Reviews (8)

I'm Ennoyed By Publicity
This is ridiculis(don't know if I spelt that right). This is(knowing the facts) a publicity stunt. This has the same plot as Spy Kids. I still can't believe in the new year we can't think up a new idea. People use your brain! Not all ideas are taken! Use your imagination and more people will buy tickets! So basicly it's Spy Kids with not all kids being related an there are three of them. Not a big difference.

THIS IS THE BEST!!!
This was the best movie that i have seen in a long time!!! I LOVED IT!!! if you havent seen it you need to go see it because it is really the best movie EVER and when it first started i thought it was way stupid but i ended up getting way into it!!!!

One of the BEST!!!!!
This was an excellent movie. It rises your suspense level! It is definatly a movie to see!

Max is Hot!!!
I love this movie!!! Max Thieriot (Gus) is SOOOO cute and hot!!!I saw it at least 5 times!!!

AVENGERS, move over!
This was a modern story, mom is a career woman pulled in many directions and not enough time for her two diverse kids, dad is a has-been mountain climber who lives in his past glory but supplements the family income by running a go-cart race track. In California, where else!

Maddy wants to win her father's favor by climbing dangerous places. Her stunts demanded a good deal of gymnastics skill. As she practices, she tells her mom on the cell phone that she is doing homework (during Spring Break). She is given a personal tour of the nine story bank and sensitive information by the manager where her career mom has been installing a complicated security system.

Her pal, Gus, charms the bank receptionist into giving him a model of the building in place of a floor pan -- for a project at school, he says. Austin, their school friend who is a computer nerd ,pretends to be a director as he films whatever. He comes up with a digital blueprint of the nine floors which comprise this fancy bank.

I liked the white haired bank president, Brisbane, and his artifices as he runs a tight ship and makes demands on his employees for the upcoming reception. Maddy's red dress for this social affair must have come out of her absent mother's wardrobe; it looked like something you'd see at the Grammy Awards show. After all, she and her co-conspirators were only eighth graders.

Their youthful, modern slang such as 'cool,' 'awesome,' 'that's fresh,' and 'Bro' made them modern kids with absent parents. Maddy used her womanly wiles and deceit on both boys to get them to help her pull off this necessary heist. Her dad needs an operation so that he can walk again, at the cost of $250,000; his "insurance" won't pay for this crucial surgery. So, what else is new in today's health care mess?

The inept security men at the bank provided the comedy lacking elsewhere. The hodgepodge scenes were so inconsistent as to need labels to keep the viewers straight as to what is happening on the screen. Music was selected by George Clinton; the rap was totally unnecessary and the rest 'much to be preferred.' The waterbed scene could have been left out.

The bank heist took place during the reception on the first floor with notables in their best finery. They looked like the crowd of locals who appeared in David Keith's hometown masterpiece to be released later this year.

Maddy conquered the intricacies of getting into the vault and taking only the amount needed for hier beloved dad's survival. They were cornered by vicious dogs (pit bulls) who aim for the throat, as I learned from a conversation on the bus recently,.

The police chase throughout the night streets of L.A. after a pair of go-carts included a couple of SWAT helicopters on the same bridge used in the movie S.W.A.T. Gus used his "operation jacks" to throw a kink in the proceedings and had the police vehicles scurrying in all directions.

The media were told this had been only a test to check out the new security system. The coverage about the threesome and the reason the money was needed made the go-cart races the 'thing to do' and 'place to be.' Sometimes drastic action is required to make a situation known. The family were given a 'consultant's fee' of $50,000 and a promise of loans for the rest.

