Amazon.com

An uncommon gem of a film, this story of a young woman finding herself is a marvelous sleeper. Ashley Judd (Kiss the Girls) makes her film debut as Ruby, who moves to a Florida beach town and tries as best she can to earn a living. She begins working in a clothing store and starts dating men, but after some hard choices realizes she must first figure out who she is and what she wants out of life before she settles for something less than she deserves. Writer-director Victor Nunez (Ulee's Gold) tells his tale as an amiable slice of life story without forcing any of the emotion. And Judd gives an astounding performance as a young woman whose quiet inner strength allows her to grow and gain confidence in the person she wants to be. Avoiding all the possible clichés and presenting a positive, realistic, and touching character portrait, Ruby in Paradise is a rare and worthwhile discovery. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A True Buried Treasure
I came across this movie some weeks back on a cool, cloudy, drizzly Sunday afternoon (something we've had more than our fair share of in my neck of the woods throughout the late spring and early summer)trip to the neighborhood Blockbuster. I had heard about the film in passing a couple of years earlier apropos of a discussion of the director, Victor Numez's then current feature, Ulee's Gold (which I thought was a worthy, albeit overrated film), and I knew it was the debut movie for Ashley Judd, whom I had long considered not only lovely to look at, but generally vastly superior to the material I had seen her in.

The movie did not disappoint. Judd gives what is probably one of the great "unseen" performances of the '90's. It makes you wonder all the more why she seems compelled to waste her talent in cynical Hollywood tripe like Double Jeopardy (on the other hand she probably was paid more money for one day of her work on that film than she got for all of Ruby in Paradise).

Ruby in Paradise has no real "plot" as such. It opens with a young woman loading up her car and fleeing a young man who it is implied is her husband or (more likely)boyfriend. Why she's leaving and what the circumstances surrounding her getaway are is never made clear or spelled out, and this is deliberate I think, and a wise choice. She winds up in a resort town in southern Florida that she remembers visiting on a family vacation as a child, and from there on, we get to pass through a few months of Ruby's life as she gets a job, makes a couple of new friends, gets briefly involved with a real Mr. Wrong, and then seems to meet a possible Mr. Right, and so forth.

That's really it in a nutshell, but it really doesn't do the experience of watching this fascinating little film justice. Like Seinfeld, a sitcom which was "about nothing" but at it's best was really about everything, Ruby in Paradise lets us experience the life of an initially aimless but determined young woman as she takes her first tentative steps towards full-blown adulthood. By the end of the movie, we have come to know Ruby well enough to feel very pleased by her progress thus far, and wishing we could catch up with her again in a few years and see how she's making out. Indeed, if Ruby in Paradise were a novel instead of a movie, it could definately be the beginning of a series, similar to the "Rabbit" novels of John Updike.

Moreover, although the film is about a female protaganist, and is told entirely from her point of view (indeed, she narrates periodically in voice-over), it is by no means a "chick flick." One of the numerous pleasures of the film is how it sidesteps, or puts a different spin on, all the various cliches we've come to expect (and even accept)in this genre.

This film is probably not for everybody. It was obviously a low-budget affair, and has the grainy look of being possibly shot in 16 mm and then blown up. It is also VERY low-key, especially the first half-hour or so. But, if you've got a couple of free hours, and you feel like checking out something other than the whiz-bang flicks on the new releases shelf, this movie offers a lot of quiet, thoughtful pleasure.

