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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

192.0. "Gas, Food, and Lodging" by 16821::VETEIKIS () Thu May 20 1993 03:11

    A movie about an all female family, mom and two teenage daughters, 
    struggling together to find their own in a small town. Each family member 
    has their own set of problems, but one reoccuring problem in common -- 
    men and their impact on their lives. One man in particular has had a
    serious impact on all three of their lives -- the girl's father, which
    of course has deserted them.
    
    The eldest daughter is played by Ione Skye and she is quite good. The
    mom I recognized also from previous TV/movie roles, but I don't have
    her name -- you'll recognize her. The youngest girl I have never seen
    before, but was quite good in her role also and the narrative on the
    story is told from her perspective, which I found quite interesting.
    Probably because I am the youngest in my family. 
    
    The movie has been out for less than a year and I rented this at the 
    video store.
    
    All in all a very entertaining movie if you like stories of human
    relationships - the struggles, the triumphs, the understanding that
    comes with age. Good acting, good story. Definitely worth the price of
    rental...
    
    Curt
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192.1Names and facesKOLFAX::WIEGLEBQuestion RealityThu May 20 1993 12:378
    Brooke Adams (Mom) was a staple in many late 1970's films ("Days of
    Heaven", "Cuba", "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", etc.).
    
    Fairuza Balk (the younger daughter) was most recently in the TV-movie
    about the Charles Starkweather/Caril Fugate murder spree "Murder in the
    Heartland".
    
    - Dave
192.23270::AHERNDennis the MenaceThu May 20 1993 19:028
    RE: .1  by KOLFAX::WIEGLEB 
    
    >Fairuza Balk (the younger daughter) was most recently in the TV-movie
    >about the Charles Starkweather/Caril Fugate murder spree "Murder in the
    >Heartland".
    
    She was also in "Valmont", and in "Return to Oz".  
    
192.344247::GGOODMANDesperate answer, desperate timesFri May 21 1993 00:4717
    
    I watched it a few months back at a local cinema that specialises in
    films that don't get hyped up to the eyeballs. The film reminded me of
    Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, although I've never
    worked out why.
    
    I found it unusual in that, for it's subject matter, it didn't seem
    very heavy. These types of films usually leave me walking away somewhat
    subdued, but I found this one kinda light and the story floated along
    without dragging the audience into pity. Maybe it was because their
    problems weren't end of the world stuff, or maybe it's because I'm the
    most insensitive person I know and the sort of man the film was having
    a go at...  :*)
    
    A Sunday afternoon film...
    
    Graham.
192.4it was okayVAXWRK::STHILAIREFood, Shelter & DiamondsFri May 21 1993 15:107
    I found the ending depressing.  I didn't like what happened to the
    character that was rock hunting.   :-(
    
    The movie, on the whole, was good, but not fantastic.
    
    Lorna
    
192.525415::MAIEWSKIMon Jun 07 1993 17:2924
  I rented this movie over the weekend and I liked it a lot. I thought that
the story was good, the characters were realistic, the direction was tight and
the heroes very likable. Several characters reminded me of people I've met.

  Fantastic movie to rent. I'll bet the western country shots looked good on
the big screen.

  ****,
  George

P.S. Regarding the ending ,
SPOILER


  It's always strange to say that someone getting killed makes for a happy
ending, but in this case I believe that it did. The fact that he died meant
that he didn't run off and leave her as she had suspected. He was the 1st
guy she really felt something for and his feelings in return were genuine
which should help her later on to redevelop trust in people.

  Had he lived, they would probably have gotten married then broken up after
about 7-10 years since they really had nothing in common.

  George
192.644247::GGOODMANDesperate answer, desperate timesMon Jun 07 1993 19:0511
    
    Re.SPOILER
    
    
    
	I agree about the ending. Also, the fact that you never got close
    to the character means that his death doesn't affect you the same. If
    it had been one of the 3 girls that died then it would've changed the
    whole atmosphere of the film.
    
    Graham.
192.7VAXWRK::STHILAIREwandering spiritMon Jun 07 1993 20:135
    re .6, well, I disagree, but I don't know how to do a form feed to say
    why.  :-)
    
    Lorna
    
192.844245::GGOODMANDesperate answer, desperate timesTue Jun 08 1993 08:114
    
    Maybe I'm just insensitive...  :*)
    
    And it's Ctrl L...
192.9VAXWRK::STHILAIREwandering spiritTue Jun 08 1993 13:2224
    re .5, .6, .7, .8, my opinion of the ending follows the form feed, and
    I doubt it has anything to do with whether you are insensitive, or not,
    though for all I know you well may be.  :-)
    
    
    
    
    The character that got killed was my favorite character.  I liked him
    more than I did any of the women, so when I found out he got killed it
    sort of ruined it for me.  It just seemed too sad since I thought he
    was an exceptionally nice guy, and I wouldn't mind meeting someone like
    him myself.  
    
    I understand the whole bit about the significance of the fact that he
    hadn't just run out on the oldest daughter, and that he would have come
    back if he hadn't died, etc., but I still felt so bad about his getting
    killed that it ruined it for me.  
    
    And, George, I think I'd rather marry someone I had nothing in common
    with and get divorced 7 yrs. later, than get killed rock hunting.  All
    things considered, you know.  :-)
    
    Lorna
    
192.1025415::MAIEWSKITue Jun 08 1993 20:2115
  ... perhaps an alternative?


SPOILER



  That's just the point. He was a nice guy so there had to be some reason that
he didn't ditch her. If he had just walked out, that "nice guy" exterior would
have been shown to be skin deep. 

  I suppose they could have had him shanghighed by pirates although they were
about 250 years too late and a bit too far from the ocean. 

  George 
192.11Cynical Male Alert44247::GGOODMANDesperate answer, desperate timesWed Jun 09 1993 08:5816
    
    Spoiler:
    
    
    
>    The character that got killed was my favorite character.  I liked him
>    more than I did any of the women, so when I found out he got killed it
>    sort of ruined it for me.  It just seemed too sad since I thought he
>    was an exceptionally nice guy, and I wouldn't mind meeting someone like
>    him myself.  
    
    
    Ah, you see that's the problem - female naivity. I know that they
    exceptionally nice guys don't exist...  Except me of course...  :*)
    
    Graham.
192.125793::STARRColdest winter in almost 14 years....Tue Jan 25 1994 16:3610
I saw this over the weekend, and thought it was very well done. It was 
interesting; there wasn't really much of a plot, it was just sort of like
we were eavesdropping on a small slice of these people's lives. Well directed
and very well acted, I very much believed these were real characters, and
I found myself wondering what's going to happen to them now!

And it was funny to see Ione Skye play such a different character than the
one in 'Say Anything'. She's really turning into a terrific actress!

alan
192.13DECWET::JWHITEdecline to signTue Jan 25 1994 20:096