I Don't Get The Hype

Rating: 3/10 (18 January 2005)

Very good film, but hardly "the masterpiece" described by Roger Ebert. It is basically a very well done Hallmark Hall of Fame TV Movie. It has Clint Eastwood as a lovable curmudgeon with a heart of gold. Hillary Swank, who is terrific, plays a strong-willed survivor with a heart of gold. Morgan Freeman is cast in his usual role of a wise, quiet observer with a heart of gold. All this becomes ultimately too cloying. Perhaps I expected more because so much was written about it. A good movie, but still doesn't surpass "Sideways" as best picture of the year. Hillary Swank should get the Oscar for her acting, however. See it, but not with your expectations too high.