Ashley Judd's debut film
Ruby in Paradise is Ashley Judd's first film and, in my opinion, offers her best performance. She certainly deserved a best actress nomination for this role; I believe the only valid reason she didn't receive one was that this was too small a film and slipped by fairly unnoticed by most people and critics alike. While Ashley Judd has seen gone on to become quite a Hollywood celebrity, I do not feel that she has topped her performance in this film. The film itself is fairly straight-forward; it concerns a young girl named Ruby who runs away from an abusive family environment in Tennessee to try to make a new life for herself in a small Floridan ocean resort town. The film details her struggles to establish an identity for herself and to find her niche in life. This film, understandably, is quite character-driven in much the same way as in "Ulee's Gold" (by the same director) or Robert Duvall's "Tender Mercies" or Joan Chen's "Xiu Xiu" (all of which are excellent films). Nothing much happens during the film, yet the film is absorbing in its portrayal of the daily existence of Ruby. We see the slow metamorphosis of Ashley Judd's character from an uncertain girl into one who is more comfortable and has found direction for her life. It is all very subtly done with little nuances in Ashley Judd's performance and delicate, deliberate pacing by the director; nothing is flashed in big bold letters in front of our eyes, and I believe this makes the film all the stronger. The film is not for everyone - those searching for mindless, fast-paced blockbuster action need not apply, but those looking for a strong character-driven story will find much to like in this small gem of a film.

I love this movie! where's the DVD???
I saw this film when it came out in the theater more than 10 years ago. What a gem! It's a beautiful story about finding your way in life, without the influence of religion or higher education. I love the way Ruby (Ashley Judd) prefers solitude over a relationship with a man that doesn't completely fulfill her.
I bought the video when it first became available, watch it at least once a year, and am waiting for the DVD! Where is it????

Ashlery Judd's best role ever!
A very quiet...gripping story of a women coming to terms with her life, and the benefits and consequences of decisions made. Beautiful cinematography throughout the film. It's the finest work I've seen from Ashley Judd. Highly recommend!

Why not on DVD???
This is an original and thoroughly enjoyable film about one young woman's journey to a new town and towards finding herself. The acting is impressive, making the characters more down to earth and real and thereby anchors the film.
If you want my money, please release this film on DVD. I am surprised it is not in DVD format already. What's going on????! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Solid gold
Ulee Jackson (played by Peter Fonda) is a reclusive beekeeper who lives in a rustic home in a tiny Florida town, where he raises his two granddaughters. As the victim of past hardships, he also is now the eldest member of a dysfunctional family; his son Jimmy is in prison, his daughter-in-law Helen is a runaway drug addict, his oldest granddaughter Casey is a rebellious teen, and her little sister Penny is a lonely young girl. Ulee is a loner, refusing the help and camaraderie of the local townsfolk. But one day, Jimmy calls Ulee and asks for a favor regarding Helen. Ulee then discovers that, by mustering up tremendous lost courage, he must bring his shattered family together and keep them safe from a pair of thugs.

Directed by Victor Nunez, this critically-acclaimed film wasn't seen much upon its 1997 release. "Ulee's Gold" is a very quiet film, and its unhurried pace and frequent dialogue will probably try the patience of just about anyone who watches it. It takes its time before diving into the storyline, and the viewer doesn't really get involved with the film until after the first half-hour. However, "Ulee's Gold" is ultimately a powerful and effective human drama that moves the soul in its own subtle way.

The film's greatest strength lies in the stirring performances, particularly that of Peter Fonda as the aloof but strong-willed Ulee. At first the viewer thinks of Ulee as just an estranged man who cares about nothing but his beekeeping business; but the character slowly works his way into the viewer's heart as the film progresses. Soon we get to realize how much the man cares for his family, and by the end of the film we are really cheering for him. Christine Dunford also gives a superb performance as Helen, and Patricia Richardson (of "Home Improvement" fame) is also convincing as Ulee's neighbor, the one townsperson whom he allows in on his situation.

Additionally, much of the plot of "Ulee's Gold" lies in the script, rather than through on-screen action; thus the viewer is never presented with overcalculated brutality. Even the tensest of scenes are played out like they would be in an everyday rural or suburban society, without big explosions or fistfights. The drawn-out dialogue gets a little tedious at times, but it makes the characters all the more believable. Throughout the film, these characters go through a lot of changes, especially Ulee. In the end, it is Ulee who has changed the most, having discovered that his "gold" is not just his rare Tupelo honey, but the even-more-precious family that he has fought so hard to protect.

