After accidentally killing a stranger in a fight, a middle-aged man down South is sentenced to six years in prison; once behind bars, he asks his volatile wife for a divorce, and yet upon his release finds he has strong desires to see her again and rekindle their rocky romance. Udayan Prasad directed this rambling adaptation of Pete Hamill's short story, one which is split between staccato flashbacks and a wan current plot (involving the ex-convict's two teenage traveling partners) which fails to propel the picture forward. William Hurt does some amazingly low-keyed work in the lead, but he can't carry the movie all by himself. Chris Menges' cinematography ably captures the backwater stretches of a strangely underpopulated Louisiana, and there's grit and conviction in Maria Bello's performance as Hurt's shrimp-fisher wife (even though her role, as written, is a wheeze). Still, the two kids (Kristen Stewart and Eddie Redmayne) are completely unreal, undermining this road trip with an irritatingly acrid artificiality which nearly stalls the movie out before getting us to the final gate. *1/2 from ****

Set and filmed in southern Louisiana shortly after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of the surrounding areas. Saw it on DVD from my public library. No extras at all on the DVD.Right as the film starts we see three of the four protagonists meeting quite by coincidence at a small town store that also serves as a bus station. They all have different stories but one thing in common, a desire to move on down the road. They end up traveling together in a car, towards New Orleans, that just is able to get them around.William Hurt is at his best here as Brett Hanson, and we soon learn that he had just been released from 6 years in prison for manslaughter. Only very late in the story, via flashback as he retells this to the others, do we learn the circumstances. Kristen Stewart is teenager Martine, whose mother is absent and her dad drives a long-haul truck. This time he is leaving without her, she is curious about the rest of the world.Brit Eddie Redmayne is "native American" Gordy, although he doesn't appear much like a native. When they hit and kill a deer at night, he quietly asks the deer for forgiveness. He is somewhat socially awkward, he likes Martine, but he has trouble showing it in the right way. He just seems very odd at first, but grows on a person once they get to know him.Maria Bello is May, for most of the film we only see her in brief flashback scenes with Brett. They were married, had a falling out of sorts, and he wants to see if they can reconcile.A rather small, quiet movie with excellent acting, we enjoyed it.SPOILERS: Brett and May were arguing after she had a miscarriage, and he found out earlier in life she had an abortion, which made it more difficult to carry a baby to term. When a stranger came to help, Brett pushed him aside, his head hit a fire hydrant, the stranger died and Brett was imprisoned for manslaughter. Out now, he did make it back to May and they reconciled. Martine and Gordy in the process of getting to know Brett got to know themselves a bit better also, and what is really important in life.

I really enjoyed this movie! The performances were subtle, layered, charming and fascinating and I'm surprised this movie didn't get noticed during the awards season. The raw landscapes, isolated buildings and the retro car they make there journey to a fresh start all make a hauntingly beautiful setting. The movie has a quiet confidence, artistic and a involving, star crossed story that for the first half leaves you in suspense, it follows Brett Hanson played by William Hurt who was recently released after 6 years from prison for manslaughter and hitches a ride to go back home to his wife with a young duo Martine and Gordy played Kristen Stewart in another great indie performance and she was stunning in this movie, Eddie Redmayne plays an awkward oddball but in a touching way and Maria Bello who isn't seen as much plays the wife May was excellent as always and man is she sexy. It just has a great story told in a real, beautiful way and is very relatable that makes it even more effective topped off with a very satisfying and touching ending that makes this an almost flawless indie. Highly recommended! More of a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

'The Yellow Handkerchief' is a lovely film about redemption, faith and love. The main character is no doubt Brett Hanson (William Hurt) and he is amazing as a middle-aged, drained man. I have not seen many films with him, but I loved how he represented a life that lost its way and the unlikely road that leads back. Brett (Hurt) is a man who one night looses all that he has in a fit of anger. The journey begins when he meets Gordy, the masterful Eddie Redmayne and the 'plain-jane' Martine, an ever frustrating Kristen Stewart. Gordy, Martine and Brett take off on a Louisanna crossing to get Brett home. Martine and Gordy seem to be up for anything and that really shows as they all travel together. There is little character development on the part of Martine and Gordy, but enough to understand why it is so important that these three loss souls meet one another. If knowledge is in the journey, these three characters learn who they are and what they want out of life. It is beautiful and heartbreaking to watch the pain of discovery. Maria Bello and her short scenes are amazing as well. What this film lacks in story- it often moves a little too slow for me- it makes up double in the acting by the leads, except for Kristen. Kristen struggles throughout the film with her Southern accent- sometimes it is on full force and other times there is nothing there and that is troubling, but even more then that is her constant need to stare into space, play with her hair and bite her lip. At first I thought it was a young twitch or something, but after seeing a few movies with her in it- it really distracts from the characters she plays, and this is true with Martine. Redmayne, Hurt, Bello are in a class alone and their relationships are the heart of the film. Redmayne, the lost youth who does not seem to belong anywhere. Hurt, the man looking for redemption and meaning in a world gone mad. And Bello, waiting to heal old wounds. A heart-warming film about the roads life takes us on and the people we meet along the way that teach us.