It wasn't half bad. Baby Max was a cutie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Sundance Festival special, this indie family comedy-drama was given unduly harsh treatment by critics when it was released.Starring as the long-estranged son of an emotionally distant father, Noah Wyle comes home to his family for Thanksgiving in hopes of reconnecting with his old girlfriend, and receives unexpected results. But he's not the only one coming back. There's the brother with a cute fiancée (Hope Davis), who doesn't quite understand what all the tension is about. There's the glum sister (a hilarious Julianne Moore) who is down on love and everything else until she connects with a childhood acquaintance. And Mom (Blythe Danner) is there to referee it all. But the central conflict involves Wyle and his father (Roy Scheider in a wonderfully eccentric performance). --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Creepy - nobody EVER discusses anything REAL ..........
I've watched this movie several times - to see if I missed anything before, just to see it again, because it's mesmerising (for me, anyway), and because I'm secretly hoping that it wasn't really THAT sick ......... the acting, photography, direction were all superb - the message came across so very true to life in every way ........... and because of all that, I often watch it when it's re-run on the tube; Noah Wyle does an excellent job of portaying the son who suffered so pointedly, the betrayal that goes on in this family - and as in all (or most anyway) families - this one is affected via the trickle down of the tone set by the parents - the father - Roy Scheider - isn't just distant; he's downright mean and destructive - blurred from being discerned clearly, because of his eccentricities - although I did feel that he contrived all of those too. And Blythe Danner did an excellent job of portraying the mother who goes on for decades overlooking her husband's cruel streaks, his creepy deceits, his silence, anger, and his tone-setting refusal to tolerate open communication; in spite of all this unpleasantness in the household, and the effect this all has/had on the now grown children - I enjoy this movie because it all "hangs together" so real and true. It's hard to believe that in this day and age, that there surely are families like this - who simply never communicate openly atall - ever!

Excellent acting; interesting but unsatisfying movie
The acting and the beautiful cinemetography carried this movie, gave it its emotional core and made you care about the characters, whom were largely unsympathetic to begin with. The movie was lacking in a plot but was more about a series of cathartic small revelations between each of the characters which didn't reach a Hollywood type climax where everyone made peace with their pasts, but I sort of felt was appropriate in showing that not all dysfunctional families reach such a conclusion. I enjoyed the moments of silence and tension between the characters as it provided a lot of great acting, reminding me of theatre in that respect. I thought Roy was very compelling as the distant father, although I wished they'd attempted explaining why he behaved the way he did. I thought that Noah Wyle was excellent as Warren, he portrayed his hurt, vulnerability and burried resentment at his father so well that his was the most moving and convincing character, his character basically carries the movie. I also thought Julianne Moore was great in her role as the icy (albeit they never explained why she was that way also) sister, she was unlikeable and amusing in that, but interesting to watch. Varten's role was smaller, and less engaging (he was almost unnecessary), but I thought he did a good job with what he had.

If you're a fan of any of the actors, this movie should be worthwhile viewing as the performances are all top notch and the direction is wonderful in places, but I was left feeling something lacking in the overall structure of the film and its writing.

disfunctional Wyle
lots of love making in this one. Wyle gives a great role as the son of a father and their lives arent really great as Wyle comes back after he is gone for awhile. Roy Schider is great too as Wyle's dad. people will note if there Alias fans that Michael Vartan of Alias is in this movie. powerful piece with some dry emotions.

I Know Them
Loved this movie with an all-star cast playing characters who seemed too familiar. Thanksgiving in Maine was the perfect setting for the 4 adult siblings who return home to display the "matured" issues of a very messed-up childhood. Nothing resolved, nothing tied neatly in a bow at the end, just like life. I recognized pieces of me, pieces of my sibling and of course, pieces of my parents - just a little more extreme, but enlightening.

If you want a dysfunctional Thanksgiving Family movie
go with Home for the Holidays instead. I caught Myth of Fingerprints on Lifetime and fell asleep before it ended. Why was I watching? Well, it's the whole car wreck thing. Kooky kid sister was annoying and trying way too hard. But the prize for annoyance is tied between Ms. TMI (too much information), the girlfriend of one of the brothers and the bug up her butt older sister. Ms. TMI likes to announce that she's having sex as often as possible, blah blah "let it all hang out" cakes. She's like one of my mom's cousins who makes me long for old school Irish Catholic repression of my grandparents generation. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wake Me When It's Over
This has got to be one of the most boring not to mention WORST movies I've ever seen. The only saving grace is that Julianne Moore is in it and I feel embarrased for her. What a terrible waste of talent and her time. Typically, I love road movies but do yourself a favor and pass on this one. The main character is so selfish and loathsome that it makes it impossible to immense yourself in the movie which doesn't matter anyway because the movie itself goes nowhere.

