Good little fantasy/drama

Rating: 8/10 (1 July 2003)

This is a very good little drama/fantasy story, even if it does fit the the conventions you would expect for a standard "Oscar nominated/feel-good movie". But I don't think it quite lives up to the standards of films like THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION or APOLLO 13 or suchlike. It's just a little bit too obvious in what it's trying to do and how it pushes the emotional buttons.
I think the most outstanding performances were from the "heavies" of the picture in Doug Hutchinson and Sam Rockwell. Their characters just push up the story and give a sharp edge to what could have been an overly schmaltzy and preachy plot (which is what I was expecting). Don't get me wrong, I thought the emotional and spiritual-phylosophcal aspects worked surprisingly well, and I was moved by the tender moments of this story. I am just glad that it had some dramatic "bite" to it as well.