The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

People are voting emotionally.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It's been said so many times, but this is a truly wonderful movie! It's simple yet complex at the same time; so much is left unsaid in words yet is expressed beautifully through body language. Skeet Ulrich was the reason I watched this movie, but the whole cast was perfect. That being said, I think that Skeet was amazing in his role; a man of few words but always saying the right ones. He played Ray as such a kind and gentle soul with nothing but love, and I really saw so much of Skeet's own heart in Ray's heart. Keri Russell played Livy with such grace; it would've been easy to dislike Livy at times had Keri not given her that humanity. Mare was so pivotal in her short bits of screen time, showing you part of why Ray turned out to be such a good man.I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a heartfelt movie. It's not the fastest paced movie, but as long as you're willing to sit back and simply enjoy it, I think you'll do just that.

This is a movie that capitalizes on the beauty of the location, punctuated by a poignant musical score, illustrating a story that is characterized by subtle and believable acting. Skeet Ulrich's Ray is a man with a gentle and shy heart, who seizes the opportunity to have an instant family with a woman whose circumstances brought her out of her own world into his. Keri Russell's Livy is a woman without choice, struggling to maintain her dreams while living with her mistakes. Mare Winningham's Martha is a loving sister, wife, mother and friend whose very presence brings a sense of balance to both their lives and the lives of those around her.Each character, every look, every spoken word, every musical note adds to the richness of this movie. The story and the characters steal you away into their yesteryear, and Skeet Ulrich's Ray steals your heart. His face reveals his growing love of a woman who unwillingly came into his life, while his restraint and patience underscore his willingness to wait for her love to grow on its own. It's hard to believe that the story ends with the closing credits of the movie, that Keri Russell is not Livy, Skeet Ulrich is not Ray, Mare Winningham is not Martha. The mark of a good movie is one whose story lives on, just like The Magic of Ordinary Days.

Lovely movie, subtle and well acted in major and minor roles. Funny at times, the way country characters can be funny once you know them. Beautifully filmed, and gorgeous music.I loved the slow telling of the story. How the characters were kept apart by philosophy (city vs country), nature (hurt vs shy) and interests (world vs home). I loved how so much was shown in body language, and how her prejudice was erroneous, although not malicious, and not entirely tolerated by Ray despite his patience. I loved how much he loved her - and understood that she disliked herself.The downside of the movie is the internment camp and POW story. I agree with others that it was a distraction and not entirely believable, and not necessary. I fast forward through that section.Not a movie for Van Damme fans.

I was at home one day a few weeks ago, off sick from work, and caught this movie during the day on one of our movie channels. I was expecting it to be sugary sweet - enough to make your teeth hurt - but the sweetness was restrained. I really enjoyed this movie! The plot was well-written, the character were wholly believable and it was not totally predictable. It made me want to be swept off by a big-hearted country gentleman. Haven't seen Skeet in a while, and was pleasantly surprised by his work in this movie. I've always liked Keri Russell (I think it may be curly-hair envy). Definitely a chick-flick, but one that I would like to own and watch more than once. Well done!