World Traveler is World Class
A painful tale of self discovery where the honesty and brillant cinematography provoke a real sense of discomfort throughout, yet in the exposure of painful sentiments, this viewer was forced to consider much.

A meandering, self-indulgent piece of sh*t.
The title of the review pretty much says it all. View at your own risk.

On the road . . . again
Watching a film like this one, you are reminded of how Hollywood has refined the telling of stories into a kind of shorthand, removing ambiguities and complexities, for quick consumption. Central characters are sympathetic and their behavior understandable in a recognizable plot line and a familiar movie genre. The filmmakers set up easy expectations and then either successfully or unsuccessfully fulfill them.

This film has its conventions. It's a road movie that takes the main character cross country from New York to Oregon, meeting people along the way, each illuminating part of his journey. But it frustrates expectations because it gives us a character who is unsympathetic almost from the first scene and whose behavior is hard to understand and sometimes appalling. His inner conflicts are not spelled out for us. Instead, they are signalled by his agitation and heavy drinking, his strange dreams, and the film's fragmented editing. What accounts for his behavior becomes clearer in the end, but even then, the revelations do not exonerate him.

This is a case where watching the film again with the director's commentary helps you come to terms with a story that departs so far from movie conventions. And you can begin to appreciate some of the creative choices made, from the script all the way through to post-production. After leaving his wife and child, abusing another man's trusting friendship, and drunkenly seducing women he finds in bars, the protagonist ironically meets his match by trying to "help" a woman in distress, whom he discovers is far more distressed than he has bargained for. This failed effort at self-redemption further confounds our interest in him. And so the film goes until the journey reaches its end, old questions are answered, some issues are resolved, and choices are made that may be the right ones for a change.

The film was received less than enthusiastically by critics and audiences when it was released. It may some day gain more of a following and certainly deserves a higher regard. Billy Crudup, once again, shows a remarkable ability to live inside a complex and off-putting character. Julianne Moore (who for once is a director's wife on par with the other talent in the cast) and David Keith are excellent. The cinematograhy alternates shadowy night scenes and claustrophobic interiors with brilliant outdoor scenes and sweeping on-the-road landscapes that grow more striking as the characters move westward. The Willie Nelson songs on the soundtrack introduce an undertone of sweet sadness.

I recommend this film for anyone who likes road movies and stories that depart from convention and require a patience and willingness to accept ambiguities for the clues they reveal about characters' inner lives.

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with varying degrees of success, is now available in a fine digital edition.

Handsome Cal (Billy Crudup) is driving aimlessly across the country in WORLD TRAVELER. He's left his wife and kid and is looking for something else. Something better. Something he can't quite define. Trouble is, he spends so much time drinking and in bars that trouble is his constant companion. This sly film that never explains itself reminds me of Jack Nicholson's rootless wanderings across open landscapes in The Passenger and Five Easy Pieces. Directed by Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) and with affecting performances by Crudup, Julianne Moore, Karen Allen and others, World Traveller is irritating, provocative and open to interpretation. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Creepy - nobody EVER discusses anything REAL ..........
I've watched this movie several times - to see if I missed anything before, just to see it again, because it's mesmerising (for me, anyway), and because I'm secretly hoping that it wasn't really THAT sick ......... the acting, photography, direction were all superb - the message came across so very true to life in every way ........... and because of all that, I often watch it when it's re-run on the tube; Noah Wyle does an excellent job of portaying the son who suffered so pointedly, the betrayal that goes on in this family - and as in all (or most anyway) families - this one is affected via the trickle down of the tone set by the parents - the father - Roy Scheider - isn't just distant; he's downright mean and destructive - blurred from being discerned clearly, because of his eccentricities - although I did feel that he contrived all of those too. And Blythe Danner did an excellent job of portraying the mother who goes on for decades overlooking her husband's cruel streaks, his creepy deceits, his silence, anger, and his tone-setting refusal to tolerate open communication; in spite of all this unpleasantness in the household, and the effect this all has/had on the now grown children - I enjoy this movie because it all "hangs together" so real and true. It's hard to believe that in this day and age, that there surely are families like this - who simply never communicate openly atall - ever!

