Evening

Based on the book of the same name by Susan Minot this movie, co-written for the screen by the author and Michael Cunningham, explores the depth of relationships. Vanessa Redgrave plays Ann who is dying and travelling in and out of her memories which are shown as flashbacks to the viewers. Her real-life daughter, Natasha Richardson plays her daughter Connie that has the job, husband and family while Toni Collette plays her other daughter, Nina who is single and confused at what she should be feeling and unsure of what she really feels. During Ann's flashbacks, we learn of her best friend Lila, Lila's brother Buddy and family friend Harris played wonderfully by Patrick Wilson. Patrick played Raoul in the big screen version of Phantom of the Opera and also the married man who has an affair with Kate Winslet's character in last years Little Children. This movie made me want to run out and check out Minot's book from the library (which I did) because I could tell that there was more character depth in the book than appeared in the movie. I think this could have been a wonderful movie but alas I can only say it is OK-to-good. I felt like the director was showing me scenes to elicit emotion instead of simply letting the story draw you in by itself. This is why I can't wait to read the book. I give the movie a half-hearted thumbs up while the thumbs wait to hold the pages of the book!