An Unfinished Life (2005)

The Unfinished Life (2005): Dir: Lasse Hallestrom / Cast: Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, Damien Lewis: One of Lasse Hallestrom's better films, which range from the spellbinding Chocolat to the overrated and disjointed trash The Cider House Rules. It regards forgiveness and moving on as a widowed mother escapes a bad relationship. Robert Redford plays a rancher whose son was killed in an automobile accident and he blames his daughter-in-law. She is played by Jennifer Lopez who accepts a job at a diner while her daughter slowly bonds with the grandfather she didn't know she had. Redford does well as someone struggling to accept the innocence of another but we know where this is headed. Lopez isn't so lucky though. Everything is laid out from her trying to find closure with Redford, to her ex showing up, to the new romance. Morgan Freeman plays a hired hand who was mauled by a bear and must muster up the courage to face it again. Josh Lucas plays a local law enforcement officer whose presence is to bang Lopez at first opportunity. Damien Lewis plays that ever familiar angry ex-boyfriend whom will no doubt have Redford's foot meet his ass. Detailed story flawed with a decision regarding a captured bear. Every character needs to forgive for something and slowly recover what was unfinished by making it whole again. Score: 6 / 10

This is not a film you watch for the fun of it. It's a very serious film that you watch to see fine acting...specifically from Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman.For Robert Redford, this role is very against-type. And he handles perfectly, giving yet another example of why he is one of the finest actors we have. Here he is a grizzled old man who has forgotten how to live. Tremendous performance.On the other hand, we have Morgan Freeman who plays Morgan Freeman, albeit as an old cowboy. But what more can you want than Morgan Freeman. Almost always a gem.Jennifer Lopez is a bit out of her league here, although she does all right. No criticism, she does her job.Young (then) Becca Gardner is just great as the young daughter. The other supporting actors here do their jobs.In terms of plot, I noticed that a couple of our reviewers said the film is predictable. Yes, I would estimate that 95% of films are predictable. It's not always about where the plot goes, but how it gets there. And that's what makes this film interesting. Again, this is not an exciting movie...it's just a story of some not-so-beautiful lives that get better.

This movie was...okay...for what it was, I guess. Redford IS great in this. He looks very grizzled and worn out and plays his stoic character very well. Some good, tender moments come out of his interaction with his granddaughter. The rest of the cast was functional, although no one else really stood out. The movie was very predictable, and had a few moments of unrealistic sentimentality. The scene near the end where Morgan Freeman and the bear confront each other was, to me, cringe-inducing. Do you think this bear thought to himself "Well, I've already messed this guy up...I think this time I'll give him a pass"? This is a PREDATOR. They don't think in those terms. They sense a threat or a meal, and you are in big trouble. Of course, this was played up for the "Awww" factor, but I found it insulting and unrealistic. Also, there was really no big climax. The penultimate scene, where Redford kicks abusive Gary's ass and sends him on his way was played out much too quickly, and Gary pretty much tucked his tail between his legs, and caught the first bus out of town. That was it. There should have been something much more menacing about Gary. He shouldn't have been that easy to scare off. The movie didn't so much end as it just kind of petered out.The scenery and Redford's acting were first rate, and everyone else did a decent job, but overall I found it to be disappointing.

Its a story about forgiveness. Its about how Einar (Redford) tries to forgive his daughter-in-law Jean (Jennifer Lopez). The story happens in a hillside village where a bear that hit Einar's close friend Mitch (Morgan Freeman) once and wounded him badly. All these have something intertwined between them. Fate. Forgiveness.I liked this movie's tone. It is not compelling anything to the audience. No overdone or dramatized emotions. No tear-filling performances. But different ones. Simple family emotions. To this simple story this gives a feeling that 'nothing happened' at all. But that's what life is for most of us. Nothing happened but everything is changed thereafter.Morgan Freeman (e.g. moments before the bear),Robert Redford, Becca Gardner, Jennifer Lopez.. sorted order of likable performances. If you liked the Director's earlier movies then there is a good chance that you would like this movie. I liked the director's narration style. Its a very under-toned style. That makes it impossible to forget the characters for me. For you ? Watch and find out.