jb-307 One writer wrote that Sedgwick and Bacon "show both heart and tenacity, and as a result this misguided person rated the film a 10. But a 10 means SUPERB, Outstanding, out of this world, a one in a million, no, in 10 million. But this film isn't any good at all, it barely rates a 2. It fails to entertain, it fails to make sense, it fails to even interest us. Less than 60% of the viewers could even stand the movie or the review of it. A score of 10 is worse than ridiculous.There were several writers who liked the movie, in varying degrees. I didn't. It was missing on a number of points. The writing was terrible, the story didn't speak to me. What person could possibly treat their son, their own flesh and blood that way? I suppose that I should treat the woman Emily as th pitiful character she plays. But the huge disconnect is too great. I cannot make the jump because NO human could possibly be as bad off as Sedgwick. The boy child has 100 times more maturity than the Sedgwick character. How could anyone believe any part of this story.In summary, the movie left me worse than flat, worse than before I began watching it, sorry that I wasted my time on this. THAT is why this movie is NOT a 10. I was generous in giving it a rating 2, but I felt that as 1 would not be fair, because 1 needs to be reserved for a really horrendous movie. This was just bad, not horrendous.

CindersOJuniper Miss Darling was to a very large extent in love with the idea of a perfect son, and not the boy himself. The nickname given to him, Loverboy, is her way of defining him, but one which Paul refuses to completely accept. He is his own being, which we learn with his small rebellions and frustrations. The mother tries to define him too much, despite her wonderful and honest efforts, becoming the very villain she condemns the schoolteachers and staff.Her poisoning Loverboy and Paul is the final act of her attempts at controlling her son; she seeks to be his forever but ironically that proves impossible because of her own teachings to him. She injects strength, courage, and imagination into her son, allowing him to escape her loving but ultimately dread grasp, symbolized by his surviving of the terrible garage scene. She realizes that the world and even Paul himself will not allow him to be left with her forever, so she tries to serenely put them both asleep, as to secure her goal of being with him forever.However, this is her goal and her goal alone. Paul's gradual abandonment of her ideals, no matter how honest and great, are still hers. They are the core of the film. Butterflies, as she describes near the end of the film, must be allowed to roam freely to explore the world for themselves, not be pinned and fastened by another. Miss Darling has allowed this to a great extent, and the director has taken great care to show us that these are beautiful ambitions, which makes her insanity understandable, her character wonderful, and her evil eloquent.

Maximillian Hope This novel turned motion picture debut by Kevin Bacon, has all the ingredients of an interesting and moving film. Unfortunately these ingredients seem to fade away slowly as the film progresses. Kyra Sedgwick who not only acts terrifically throughout the film, but also narrates it as well. Her character, a women obsessed with having a child, and keeping it to herself forever, loses its flavor as it becomes more and more funny than serious. The small boy played by Dominic Scott Kay, should have been either re-cast or re-shot several times. His artificial deliveries take away from the seriousness of Sedgwicks maternal character again and again, and seem to make the film comical at times when it should not be. Kevin Bacon does surprise with his debut of a motion picture behind the camera, unlike his peer Nic Cage, with that mess of a film "Sonny". Bacon also keeps the film watchable between some of the arid scenes with is comedic paternal character circa 1970's. Hopefully the six degrees of Kevin Bacon will continue to lend to more films directed by Bacon, after this noble and respectable first effort.

Ubuman I read this book and saw the film at the Hamptons International Film Festival (10/2005). This is a complex and nuanced story about a single mother's obsessive love for her only child. The story explores the psychology of this obsession and the sometimes sublime, sometimes tragic effects it has on the lives of both mother and son. It is a wonderful adaptation of a novel by Victoria Redel (Greywolf 2001, Harcourt 2002 in paperback) that I imagine would present some challenges given its non-linear time frame and the careful parsing of its secret twists and turns. The acting is superb and the characters portrayed are funny, endearing, and multifaceted. Marissa Tomei and Kevin Bacon are hilarious as the 70's era, sexed up, deliriously in love and sadly neglectful parents. Kyra Sedgwick is brilliant as she confidently captures the complex subtleties of her character, making it easy for the audience to empathize with what would otherwise be, and at times is a difficult and disturbing obsessiveness. Other performances by Sandra Bullock as the sultry and insightful neighbor, Oliver Platt as the nervous and nerdy school administrator, and Matt Dillon as the love interest you can't help but root for, all contribute to what is a very entertaining and meaningful film.