"Ulee's Gold" may not be quite as involving as the more recent "In the Bedroom", but it's a great film for anyone who likes solidly told dramas. It was not aimed at a teenage audience, so anyone my age who happens to be reading this review will probably find it somewhat boring; however, there's a lot of good material in this film that shows profound thought in Nunez's part. See it if it interests you in any way.

Peter Fonda's Best Work
Ulee's Gold is probably one of the most believable films of late it had all the elements of a good movie and put them all together and made a wonderful film. The story is that this man Ulee (Peter Fonda) is a beekeeper and his son who is in jail was married to a woman named Helen (Christine Dunford) who he must find and take care of however one of her biggest flaws is that she is drug addicted and her eldest daughter does not want to see her. Ulee had been taking care of Penny (Vanessa Zima) and Casey (Jessica Biel) since they were young but not into time for Casey to not be scared forever. Can this broken family ever be the loving family that they once were or are they all forever scared. I would recommend this movie to everyone over the age of twelve because it does have a lot of language, drug content, and some violence other than that it is fine. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.

Good honey-bee drama...slow as molasses
This is a very low-key movie about a honey-bee farmer named "Ulee" (Ulysses) who is a widower and finds himself having to unite his dysfunctional family. His family includes a son in prison for bank robbery, a drugged out daughter-in-law who spills the beans about the location of the long-lost stolen money to the other accomplices who give Ulee trouble, and two grandaughters, aged about 11 and rebellious 15. There is a helpful neighbor nurse and local sheriff, as well. The End.

Peter Fonda garnered much acclaim for his acting, and in fact all the players did a good job including Jessica Biel and Vanessa Zima as the kids, Patricia Richardson as the neighbor, and Tom Wood as the son.

I found the actual bee-keeping business pretty interesting, but it looks to be a tedious and labor-intensive job, at least on the small-scale shown here.

This story will only appeal to older audiences as there is little "action", even in the action portion. The ending may be a bit more upbeat than the circumstances might dictate, but it could go that way. This is more of a character study, and on that level is quite good.

No DVD extras beyond the usual language/subtitle options and trailer

Superb!
All the players are outstanding in this drama about what really matters in a family. Masterfully directed and compelling.

Highly recommended.

The Bees' Knees or a Classic Film
Watching "Ulee's Gold" again 6 years after it was released reminded me of how great a movie this is. Victor Nunez is an independent filmmaker who usually sets his films in Florida and sits on the board of the Sundance Film Festival. His excellent eye for talent is demonstrated by the introduction of Ashley Judd in 1993's "Ruby in Paradise." Being an independent feature explains why so much of this cast is actors from television. Not to diminish the sterling performance of Peter Fonda, this is an ensemble work that Nunez has directed. Each member of the cast is essential to its success; and it does succeed.

As Ulee Jackson, Peter Fonda gives an amazingly understated but strong performance. You can see the storm of emotions that fly within the character as evidenced by the one scene where he lets his feelings fly as he tells off his daughter-in-law Helen with anger and venom. That edge or spark underlies all of the other well-controlled scenes so that even though Ulee may be quiet, he is always focused, always tense.

The supporting cast is also excellent. TV's "Home Improvement" Patricia Richardson is excellent as the neighbor nurse who tries to help without intruding and winds up attracted to Ulee. That interesting relationship allows the mind to conjure up Ulee 2: The Sequel to see how things develop after this crisis point.

Jessica Biel, the bad girl who posed nude for a magazine and got booted from TV's "7th Heaven" delivers another blockbuster performance as the young adult/late adolescent who wants to be a kid but who fights with her responsibilities to her family and loves them even as she sasses them. I probably won't select to see her in the upcoming "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" because it's not my kind of film, but she certainly shows the potential of an accomplished actress.