Excellent acting; interesting but unsatisfying movie
The acting and the beautiful cinemetography carried this movie, gave it its emotional core and made you care about the characters, whom were largely unsympathetic to begin with. The movie was lacking in a plot but was more about a series of cathartic small revelations between each of the characters which didn't reach a Hollywood type climax where everyone made peace with their pasts, but I sort of felt was appropriate in showing that not all dysfunctional families reach such a conclusion. I enjoyed the moments of silence and tension between the characters as it provided a lot of great acting, reminding me of theatre in that respect. I thought Roy was very compelling as the distant father, although I wished they'd attempted explaining why he behaved the way he did. I thought that Noah Wyle was excellent as Warren, he portrayed his hurt, vulnerability and burried resentment at his father so well that his was the most moving and convincing character, his character basically carries the movie. I also thought Julianne Moore was great in her role as the icy (albeit they never explained why she was that way also) sister, she was unlikeable and amusing in that, but interesting to watch. Varten's role was smaller, and less engaging (he was almost unnecessary), but I thought he did a good job with what he had.

If you're a fan of any of the actors, this movie should be worthwhile viewing as the performances are all top notch and the direction is wonderful in places, but I was left feeling something lacking in the overall structure of the film and its writing.

disfunctional Wyle
lots of love making in this one. Wyle gives a great role as the son of a father and their lives arent really great as Wyle comes back after he is gone for awhile. Roy Schider is great too as Wyle's dad. people will note if there Alias fans that Michael Vartan of Alias is in this movie. powerful piece with some dry emotions.

I Know Them
Loved this movie with an all-star cast playing characters who seemed too familiar. Thanksgiving in Maine was the perfect setting for the 4 adult siblings who return home to display the "matured" issues of a very messed-up childhood. Nothing resolved, nothing tied neatly in a bow at the end, just like life. I recognized pieces of me, pieces of my sibling and of course, pieces of my parents - just a little more extreme, but enlightening.

If you want a dysfunctional Thanksgiving Family movie
go with Home for the Holidays instead. I caught Myth of Fingerprints on Lifetime and fell asleep before it ended. Why was I watching? Well, it's the whole car wreck thing. Kooky kid sister was annoying and trying way too hard. But the prize for annoyance is tied between Ms. TMI (too much information), the girlfriend of one of the brothers and the bug up her butt older sister. Ms. TMI likes to announce that she's having sex as often as possible, blah blah "let it all hang out" cakes. She's like one of my mom's cousins who makes me long for old school Irish Catholic repression of my grandparents generation. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I'm Ennoyed By Publicity
This is ridiculis(don't know if I spelt that right). This is(knowing the facts) a publicity stunt. This has the same plot as Spy Kids. I still can't believe in the new year we can't think up a new idea. People use your brain! Not all ideas are taken! Use your imagination and more people will buy tickets! So basicly it's Spy Kids with not all kids being related an there are three of them. Not a big difference.

THIS IS THE BEST!!!
This was the best movie that i have seen in a long time!!! I LOVED IT!!! if you havent seen it you need to go see it because it is really the best movie EVER and when it first started i thought it was way stupid but i ended up getting way into it!!!!

One of the BEST!!!!!
This was an excellent movie. It rises your suspense level! It is definatly a movie to see!

Max is Hot!!!
I love this movie!!! Max Thieriot (Gus) is SOOOO cute and hot!!!I saw it at least 5 times!!!

AVENGERS, move over!
This was a modern story, mom is a career woman pulled in many directions and not enough time for her two diverse kids, dad is a has-been mountain climber who lives in his past glory but supplements the family income by running a go-cart race track. In California, where else!

Maddy wants to win her father's favor by climbing dangerous places. Her stunts demanded a good deal of gymnastics skill. As she practices, she tells her mom on the cell phone that she is doing homework (during Spring Break). She is given a personal tour of the nine story bank and sensitive information by the manager where her career mom has been installing a complicated security system.

Her pal, Gus, charms the bank receptionist into giving him a model of the building in place of a floor pan -- for a project at school, he says. Austin, their school friend who is a computer nerd ,pretends to be a director as he films whatever. He comes up with a digital blueprint of the nine floors which comprise this fancy bank.

