My sidekick gave it a 2, I give it a 3, we both agree it's made for TV and belongs on Lifetime or Hallmark. Fine for burning a few hours on the couch on Sunday, but not a good movie. The script is evidence of the thousands of movies that came before this one and the fact that the writer and producer had to somehow come up with something "new" enough to get the project funded. So the plot is rather cockamamie, forced, and silly soapy. While there are necessary unexpected twists and turns, the predictability came in the form knowing exactly when the writer was forced to add a new twist, and our "uh-huh, sure, yeah right" reaction each time. Struck us as overwritten and overacted, with bad music and bad attempts at Maine accents. Interesting to see the 1996 version of Marcia Gay Harden, and Ellen Burstyn is a name, however I'm sure they'd agree this is not their best work. Not terrible if you have absolutely nothing to do, but go find something to do.

Let me make it simple for everyone...If you are a woman (especially if you happen to currently be menstruating) you will positively adore this movie. Just sit back with a glass of zinfandel and a box of tissues and enjoy. It is heavy-handed melodrama and cliché 'character' acting by all the usual female stereotypes but sometimes that isn't always a bad thing. I realize that this probably sounds condescending and insensitive so in advance let me apologize and recognize that everything I say is wrong anyway.If you are a dude on the other hand I hope and pray for you that you have a 2nd TV located in another room, preferably hooked up to a PS3 or XBOX so that you can properly recalibrate your testosterone level after watching the first 20 mins of this train wreck. It has absolutely nothing of interest to you, trust me. You know that feeling you get when you're alone in a room of women all talking at the same time and you can't leave? Now imagine an hour and a half of that with no respite, every time you think it cannot possibly go any further down the rabbit hole of "I do not give a f$*k" it somehow manages to kick it up a notch.As an aside, I was born and raised in the Northeast and the vast majority of 'Maine' accents in this film are about on par with the 'British' accents of Natalie Portman and Keanu Reeves, its pretty damn bad.Personally I think the average woman would give this 8-9 stars and the average guy would give it 1 or 2 so in all fairness I'm splitting the difference, we're it just up to me I'd give it either 1 or 0.

For most of my life I've sort of stated that the well-received, sort of hyped Best-Picture type films (Fight Club, American Beauty, Godfather, English Patient, etc. etc. etc.) have been my favorite films.But then I saw "The Spitfire Grill". Or rather, I saw a preview for it. And I somehow knew that this film would surpass all others in its beauty and simplicity.The story is simple, the themes universal, the cinematography drop-dead gorgeous, and the music haunting. Allison Elliot and Ellen Burstyn are prime actors of their generations. If you ever want to watch a film about the mistakes we all inevitably can make, the relationships and friendships we all eventually have to form to heal us, and the power of forgiveness and helping others, and the transcendent, trans formative power of love and connecting to nature in a way that reminds of our unity, watch "The Spitfire Grill." I don't think I've ever cried more emotionally at the end of a movie, and not a hard sobbing, but more like a life-draining, emotionally cathartic cry. Absolutely unforgettable.

I first saw Spitfire Grill shortly after it came out on video and today I just saw it again on HBO, and so I've confirmed to myself that this movie truly is excellent. The acting, writing, plot, subplots, editing, cinematography, and sound are all of excellent quality which allows one to become immersed in this story.I suppose that one may not like it if they are suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder or similar ailments, because you really need to just be able to sit down, relax, and enjoy the show. Seeing this movie currently rated near 7, is a little disappointing because this movie is so rich. My guess is that the people who gave it a low score probably didn't watch it, or perhaps think only cool special effects and nonstop action make for a great movie.This movie is more akin to Shawshank Redemption in the way it presents itself, without the narration. Shawshank is probably my personal favorite movie regardless of category, and I usually prefer comedies and sci-fi action type movies. But like Shawshank, this movie rates pretty high with me too. So if you're able to enjoy Shawshank Redemption, you'll enjoy Spitfire Grill.