The other supporting players are also excellent. Christine Dunford who has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, Law & Order) shows great range as the drug-addicted mother who is dragged out of her habit, and clings to her con hubby. Steven Flynn who also has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, NYPD Blue) as the big brain con Eddie Flowers is sufficiently creepy to keep our interest. His horny sidekick Ferris Dooley is played well by Dewey Weber. Ulee's son Jimmy in prison is played by Tom Wood ("The Fugitive," "Appollo 13") with an edgy performance, conflicting the loose morals that landed him in prison with his love for his wife and kids. Even little Vanessa Zima ("Zoe") as the younger daughter Penny does a good job of being sufficiently innocent.

Nunez has created a marvelous ensemble piece. One could almost see this adapted for a compelling stage play. I was particularly struck by the metaphor of being calm amid the bees which paralells the tense human situation and Ulee's calmness in the face of possible tragedy. The film holds up well and will remain a classic film. Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Victor Nunez's richly photographed Ulee's Gold drew critical acclaim for Peter Fonda's and Patricia Richardson's subtle performances--and premiered as the Festival Centerpiece in 1997's Sundance Film Festival. Vividly photographed and set amid southern Florida's tupelo swamps, the film's narrative hinges on the evolution of a more-than-platonic connection between neighbors Ulysses, Ulee for short (Fonda), and Connie (Richardson). Known for her role on TV's Home Improvement, Richardson makes a satisfying foray into film with this appropriately smaller role where she manages to hatch out of potential typecasting. Fonda's independent, stubborn, and reserved Ulee anchors the narrative. He is a bee keeper whose struggling small business is all that keeps him focused in the wake of his wife Penelope's death, his daughter-in-law Helen's (Christine Dunford) drug addiction, and the de facto single-parent obligations he takes on to his adolescent granddaughters. (Notice the Homeric references.) Soon the plot twists, however, in the sociopathy of Eddie and Ferris, friends of Ulee's jailed son--a sociopathy that is also the impetus for the family to confront its dysfunction and for Connie and Ulee to see more in each other than mere neighborliness. Thankfully, Nunez foregoes the bathos of a Hollywood ending and leaves us satisfied on one hand with Helen's healing and Eddie's justice but uncertain, though hopeful, about Ulee's next step. --Erik Macki ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Solid gold
Ulee Jackson (played by Peter Fonda) is a reclusive beekeeper who lives in a rustic home in a tiny Florida town, where he raises his two granddaughters. As the victim of past hardships, he also is now the eldest member of a dysfunctional family; his son Jimmy is in prison, his daughter-in-law Helen is a runaway drug addict, his oldest granddaughter Casey is a rebellious teen, and her little sister Penny is a lonely young girl. Ulee is a loner, refusing the help and camaraderie of the local townsfolk. But one day, Jimmy calls Ulee and asks for a favor regarding Helen. Ulee then discovers that, by mustering up tremendous lost courage, he must bring his shattered family together and keep them safe from a pair of thugs.

Directed by Victor Nunez, this critically-acclaimed film wasn't seen much upon its 1997 release. "Ulee's Gold" is a very quiet film, and its unhurried pace and frequent dialogue will probably try the patience of just about anyone who watches it. It takes its time before diving into the storyline, and the viewer doesn't really get involved with the film until after the first half-hour. However, "Ulee's Gold" is ultimately a powerful and effective human drama that moves the soul in its own subtle way.

The film's greatest strength lies in the stirring performances, particularly that of Peter Fonda as the aloof but strong-willed Ulee. At first the viewer thinks of Ulee as just an estranged man who cares about nothing but his beekeeping business; but the character slowly works his way into the viewer's heart as the film progresses. Soon we get to realize how much the man cares for his family, and by the end of the film we are really cheering for him. Christine Dunford also gives a superb performance as Helen, and Patricia Richardson (of "Home Improvement" fame) is also convincing as Ulee's neighbor, the one townsperson whom he allows in on his situation.

Additionally, much of the plot of "Ulee's Gold" lies in the script, rather than through on-screen action; thus the viewer is never presented with overcalculated brutality. Even the tensest of scenes are played out like they would be in an everyday rural or suburban society, without big explosions or fistfights. The drawn-out dialogue gets a little tedious at times, but it makes the characters all the more believable. Throughout the film, these characters go through a lot of changes, especially Ulee. In the end, it is Ulee who has changed the most, having discovered that his "gold" is not just his rare Tupelo honey, but the even-more-precious family that he has fought so hard to protect.

