Like Dandelion Dust (2009)

Too much of everything

So much average

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A relatively low budget but extremely good drama. This could have turned into a standard melodrama but is elevated far beyond this by an intelligent and believable script. The real stars though are the actors who are all terrific. Barry Pepper has always been a favourite of mine and he excels himself in this role but there are no weak links in this film. A special mention must go to the actor playing the little boy, Maxwell Perry Cotton who is utterly convincing as the frightened and confused little boy. It was one of the best performances from a young actor I have ever seen. The film does flag a little towards the end but finishes on an emotional high. I rarely watch films twice in a short period of time but I did with this one and enjoyed it just as much second time round. Recommended.

After watching this powerful movie, I asked aloud why it wasn't nominated for any awards. It was only after I checked further that I discovered why: It is the product of a Christian movie production company and had limited distribution. The fact that I didn't know that, in itself, is a testament to the greatness of this movie. I'm a grown man who is usually not very emotional, but this movie had my tear ducts working overtime. I can't say enough about the cast, the script, the direction, the music and everything else. The story, about two sets of parents on the opposite ends of society, successfully avoids clichés and provides a realistic and painfully emotional story. This is a tour de force that came in completely under the radar. I highly recommend it.

I read the book and was anticipating the movie. I didn't expect it to be exactly like the book, but I felt the movie missed the mark entirely. I almost bought the movie for $23 at the bookstore, I was so sure I would like it. I'm so glad I rented it at Redbox for $1! This IS a faith based book, so I didn't realize the movie could be made and ignore the primary theme of the book. I think the acting was quite decent overall, and the movie was fairly well made. My complaint doesn't really lie with that. It's just so much of the book is missing, made to fit the movie, and the only barely there elements of faith are to support the character attempt to "run off" with the child. In no way does it make people of faith look good, just the opposite. They look rather stupid and involved. I just didn't get it. I'm very very disappointed with Karen Kingsbury. I would never have sold my book rights to a film maker if they were going to leave out the entire point of the movie. Sorry, I just didn't care for it. The book was far better at grabbing my attention and pulling me in. Yawn.

This movie tells me one thing: some people should NEVER have children. What I saw was a man who hit his wife, spent time in prison and is rewarded only for biology. A lie is a lie: that the Mother LIED when she signed LEGAL paperwork and then LIED in front of a judge? She should have been put in jail. I was disappointed that the adoptive Father offered money for his kid. Stupid for the rich guy to start a fight. But there is a certain type of people who should NEVER reproduce. I realize it sounds like class snobbery and it probably is, but what I saw was a class of people acting like they were brought up by their parents to act.