guil fisher
Even with the likes of Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, this loser doesn't click with me. Like watching rich people going out and pretending they're hobos. Slow moving and almost predictable. Nicholson seems to be wandering around in this one trying to find something to do with his role. Streep, with her usual facial maneuvering overdoes it. She fidgets, she shakes, she sings, she has fits here and there and seems to be going nowhere with her character. I got so bored watching this I kept jumping ahead to find something worthwhile to watch. But always coming to these two wandering.I don't know what this film is supposed to do. What message it is saying. For certainly the stars didn't know. Sorry, I guess I am the only one that found these two, supposedly great actors, flopped in this silly movie.
Steve Skafte
I remember so clearly the night I first experienced "Ironweed". I'd spent a long, tired winter day working in the remote coastal community of Victoria Harbour, Nova Scotia. The wind was blowing hard all morning and into the afternoon, leaving snowdrifts strewn across the ever-narrowing roads. Down these quiet country byways, I was mesmerized by the old buildings and abandoned shacks. As I made my way down to the water, I came out at an oceanside clearing beneath menacing cliffs. It was with this frozen world in mind and at the end of a long journey home that I sat down with my dinner to watch "Ironweed".Although I'd just returned home from an early March day, this film takes place more around late November. The cold is palpable. You can see the actors' breath in many of the scenes, feel the ice in their veins. Hector Babenco holds back anything that might get in the way, and directs sparsely and quietly. You're certain to be familiar with the lead actors, but don't let that throw you. Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep have never been as pure before or since. It's as if they are these people. Francis and Helen are living, breathing humans, as real as characters as the very people who play them. Tom Waits, who is one of my favorite singer-songwriters, appears sporadically as Francis' drinking buddy. It's a great performance.Being homeless in 1938 was no small challenge I'm sure, and "Ironweed" captures every inch of pain, struggle, heart and humanity of its characters. The darkness is so all-encompassing that every hint of hope seems all the clearer. You feel encouraged to find whatever hints of light that you can. Which is why, in that final scene, as light streaks across the room while a woman's voice describes what you see, a future of hope seems all the more possible. The grey and brown tones of a seemingly endless series of cloudy days brings you down to those times when you start feeling that the sun will never shine again. "Ironweed" offers the most subtle, painful, beautiful reminder that it always will.
jDriftyx82
Ironweed is the story of a drifter (Jack Nicholson), who spends Halloween in his hometown after not returning for more than a decade.Why did Francis Phelan (Nicholson), not return to his hometown? Well, year before he returned, he was holding his baby, and...he dropped it. Not really more is said, except that the baby died.Phelan's wife Helen Archer (Meryl Streep) isn't as angry that he's back as you'd think she'd be.The movie is really about the Halloween night between Helen, Francis, and others.If you like Nicholson, or Streep. You'll like this.
williamdefalco
I saw this movie as a young teenager a few years ago (yeah I know, while everyone my age was watching TRL I was watching this), then managed to find a copy of it, and even to this day I still feel the same wonderful impact each time I watch it.I won't cover what's already been said before about the performances because it'll just be repeating the obvious. Everyone here gives unforgettable performances. What I will give is a small list of some of my favorite moments within the film: 1) The haunting surreal imagery that begins the opening credits. Accompanied by the beautiful hymning music it's a great introduction to this movie.2) The first scene with Tom Wait's character, who forever remained such an innocent and tragic figure.3) Nicholson first meeting at his son's grave. Such a beautifully shot scene, the warm sun and the river in the background framing him.4) That one scene where Nicholson stands outside his long lost home at night, pondering about what to do.5) That unforgettable scene with Meryl Streep's character singing to a crowd 6) Tom Waits staring up at the sky as he reminisces about Isaac Newton and the stars 7) That funny scene between Nicholson and the junk collector 8) And finally that last haunting scene where Nicholson finally decides to throw out his booze while he's on the train, then begins reminiscing about his son's room and how it catches the morning sun. Once again accompanied by that beautiful music that final scene always makes me tear up.There's many more memorable scenes but for time's sake these will do.It makes me wonder why such a beautiful movie hasn't been recognized by more viewers, or why it hasn't been released on DVD here in America, or why a copy of the soundtrack was never made available. Oh well. Still a great movie to catch.
AD
