The Patron Saint of Liars (1998)
Unhappy in her marriage, expectant mother Rose (Dana Delany) flees to a home for unwed mothers in rural Tennessee in this adaptation of Ann Patchett's novel. When she stays on after her baby is born, Rose becomes friends with an elderly nun (Sada Thompson) and begins a relationship with the local handyman, Son (Clancy Brown). Everything seems fine until Rose's first husband tracks her down and she's forced to relive her troubled past.
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Reviews
Too much of everything
Pretty Good
For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!
Excellent, Without a doubt!!
Another voice added to the comment choir. This is a pretty awful movie that allows one to wander the house, do laundry, read a book (even the book upon which the movie is based) and still be bored with it (the movie that is). Add my vote to those who hated the lead character. She isn't presented as a patron saint but more of an excellent liar and fairly worthless character. People like Rose may have a few screws loose or lost but whatever the reason for her behavior, I can't work up the empathy to care. Gist of review: Sticking with this movie is like watching the wrong shade of paint dry on your walls so you can finally repaint with a better color. Fortunately, viewers can avoid the wait by just changing the channel.
It is a weak movie, but it is based on a great book. The Patron Saint of Liars is a sad story of a woman unhappy with who she is. It details how she runs from her life then she puts herself into another life. She is never quite happy with her second life either. The story is sad, but interesting. You relate to her and feel sorry for her at the same time. The movie is much slower than the book, and not as deep. The book takes you in more and allows you to relate more to the characters and their feelings. Dana Delany is kind of bland in the lead role. It does have a small early role for Maggie Gyllenhal.It is worth a watch, but definitely worth reading.
The most I can say about this movie -- without risking a spoiler -- is that I feel it is centered around an unlikable character who treats pretty much everyone like doo-doo. She is selfish, deceptive, and evasive -- for no real reason.Not a great chick flick, in my opinion.
Well, it's a typical, melodramatic chick-flick with overdone performances, the film does have a good cast with Dana Delany, Marisa Ribisi, Ellen Burstyn, and Clancy Brown. Stephen Gyllenhaal's direction isn't bad since he does offer some excellent scenery and poignant moments in the film.Fans of Maggie though will see her in the 2nd half of the film as a friend of Delany's daughter for about 5-7 minutes in a standout performance as a pregnant teen with multiple ear piercings and bad light blonde dye hair. It's a good film about a woman questioning her Catholic faith while living in a Catholic retreat home for pregnant women while looking for love and understanding.