"Ulee's Gold" may not be quite as involving as the more recent "In the Bedroom", but it's a great film for anyone who likes solidly told dramas. It was not aimed at a teenage audience, so anyone my age who happens to be reading this review will probably find it somewhat boring; however, there's a lot of good material in this film that shows profound thought in Nunez's part. See it if it interests you in any way.

Peter Fonda's Best Work
Ulee's Gold is probably one of the most believable films of late it had all the elements of a good movie and put them all together and made a wonderful film. The story is that this man Ulee (Peter Fonda) is a beekeeper and his son who is in jail was married to a woman named Helen (Christine Dunford) who he must find and take care of however one of her biggest flaws is that she is drug addicted and her eldest daughter does not want to see her. Ulee had been taking care of Penny (Vanessa Zima) and Casey (Jessica Biel) since they were young but not into time for Casey to not be scared forever. Can this broken family ever be the loving family that they once were or are they all forever scared. I would recommend this movie to everyone over the age of twelve because it does have a lot of language, drug content, and some violence other than that it is fine. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.

Good honey-bee drama...slow as molasses
This is a very low-key movie about a honey-bee farmer named "Ulee" (Ulysses) who is a widower and finds himself having to unite his dysfunctional family. His family includes a son in prison for bank robbery, a drugged out daughter-in-law who spills the beans about the location of the long-lost stolen money to the other accomplices who give Ulee trouble, and two grandaughters, aged about 11 and rebellious 15. There is a helpful neighbor nurse and local sheriff, as well. The End.

Peter Fonda garnered much acclaim for his acting, and in fact all the players did a good job including Jessica Biel and Vanessa Zima as the kids, Patricia Richardson as the neighbor, and Tom Wood as the son.

I found the actual bee-keeping business pretty interesting, but it looks to be a tedious and labor-intensive job, at least on the small-scale shown here.

This story will only appeal to older audiences as there is little "action", even in the action portion. The ending may be a bit more upbeat than the circumstances might dictate, but it could go that way. This is more of a character study, and on that level is quite good.

No DVD extras beyond the usual language/subtitle options and trailer

Superb!
All the players are outstanding in this drama about what really matters in a family. Masterfully directed and compelling.

Highly recommended.

The Bees' Knees or a Classic Film
Watching "Ulee's Gold" again 6 years after it was released reminded me of how great a movie this is. Victor Nunez is an independent filmmaker who usually sets his films in Florida and sits on the board of the Sundance Film Festival. His excellent eye for talent is demonstrated by the introduction of Ashley Judd in 1993's "Ruby in Paradise." Being an independent feature explains why so much of this cast is actors from television. Not to diminish the sterling performance of Peter Fonda, this is an ensemble work that Nunez has directed. Each member of the cast is essential to its success; and it does succeed.

As Ulee Jackson, Peter Fonda gives an amazingly understated but strong performance. You can see the storm of emotions that fly within the character as evidenced by the one scene where he lets his feelings fly as he tells off his daughter-in-law Helen with anger and venom. That edge or spark underlies all of the other well-controlled scenes so that even though Ulee may be quiet, he is always focused, always tense.

The supporting cast is also excellent. TV's "Home Improvement" Patricia Richardson is excellent as the neighbor nurse who tries to help without intruding and winds up attracted to Ulee. That interesting relationship allows the mind to conjure up Ulee 2: The Sequel to see how things develop after this crisis point.

Jessica Biel, the bad girl who posed nude for a magazine and got booted from TV's "7th Heaven" delivers another blockbuster performance as the young adult/late adolescent who wants to be a kid but who fights with her responsibilities to her family and loves them even as she sasses them. I probably won't select to see her in the upcoming "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" because it's not my kind of film, but she certainly shows the potential of an accomplished actress.

