You would think with a cast like this, this movie is a sure-fire winner. Billy Bob Thornton is always great, comedy, tragedy or both. Virginia Madsen is some kind of luminous beautiful angel who never ages and yet is a great actress and Bruce Dern has become the goyishe Alan Arkin...go to guy for when you need a crusty old man.
And yet there are many holes in plot that you could drive a rocket through.
His name is Farmer and he's a farmer? If this was some early 20th century French play yes this would be clever, but here, not so much.
Too many obstacles appear in the film and then kind of fade away without being resolved.
People who hated Mr. Farmer and think he is crazy suddenly don't. And then suddenly do again.
Mrs. Farmer exhibits an unhumanly amount of patience with her husband as he throws away everything they work for. She gives him one angry speech about getting them into debt, and then she kind of forgets about it. I mean, I know she's angelic, but come on.
The kids, including the teenager, seem never to question that it might be time for Dad to take his meds.
Old relatives conveniently pass away quietly and quickly leaving giant bags of money.
In the end, everything was so unbelievable, and not even relevant as a parable or metaphor.
Somebody else invoked the "deus ex machina" and I agree.....The writer's should have to write on a blackboard a million times "I will not use the deus ex machina, I will not use the deus ex machina"
And yet there are many holes in plot that you could drive a rocket through.
His name is Farmer and he's a farmer? If this was some early 20th century French play yes this would be clever, but here, not so much.
Too many obstacles appear in the film and then kind of fade away without being resolved.
People who hated Mr. Farmer and think he is crazy suddenly don't. And then suddenly do again.
Mrs. Farmer exhibits an unhumanly amount of patience with her husband as he throws away everything they work for. She gives him one angry speech about getting them into debt, and then she kind of forgets about it. I mean, I know she's angelic, but come on.
The kids, including the teenager, seem never to question that it might be time for Dad to take his meds.
Old relatives conveniently pass away quietly and quickly leaving giant bags of money.
In the end, everything was so unbelievable, and not even relevant as a parable or metaphor.
Somebody else invoked the "deus ex machina" and I agree.....The writer's should have to write on a blackboard a million times "I will not use the deus ex machina, I will not use the deus ex machina"