I liked the white haired bank president, Brisbane, and his artifices as he runs a tight ship and makes demands on his employees for the upcoming reception. Maddy's red dress for this social affair must have come out of her absent mother's wardrobe; it looked like something you'd see at the Grammy Awards show. After all, she and her co-conspirators were only eighth graders.

Their youthful, modern slang such as 'cool,' 'awesome,' 'that's fresh,' and 'Bro' made them modern kids with absent parents. Maddy used her womanly wiles and deceit on both boys to get them to help her pull off this necessary heist. Her dad needs an operation so that he can walk again, at the cost of $250,000; his "insurance" won't pay for this crucial surgery. So, what else is new in today's health care mess?

The inept security men at the bank provided the comedy lacking elsewhere. The hodgepodge scenes were so inconsistent as to need labels to keep the viewers straight as to what is happening on the screen. Music was selected by George Clinton; the rap was totally unnecessary and the rest 'much to be preferred.' The waterbed scene could have been left out.

The bank heist took place during the reception on the first floor with notables in their best finery. They looked like the crowd of locals who appeared in David Keith's hometown masterpiece to be released later this year.

Maddy conquered the intricacies of getting into the vault and taking only the amount needed for hier beloved dad's survival. They were cornered by vicious dogs (pit bulls) who aim for the throat, as I learned from a conversation on the bus recently,.

The police chase throughout the night streets of L.A. after a pair of go-carts included a couple of SWAT helicopters on the same bridge used in the movie S.W.A.T. Gus used his "operation jacks" to throw a kink in the proceedings and had the police vehicles scurrying in all directions.

The media were told this had been only a test to check out the new security system. The coverage about the threesome and the reason the money was needed made the go-cart races the 'thing to do' and 'place to be.' Sometimes drastic action is required to make a situation known. The family were given a 'consultant's fee' of $50,000 and a promise of loans for the rest.

It wasn't half bad. Baby Max was a cutie. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I'm Ennoyed By Publicity
This is ridiculis(don't know if I spelt that right). This is(knowing the facts) a publicity stunt. This has the same plot as Spy Kids. I still can't believe in the new year we can't think up a new idea. People use your brain! Not all ideas are taken! Use your imagination and more people will buy tickets! So basicly it's Spy Kids with not all kids being related an there are three of them. Not a big difference.

THIS IS THE BEST!!!
This was the best movie that i have seen in a long time!!! I LOVED IT!!! if you havent seen it you need to go see it because it is really the best movie EVER and when it first started i thought it was way stupid but i ended up getting way into it!!!!

One of the BEST!!!!!
This was an excellent movie. It rises your suspense level! It is definatly a movie to see!

Max is Hot!!!
I love this movie!!! Max Thieriot (Gus) is SOOOO cute and hot!!!I saw it at least 5 times!!!

AVENGERS, move over!
This was a modern story, mom is a career woman pulled in many directions and not enough time for her two diverse kids, dad is a has-been mountain climber who lives in his past glory but supplements the family income by running a go-cart race track. In California, where else!

Maddy wants to win her father's favor by climbing dangerous places. Her stunts demanded a good deal of gymnastics skill. As she practices, she tells her mom on the cell phone that she is doing homework (during Spring Break). She is given a personal tour of the nine story bank and sensitive information by the manager where her career mom has been installing a complicated security system.

Her pal, Gus, charms the bank receptionist into giving him a model of the building in place of a floor pan -- for a project at school, he says. Austin, their school friend who is a computer nerd ,pretends to be a director as he films whatever. He comes up with a digital blueprint of the nine floors which comprise this fancy bank.

I liked the white haired bank president, Brisbane, and his artifices as he runs a tight ship and makes demands on his employees for the upcoming reception. Maddy's red dress for this social affair must have come out of her absent mother's wardrobe; it looked like something you'd see at the Grammy Awards show. After all, she and her co-conspirators were only eighth graders.

Their youthful, modern slang such as 'cool,' 'awesome,' 'that's fresh,' and 'Bro' made them modern kids with absent parents. Maddy used her womanly wiles and deceit on both boys to get them to help her pull off this necessary heist. Her dad needs an operation so that he can walk again, at the cost of $250,000; his "insurance" won't pay for this crucial surgery. So, what else is new in today's health care mess?