The other supporting players are also excellent. Christine Dunford who has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, Law & Order) shows great range as the drug-addicted mother who is dragged out of her habit, and clings to her con hubby. Steven Flynn who also has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, NYPD Blue) as the big brain con Eddie Flowers is sufficiently creepy to keep our interest. His horny sidekick Ferris Dooley is played well by Dewey Weber. Ulee's son Jimmy in prison is played by Tom Wood ("The Fugitive," "Appollo 13") with an edgy performance, conflicting the loose morals that landed him in prison with his love for his wife and kids. Even little Vanessa Zima ("Zoe") as the younger daughter Penny does a good job of being sufficiently innocent.

Nunez has created a marvelous ensemble piece. One could almost see this adapted for a compelling stage play. I was particularly struck by the metaphor of being calm amid the bees which paralells the tense human situation and Ulee's calmness in the face of possible tragedy. The film holds up well and will remain a classic film. Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Solid gold
Ulee Jackson (played by Peter Fonda) is a reclusive beekeeper who lives in a rustic home in a tiny Florida town, where he raises his two granddaughters. As the victim of past hardships, he also is now the eldest member of a dysfunctional family; his son Jimmy is in prison, his daughter-in-law Helen is a runaway drug addict, his oldest granddaughter Casey is a rebellious teen, and her little sister Penny is a lonely young girl. Ulee is a loner, refusing the help and camaraderie of the local townsfolk. But one day, Jimmy calls Ulee and asks for a favor regarding Helen. Ulee then discovers that, by mustering up tremendous lost courage, he must bring his shattered family together and keep them safe from a pair of thugs.

Directed by Victor Nunez, this critically-acclaimed film wasn't seen much upon its 1997 release. "Ulee's Gold" is a very quiet film, and its unhurried pace and frequent dialogue will probably try the patience of just about anyone who watches it. It takes its time before diving into the storyline, and the viewer doesn't really get involved with the film until after the first half-hour. However, "Ulee's Gold" is ultimately a powerful and effective human drama that moves the soul in its own subtle way.

The film's greatest strength lies in the stirring performances, particularly that of Peter Fonda as the aloof but strong-willed Ulee. At first the viewer thinks of Ulee as just an estranged man who cares about nothing but his beekeeping business; but the character slowly works his way into the viewer's heart as the film progresses. Soon we get to realize how much the man cares for his family, and by the end of the film we are really cheering for him. Christine Dunford also gives a superb performance as Helen, and Patricia Richardson (of "Home Improvement" fame) is also convincing as Ulee's neighbor, the one townsperson whom he allows in on his situation.

Additionally, much of the plot of "Ulee's Gold" lies in the script, rather than through on-screen action; thus the viewer is never presented with overcalculated brutality. Even the tensest of scenes are played out like they would be in an everyday rural or suburban society, without big explosions or fistfights. The drawn-out dialogue gets a little tedious at times, but it makes the characters all the more believable. Throughout the film, these characters go through a lot of changes, especially Ulee. In the end, it is Ulee who has changed the most, having discovered that his "gold" is not just his rare Tupelo honey, but the even-more-precious family that he has fought so hard to protect.

"Ulee's Gold" may not be quite as involving as the more recent "In the Bedroom", but it's a great film for anyone who likes solidly told dramas. It was not aimed at a teenage audience, so anyone my age who happens to be reading this review will probably find it somewhat boring; however, there's a lot of good material in this film that shows profound thought in Nunez's part. See it if it interests you in any way.

Peter Fonda's Best Work
Ulee's Gold is probably one of the most believable films of late it had all the elements of a good movie and put them all together and made a wonderful film. The story is that this man Ulee (Peter Fonda) is a beekeeper and his son who is in jail was married to a woman named Helen (Christine Dunford) who he must find and take care of however one of her biggest flaws is that she is drug addicted and her eldest daughter does not want to see her. Ulee had been taking care of Penny (Vanessa Zima) and Casey (Jessica Biel) since they were young but not into time for Casey to not be scared forever. Can this broken family ever be the loving family that they once were or are they all forever scared. I would recommend this movie to everyone over the age of twelve because it does have a lot of language, drug content, and some violence other than that it is fine. I hope that this review has helped you in making a decision about this film.

