sillypuzzle This really is a good movie for the entire family when a flare for the dramatic is appreciated. The script is well written and directed. It's always a pleasure to watch Kathy Bates do her thing as she lights up the screen once again with a brilliant performance. Bill Cobbs didn't disappoint as this role seemed tailor made for him. Octavia Spencer, Julia Stiles, and Glenn Close as well as the rest of the cast did a terrific job--Bravo! I look forward to seeing more in the future from Zachary Hernandez, Clare Foley, and Sophie Ne'lisse. This part played by Sophie Ne'lisse was very impressive. Great job by this up and coming actress.

TxMike My wife and I watched this at home on Netflix streaming. It is a pleasant and entertaining movie about a bright teenage girl who is mad at the world because she remains separated from her mother.We don't get much of a backstory but Sophie Nélisse as Gilly Hopkins has been in a series of foster homes. She is very bright but angry because she feels the system is keeping her away from her mother. So she resists new friendships and learns ways to manipulate teachers and other authority figures. She also hates to see boys acting as bullies and can quickly kick and punch them into submission. Which she apparently has done on numerous occasions.We pick up the story when she is placed with Kathy Bates as Maime Trotter who never backs away from a challenge. After a series of learning experiences quite accidentally Gilly finds an address "last known address for her mother Courtney" (Julia Stiles) and writes a letter to that address. She explains how she is living with a religious fanatic who makes her do chores all the time and strangers come and go all night making it impossible to do her homework. It was all a lie, designed to get her out of there and with her mother. Instead it comes to the attention of her grandmother, Glenn Close as Nonnie Hopkins, and the system places Gilly with her grandmother.The coming-of-age moment for Gilly was when her mother showed up but it was clear after a minute that she didn't really want to be there, she had no interest in a relationship with her daughter. Gilly found herself wanting to be back with Trotter, realizing it was the only "home" she ever had. In the end Gilly, Trotter, Nonnie, and a few others learn how to make "family" where you have it.Good movie, first-rate acting.

jfgibson73 The Great Gilly Hopkins is a beautiful, touching film that should have gotten more attention. Although a wonderful family film, I would guess it will get seen most in middle school classrooms doing a study on the book, which it follows very closely. It's not without some rough edges- -there is some language and behavior that may not be to every parent's liking, but I appreciated that it made an effort to show how a real person might react in her situation. I will say the book told this story more effectively--several scenes had more impact as written, and I felt a much greater sense of urgency in the final scene of the book than I did watching the film. Even so, I think that it's a story that will hook viewers in and keep them invested right to the end. Without being manipulative or delving into false sentiment, The Great Gilly Hopkins made me care about its characters and had me choked up more than once before it was through.

Amari-Sali Main StorylineGilly (Sophie Nélisse) for a good portion of her life has gone from foster home to foster home due to her attitude. Now though she is with Ms. Trotter (Kathy Bates) and her new brother William Earnest, or W.E (Zachary Hernandez) for short. Both of them are nice, though W.E. is a bit shy, and they try to be welcoming. However, what Gilly wants is her mother to whisk her away and take her to wherever she is.HighlightsIt Grows on you: When we meet Gilly, I swear to you I was hoping Ms. Trotter was a "spare the rod spoil the child" type of Christian because the girl was asking to be slapped. She would pick with W.E., who seemingly came from an abusive home, she would make fun of the way Ms. Trotter talks, and let's not even go into how she treated others outside her home. Between stealing, damn near calling someone the N word to get a rise out of them, and fighting, she was a terror.However, after a certain point, she mellows out. She defends W.E., starts to get close to him, and even becomes friendly to this lonely girl at her school named Agnes (Clare Foley). Someone who seems so desperate for a friend she'd take Gilly's verbal abuse over the silence of being alone. With the transformation, you see the strength of the story and Nélisse's abilities as an actress. For even as Gilly mellows out, she still remains this sarcastic little brat. It is just she becomes a lovable one.Even When It Shifts Focus It Stays Good: As Ms. Trotter implies, life is tough but there is nothing like doing good on a tough job. Which is what Gilly has to go through as she is introduced to Nonnie (Glenn Close), her maternal grandmother. With this shift, you may think that a happy ending may come and it will all be a fairy tale. Alas, Katherine Paterson, who some may recognize as the writer of Bridge to Terabithia, isn't the type who does happy endings and avoids serious personal tragedies just because the focus is on children. No. All I'm going to say is expect to cry multiple times in this film if you are as sensitive as I am.On The FenceThe Life of W.E.: Quite honestly Mr. Hernandez could have stolen this movie from under everyone's nose if he wanted to. Nevermind he knows how to play up his cuteness, but being that we are told he came from an abusive environment, he plays to that backstory so well. Almost to the point, even though you'd probably end up dehydrated from crying, you kind of wish his story was told to us a bit more. Like Gilly finding his file or something.Overall: Positive (Worth Seeing)Forewarning: Gilly at first will be such a piece of work you may think this movie isn't worth it. However, as she begins to get close to people and starts opening up, oh she touches your heart. Especially as she bonds with W.E., this man named Mr. Randolph (Bill Cobbs) and even her grandmother. To the point, you will probably be fighting tears from how beautiful her transformation is. Especially as you start to learn about not just her, but these people around her and the struggles they have themselves with loss and other things. To the point that, at times, you almost wish when it came to Disney, Nickelodeon, and other networks which have kids entertainment, they would feature material like this. In a way, Girl Meets World does do that, but not as masterfully, and likely as consistently, as I feel something written by Katherine Paterson could.