beatty and Schrieber portray two city workers who muse about their lives during their day to day working relationship. Nothing really major happens. No plot twists abound. No great arc of transference happens in the plot, just a gentle "getting to know you" feeling develops as the viewer gets drawn into the story very gently. I've seen lots of movies and I must say this is one where I couldn't predict what would happen next because it defies Hollywood traditions by choosing the natural moments in life to focus on rather than the supernatural. It's a small gem for those that prefer their movies to be more introspective than most

Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber are masterful as mismatched workmates who are different enough to connect on very basic levels. This is not a film for the action-faction; it's more like dramatic theater. It's an excellent film for both aspiring actors and those who like to see good acting, as Schreiber and Beatty struggle successfully to stay in the zone between methodical understatement and emotive overacting. Schreiber's smoldering working-class anger and Beatty's "go along-to get along" resignation creates a sparkling tension out of which grows a deep friendship. For anyone who's worked on the downside of the class divide the dialogue is spot on and the characters are recognizable. This film proves that it's still possible to make a quality film out of an "uplifting" story. A little bit of "The Straight Story" without the sap.