Ulee's Gold

Peter Fonda has a unique style. But it's never the same as watching his Dad, who had a way like no other with understated acting. Peter's doing the same thing, it just comes across as slightly wooden. Direction of this film seems to be mirroring that style. While it's an engaging, realistic story (Fonda plays a Florida beekeeper with many family problems to solve), it's just stilted enough not to be completely natural. Still, the simpleness of the story is its saving grace. It rolls out slowly and surely and has a sweet, slow, well-thought-out ending. And it's true that Fonda is playing a tight-lipped, seemingly non- caring man, which is his brand of typecasting, and in that he excels even if it's not my favorite acting method. The film simply doesn't have that spark that makes it a really great tale. So, what am I saying? It's average, not bad, not good, I wouldn't go out of my way to rent it, but if there's nothing else, it's a good enough film for a lazy summer evening. (Stick around for the credits. Best Van Morrison song ever.)

year: 1997
length: 113 min.
rating: 3.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120402/combined