jm10701 Resurrection has strong appeal to a small and zealous audience, cult-like in its devotion, who will defend it to the death - but as a movie it's just not very good.Since it's most widely praised for the acting, I'll set that straight first.Ellen Burstyn is just Ellen Burstyn, competently playing the gently befuddled, just slightly off-balance, flawed but overwhelmingly sincere and compassionate middle aged woman she nearly always plays. She's good at that, but no better here than in much better movies than this.Eva Le Gallienne is just terrible. She's consistently unwatchable, hamming her way through every scene, chewing every line like it's beef jerky even older than she is.She uses a stilted, creepily inflected, slightly hissing voice that makes my skin crawl, like a cobra talking. And she looks EXACTLY like Mr Magoo - squinting, with her head up and tilted, as if she's trying to identify something on the ceiling while she talks but is too vain to put on her glasses. I can understand Burstyn's Oscar nomination, but not Le Gallienne's. It's a truly awful, creepy, cringe-inducing performance.There IS one fantastic performance here, though, and that's Sam Shepard's. He is thoroughly believable in every scene and never overacts, which by itself is a remarkable achievement given the highly melodramatic screenplay. His is the only character that is allowed to change (and he changes dramatically) in the course of the movie, and he makes the transformations look completely natural and effortless. It's a stunningly accomplished and impressive performance.Except for Richard Farnsworth's marvelous cameo appearance early in the movie, the rest of the cast is adequate but completely forgettable. One notable exception is the boy in the movie's last scene; he's really bad. They should have kept the casting for that role open a little longer.As I said, Resurrection is most often praised for its acting, but that's not why its devotees are so ardent in their devotion. They are disciples of its dreamy, New Age view of life and death, in which love is god, love heals all wounds and solves all problems, and all we EVER need is to love one another. Although the movie never actually defines what love IS (New Age thinking must keep things dreamy and imprecise), it relentlessly affirms that love is the only thing that matters. We ARE love, it says. Whatever that means.That's a religion. Resurrection's fans like to think of it as the triumph of love over religion (meaning rabidly fundamental Christianity), but it's just offering a dreamy, feel-good religion in place of a hate-filled, murderous religion. That's exactly what millions of people are looking for - a religion that will make them feel good about themselves and dull the fear of death that haunts us all.Resurrection assures us that death is a tunnel with an unbearably beautiful light at the end, filled with our departed loved ones easing us gently toward that marvelous destination (why THEY'RE still hanging back in the tunnel isn't explained). In the meantime, while we're here in this world... life is love, and we are love, and god is love, and all we need is love, and - as John Lennon wisely pointed out - love is all we need. Love is ALL we need. Love is all we need. Love is all we need.If that's what you want, this is your movie. Welcome to the congregation, friend.

danielmartinx Great film, great story, great setting and cast.Ellen Burstyn, though, deserves a few words. She gives line readings like no other actress, or perhaps like other actresses: Myrna Loy, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, or many of the early film greats. Burstyn puts a strong American twang into her pronunciation, and she makes acting decisions that surprise and breath life into many scenes that would otherwise be flat.How much of this is direction? How much is her own artistry? Hard to say. Burstyn's career took place through the 60s and into the 80s, a time when film was moving out of the studios and into the world. The gritty film world of the 70s had little room for grace and beauty and finesse, but Burstyn brings a beautiful glamorous charm to her roles. As Edna, she truly inhabits that character and turns in a mindblowingly good performance. I recommend this film to anyone who is fond of supernatural films, 70s film, 70s horror, or quirky stories.

mcmenamind Ellen Burstyn has an accident and is paralyzed. Moves home with crotchety Father. Continues to develops her healing power. She heals self. Has conflicts with traditional religious beliefs. As she heals self and develops she continues to be free of prior hangups. Heals someone and they develop into lovers. Very hard to figure out why the two would become lovers..but the flick makes you think and wonder about a lot of things. As her power continue to develop she become a local faith healer. The romantic slant continues to wreak havoc in her life. She continues to grow and develop expanding her horizons. Religious issues develop as the boyfriend is a hell and damnation type - opposed to love truth and spiritual healing. Makes for a good look at opposite views. Ellens character preserves and the movie has a feel good ending. Enjoy it for an attempt to free thinking and open minded view. I liked this movie and it is fun to watch once a year or so. Ellen was nominated for an Oscar. Good thought provoking movie to enjoy.

JoshuaLieder-1 There are many scenes in this movie that moved me to tears. I do sort of wish the main character had sided with God as the reason for her talents. She never said it wasn't God though. I really enjoyed this film. Watch for the scenes in which Burstyn's character heals the twisted form of on woman in front of disbelievers and the viewers own eyes. The scene in the end of the film with a little boy having cancer unattended briefly in his car is also moving. This movie made me recall parts of Elmer Gantry for some reason while I was watching. I am glad that Burstyn chose not to make it in the vein of The Exorcist but more uplifting and spiritual. I cannot believe at this time its not out on DVD. What are the producers and DVD makers waiting for?