The inept security men at the bank provided the comedy lacking elsewhere. The hodgepodge scenes were so inconsistent as to need labels to keep the viewers straight as to what is happening on the screen. Music was selected by George Clinton; the rap was totally unnecessary and the rest 'much to be preferred.' The waterbed scene could have been left out.

The bank heist took place during the reception on the first floor with notables in their best finery. They looked like the crowd of locals who appeared in David Keith's hometown masterpiece to be released later this year.

Maddy conquered the intricacies of getting into the vault and taking only the amount needed for hier beloved dad's survival. They were cornered by vicious dogs (pit bulls) who aim for the throat, as I learned from a conversation on the bus recently,.

The police chase throughout the night streets of L.A. after a pair of go-carts included a couple of SWAT helicopters on the same bridge used in the movie S.W.A.T. Gus used his "operation jacks" to throw a kink in the proceedings and had the police vehicles scurrying in all directions.

The media were told this had been only a test to check out the new security system. The coverage about the threesome and the reason the money was needed made the go-cart races the 'thing to do' and 'place to be.' Sometimes drastic action is required to make a situation known. The family were given a 'consultant's fee' of $50,000 and a promise of loans for the rest.

It wasn't half bad. Baby Max was a cutie. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I'm Ennoyed By Publicity
This is ridiculis(don't know if I spelt that right). This is(knowing the facts) a publicity stunt. This has the same plot as Spy Kids. I still can't believe in the new year we can't think up a new idea. People use your brain! Not all ideas are taken! Use your imagination and more people will buy tickets! So basicly it's Spy Kids with not all kids being related an there are three of them. Not a big difference.

THIS IS THE BEST!!!
This was the best movie that i have seen in a long time!!! I LOVED IT!!! if you havent seen it you need to go see it because it is really the best movie EVER and when it first started i thought it was way stupid but i ended up getting way into it!!!!

One of the BEST!!!!!
This was an excellent movie. It rises your suspense level! It is definatly a movie to see!

Max is Hot!!!
I love this movie!!! Max Thieriot (Gus) is SOOOO cute and hot!!!I saw it at least 5 times!!!

AVENGERS, move over!
This was a modern story, mom is a career woman pulled in many directions and not enough time for her two diverse kids, dad is a has-been mountain climber who lives in his past glory but supplements the family income by running a go-cart race track. In California, where else!

Maddy wants to win her father's favor by climbing dangerous places. Her stunts demanded a good deal of gymnastics skill. As she practices, she tells her mom on the cell phone that she is doing homework (during Spring Break). She is given a personal tour of the nine story bank and sensitive information by the manager where her career mom has been installing a complicated security system.

Her pal, Gus, charms the bank receptionist into giving him a model of the building in place of a floor pan -- for a project at school, he says. Austin, their school friend who is a computer nerd ,pretends to be a director as he films whatever. He comes up with a digital blueprint of the nine floors which comprise this fancy bank.

I liked the white haired bank president, Brisbane, and his artifices as he runs a tight ship and makes demands on his employees for the upcoming reception. Maddy's red dress for this social affair must have come out of her absent mother's wardrobe; it looked like something you'd see at the Grammy Awards show. After all, she and her co-conspirators were only eighth graders.

Their youthful, modern slang such as 'cool,' 'awesome,' 'that's fresh,' and 'Bro' made them modern kids with absent parents. Maddy used her womanly wiles and deceit on both boys to get them to help her pull off this necessary heist. Her dad needs an operation so that he can walk again, at the cost of $250,000; his "insurance" won't pay for this crucial surgery. So, what else is new in today's health care mess?

The inept security men at the bank provided the comedy lacking elsewhere. The hodgepodge scenes were so inconsistent as to need labels to keep the viewers straight as to what is happening on the screen. Music was selected by George Clinton; the rap was totally unnecessary and the rest 'much to be preferred.' The waterbed scene could have been left out.

The bank heist took place during the reception on the first floor with notables in their best finery. They looked like the crowd of locals who appeared in David Keith's hometown masterpiece to be released later this year.

