Set against the rugged ranchlands of Wyoming, An Unfinished Life is the story of a modern-day Western family, as stoic as they are divided, learning the true meaning of forgiveness. Robert Redford stars as Einar Gilkyson, a tough-skinned, retired rancher who long ago turned his back on memories. Still in shock from his only son's death a decade ago, Einar has let his ranch fall into ruin along with his marriage. Now, Einar spends his days caring only for his hired hand, and last trusted friend, Mitch (Morgan Freeman), who was gravely injured in an encounter with a grizzly bear. Einar intends to live out his days in this heartbroken solitude... until the very person he blames for his son's accident comes to town: his daughter-in-law Jean (Jennifer Lopez). Jean shows up broke, on the run and with a girl named Griff (newcomer Becca Gardner), who she swears is the granddaughter Einar never knew he had. Suddenly, Einar's quiet life is turned upside down as anger and accusations resurface. But slowly, miraculously, 11 year-old Griff's curiosity about Western life, and her longing for family and a father figure, begin to chip away at the stone that has become Einar's heart - opening up the way for unexpected connection, adventure, mercy and true reunion.
Directed by
Lasse Hallström
Written by
Mark Spragg (written by); Virginia Korus Spragg (written by).
Starring
Robert Redford (Einar Gilkyson); Jennifer Lopez (Jean Gilkyson); Morgan Freeman (Mitch Bradley); Josh Lucas (Crane Curtis); Damian Lewis (Gary Winston); Camryn Manheim (Nina); Becca Gardner (Griff Gilkyson); Lynda Boyd (Kitty); Rob Hayter (Deputy); P. Lynn Johnson (Shelter Supervisor); Byron Lucas (Motorcycle Rider); Trevor Moss (Griffin Gilkyson); R. Nelson Brown (Kent (as rnelsonbrown)); Dillard Brinson (Gnome Owner); Jason Diablo (Customer #1). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
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Commendable acting makes up for uncommendable script
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Limited Recommendation
Having viewed the trailer to An Unfinished Life and noted the general lack of publicity the film has received I wasn't expecting too much on watching the film. However for any film listed in the USCCB's annual top-10 list I am at least still optimistic it may turn out to be a surprise gem. Unfortunately that wasn't the case this time around. Usually when a film with a high profile cast with proven acting ability fails to also attract high profile publicity it's for a reason - and for this film that reason I believe is the script. Much as Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman commendably tried to add charisma to their roles, the characters simply lacked depth; both standing on their own and in their relationships with the other characters. There was little original here that hadn't been seen elsewhere to greater effect.
Einar rubbing cream into Mitch's wounds was touching, but in effect cast him as Einar's full-time nurse; a role that sat at odds with his character's brutal beating of the town villains. And said beatings were in my opinion misplaced and ill-judged, as too was Jean's (Lopez's) tough talking to the aforementioned villains in her diner. There seems to be this trend in Hollywood of creating the golden-oldie or the golden-girlfriend; both belying their stereotypes and letting neither age nor sex get in the way of anyone that opposes them, or even threatens to oppose them. Worse still such characterisation attempts to instil in them some kind of 'cool' status for the use of violence or crude language as the means to this end.
Of the positive points there were a few though: Griff taking her mum to task for her irresponsible behaviour was commendable; as too was Jean saying a firm 'no' to her previous no-good boyfriend. And [spoiler ahead] Mitch's final encounter with the bear hinted at a spiritual force other than just man and beast at work in their meeting with one another - a force that defeated the bear's anger purely though its own peaceful state. Overall, An Unfinished Life may hold some appeal, and maybe even some insight, for those experienced with dysfunctional families and relationships, but overall the film lacked the originality, depth and awareness to award it a wider recommendation.
