RELEASE: 2005; GENERE: Drama; RUN-TIME: 1hr, 39 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some disturbing images and language.
SYNOPSIS: Taken from the pages of Terry Ryan's memoir of the same name, it's about a 1950s housewife Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore), who struggles to raise 10 kids while dealing with an alcoholic husband. Evelyn's husband, Kelly (Woody Harrelson), works at the local factory but has sunk the family into financial trouble with his dangerously boozy habits. Struggling with her husband's drinking and the stress of raising so many children, Evelyn tries her luck in some jingle-writing contests. Writing rhyming couplets for companies like Dr. Pepper and Maidenform bras, the beleaguered housewife is surprisingly successful, and manages to tip the family's finances back into good health. But Kelly can't accept his wife's position as the major breadwinner of the family, and his violent, alcohol-fueled outbursts put an enormous strain on their relationship.
REVIEW: Julianne Moore provides a moving performance, even if it seems hard to believe that one could be such a forgiving and positive person living in the face of such a drunken and sometimes violent atmosphere. I thought Harrelson's performace as the drunken husband was suburb. It is certainly a film that tugs heavily at one's heart strings as you root for her survival. In the end, it is surprisingly uplifting and proves to be kind of a timeless, genderless feel-good story. We gave it [3.25-Stars].
SYNOPSIS: Taken from the pages of Terry Ryan's memoir of the same name, it's about a 1950s housewife Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore), who struggles to raise 10 kids while dealing with an alcoholic husband. Evelyn's husband, Kelly (Woody Harrelson), works at the local factory but has sunk the family into financial trouble with his dangerously boozy habits. Struggling with her husband's drinking and the stress of raising so many children, Evelyn tries her luck in some jingle-writing contests. Writing rhyming couplets for companies like Dr. Pepper and Maidenform bras, the beleaguered housewife is surprisingly successful, and manages to tip the family's finances back into good health. But Kelly can't accept his wife's position as the major breadwinner of the family, and his violent, alcohol-fueled outbursts put an enormous strain on their relationship. REVIEW: Julianne Moore provides a moving performance, even if it seems hard to believe that one could be such a forgiving and positive person living in the face of such a drunken and sometimes violent atmosphere. I thought Harrelson's performace as the drunken husband was suburb. It is certainly a film that tugs heavily at one's heart strings as you root for her survival. In the end, it is surprisingly uplifting and proves to be kind of a timeless, genderless feel-good story. We gave it [3.25-Stars].
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