Product: Greenfingers [Region 2] (2002)
Rating: 4.0
....A Rose by any other name would smell as Sweet....
The tradition of sweet, dopey, "cute" gangsters and prison inmates probably started with Damon Runyon way back in the 1920's and culminated with the musical "Guys and Dolls" in the 40's. The inhabitants of the prison in Joel Hershman's "Greenfingers" are more like Runyon's chracters than they are like those of the "Lock, Stock and Smoking Barrels" variety to be sure. "Greenfingers" is a slight, sweet trifle of a movie lucky enough to have Clive Owen (PBS' "Second Sight") and Helen Mirren (also PBS' "Prime Suspect")as it's chief chracters. Both of these actors are, as usual, excellent and convincing in their roles. The plot revolves around a minimum security prison where a few of it's inmates discover and nurture a love of gardening which ultimately leads them to enter a big time Horticultural event in England. The idea of gardening as a way of life and a national passion is foreign to us here in the USA but in England it is very real and very BIG. "Greenfingers" is full of good cheer and everyone involved seems to be having a great time. Who can object to that?