Maddy conquered the intricacies of getting into the vault and taking only the amount needed for hier beloved dad's survival. They were cornered by vicious dogs (pit bulls) who aim for the throat, as I learned from a conversation on the bus recently,.

The police chase throughout the night streets of L.A. after a pair of go-carts included a couple of SWAT helicopters on the same bridge used in the movie S.W.A.T. Gus used his "operation jacks" to throw a kink in the proceedings and had the police vehicles scurrying in all directions.

The media were told this had been only a test to check out the new security system. The coverage about the threesome and the reason the money was needed made the go-cart races the 'thing to do' and 'place to be.' Sometimes drastic action is required to make a situation known. The family were given a 'consultant's fee' of $50,000 and a promise of loans for the rest.

It wasn't half bad. Baby Max was a cutie. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wake Me When It's Over
This has got to be one of the most boring not to mention WORST movies I've ever seen. The only saving grace is that Julianne Moore is in it and I feel embarrased for her. What a terrible waste of talent and her time. Typically, I love road movies but do yourself a favor and pass on this one. The main character is so selfish and loathsome that it makes it impossible to immense yourself in the movie which doesn't matter anyway because the movie itself goes nowhere.

World Traveler is World Class
A painful tale of self discovery where the honesty and brillant cinematography provoke a real sense of discomfort throughout, yet in the exposure of painful sentiments, this viewer was forced to consider much.

A meandering, self-indulgent piece of sh*t.
The title of the review pretty much says it all. View at your own risk.

On the road . . . again
Watching a film like this one, you are reminded of how Hollywood has refined the telling of stories into a kind of shorthand, removing ambiguities and complexities, for quick consumption. Central characters are sympathetic and their behavior understandable in a recognizable plot line and a familiar movie genre. The filmmakers set up easy expectations and then either successfully or unsuccessfully fulfill them.

This film has its conventions. It's a road movie that takes the main character cross country from New York to Oregon, meeting people along the way, each illuminating part of his journey. But it frustrates expectations because it gives us a character who is unsympathetic almost from the first scene and whose behavior is hard to understand and sometimes appalling. His inner conflicts are not spelled out for us. Instead, they are signalled by his agitation and heavy drinking, his strange dreams, and the film's fragmented editing. What accounts for his behavior becomes clearer in the end, but even then, the revelations do not exonerate him.

This is a case where watching the film again with the director's commentary helps you come to terms with a story that departs so far from movie conventions. And you can begin to appreciate some of the creative choices made, from the script all the way through to post-production. After leaving his wife and child, abusing another man's trusting friendship, and drunkenly seducing women he finds in bars, the protagonist ironically meets his match by trying to "help" a woman in distress, whom he discovers is far more distressed than he has bargained for. This failed effort at self-redemption further confounds our interest in him. And so the film goes until the journey reaches its end, old questions are answered, some issues are resolved, and choices are made that may be the right ones for a change.

The film was received less than enthusiastically by critics and audiences when it was released. It may some day gain more of a following and certainly deserves a higher regard. Billy Crudup, once again, shows a remarkable ability to live inside a complex and off-putting character. Julianne Moore (who for once is a director's wife on par with the other talent in the cast) and David Keith are excellent. The cinematograhy alternates shadowy night scenes and claustrophobic interiors with brilliant outdoor scenes and sweeping on-the-road landscapes that grow more striking as the characters move westward. The Willie Nelson songs on the soundtrack introduce an undertone of sweet sadness.

I recommend this film for anyone who likes road movies and stories that depart from convention and require a patience and willingness to accept ambiguities for the clues they reveal about characters' inner lives.

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with varying degrees of success, is now available in a fine digital edition.

Handsome Cal (Billy Crudup) is driving aimlessly across the country in WORLD TRAVELER. He's left his wife and kid and is looking for something else. Something better. Something he can't quite define. Trouble is, he spends so much time drinking and in bars that trouble is his constant companion. This sly film that never explains itself reminds me of Jack Nicholson's rootless wanderings across open landscapes in The Passenger and Five Easy Pieces. Directed by Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) and with affecting performances by Crudup, Julianne Moore, Karen Allen and others, World Traveller is irritating, provocative and open to interpretation. ... Read more