Good honey-bee drama...slow as molasses
This is a very low-key movie about a honey-bee farmer named "Ulee" (Ulysses) who is a widower and finds himself having to unite his dysfunctional family. His family includes a son in prison for bank robbery, a drugged out daughter-in-law who spills the beans about the location of the long-lost stolen money to the other accomplices who give Ulee trouble, and two grandaughters, aged about 11 and rebellious 15. There is a helpful neighbor nurse and local sheriff, as well. The End.

Peter Fonda garnered much acclaim for his acting, and in fact all the players did a good job including Jessica Biel and Vanessa Zima as the kids, Patricia Richardson as the neighbor, and Tom Wood as the son.

I found the actual bee-keeping business pretty interesting, but it looks to be a tedious and labor-intensive job, at least on the small-scale shown here.

This story will only appeal to older audiences as there is little "action", even in the action portion. The ending may be a bit more upbeat than the circumstances might dictate, but it could go that way. This is more of a character study, and on that level is quite good.

No DVD extras beyond the usual language/subtitle options and trailer

Superb!
All the players are outstanding in this drama about what really matters in a family. Masterfully directed and compelling.

Highly recommended.

The Bees' Knees or a Classic Film
Watching "Ulee's Gold" again 6 years after it was released reminded me of how great a movie this is. Victor Nunez is an independent filmmaker who usually sets his films in Florida and sits on the board of the Sundance Film Festival. His excellent eye for talent is demonstrated by the introduction of Ashley Judd in 1993's "Ruby in Paradise." Being an independent feature explains why so much of this cast is actors from television. Not to diminish the sterling performance of Peter Fonda, this is an ensemble work that Nunez has directed. Each member of the cast is essential to its success; and it does succeed.

As Ulee Jackson, Peter Fonda gives an amazingly understated but strong performance. You can see the storm of emotions that fly within the character as evidenced by the one scene where he lets his feelings fly as he tells off his daughter-in-law Helen with anger and venom. That edge or spark underlies all of the other well-controlled scenes so that even though Ulee may be quiet, he is always focused, always tense.

The supporting cast is also excellent. TV's "Home Improvement" Patricia Richardson is excellent as the neighbor nurse who tries to help without intruding and winds up attracted to Ulee. That interesting relationship allows the mind to conjure up Ulee 2: The Sequel to see how things develop after this crisis point.

Jessica Biel, the bad girl who posed nude for a magazine and got booted from TV's "7th Heaven" delivers another blockbuster performance as the young adult/late adolescent who wants to be a kid but who fights with her responsibilities to her family and loves them even as she sasses them. I probably won't select to see her in the upcoming "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" because it's not my kind of film, but she certainly shows the potential of an accomplished actress.

The other supporting players are also excellent. Christine Dunford who has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, Law & Order) shows great range as the drug-addicted mother who is dragged out of her habit, and clings to her con hubby. Steven Flynn who also has worked in TV (Ally McBeal, NYPD Blue) as the big brain con Eddie Flowers is sufficiently creepy to keep our interest. His horny sidekick Ferris Dooley is played well by Dewey Weber. Ulee's son Jimmy in prison is played by Tom Wood ("The Fugitive," "Appollo 13") with an edgy performance, conflicting the loose morals that landed him in prison with his love for his wife and kids. Even little Vanessa Zima ("Zoe") as the younger daughter Penny does a good job of being sufficiently innocent.

Nunez has created a marvelous ensemble piece. One could almost see this adapted for a compelling stage play. I was particularly struck by the metaphor of being calm amid the bees which paralells the tense human situation and Ulee's calmness in the face of possible tragedy. The film holds up well and will remain a classic film. Enjoy! ... Read more