An Unfinished Life (2005)
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 140
Fresh: 74 | Rotten: 66
A story of disjointed family members yearning for true emotional depth, An Unfinished Life teeters between overtly saccharine sentiments and moments of real intimacy.
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 21
A story of disjointed family members yearning for true emotional depth, An Unfinished Life teeters between overtly saccharine sentiments and moments of real intimacy.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 60,227
My Rating
Movie Info
Two generations of a damaged family are brought together in this emotional drama. Einar Gilkyson (Robert Redford) was a once successful rancher whose spread went to seed after he developed a serious drinking problem. Now on the wagon, Einar looks after what's left of his spread with his friend Mitch (Morgan Freeman), a one-time cowhand who never fully recovered after being mauled by a bear. Einar once had a son named Griffin, but he died in a car wreck while Griffin's wife, Jean (Jennifer
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Robert Redford
Elinar Gilkyson -
Jennifer Lopez
Jean Gilkyson -
Morgan Freeman
Mitch Bradley -
Becca Gardner
Griff Gilkyson -
Damian Lewis
Gary Winston -
Camryn Manheim
Nina -
Lynda Boyd
Kitty -
Rob Hayter
Deputy -
P. Lynn Johnson
Shelter Supervisor -
Josh Lucas
Crane -
Trevor Moss
Griffin Gilkyson -
R. Nelson Brown
Kent -
Dillard Brinson
Gnome Owner -
Jason Diablo
Customer -
Sean Dory
Customer -
Bryan Korenberg
Angry Couple Man -
Danielle Dunn-Morris
Angie -
Sandra Polson
Secretary -
Dale Kipling
Cook -
Jill Teed
Bartender -
Jayne Dancose
Nurse Phyllis -
Ken Camroux
Doctor -
Bart the Bear
The Bear
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (142) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (67) | DVD (16)
Call it "the Sundance effect," in which sentimental family drama blossoms amid a scenic, pastoral American landscape, with all its connotations of unspoiled purity and rejuvenation.
Top CriticThe picture has no discernible reason for being. It's impossible to identify with characters who seem so fond of their own misery, they can't be bothered to communicate even the most basic facts about themselves.
By the conclusion, the movie turns into the ursine answer to Free Willy, veering dangerously close to New Age parody.
Manages to be both moving and poignant largely because of the superb acting, cinematography and direction.
The picture is outrageously predictable and somewhat poky, but there's also something admirably bold about the way it so adamantly demands we swallow its hokum.
Redford and Freeman have a relaxed rapport -- watch their expressions when Griff asks them if they're gay -- but the script keeps giving them unspeakable lines to utter.
Sure, it's a glorified Hallmark movie with a great cast, but in spite of it all, An Unfinished Life struck a chord with me.
Sentimental drama; not likely to interest kids.
A modern-day Western from Lasse Hallstrom which doesn't measure up to the best of the three-time Oscar-nominee's work, but is, nonetheless, a beautifully filmed panoramic production with a plot compelling enough to recommend.
It's any director's job to tell the actors how to feel, but never a good idea to ask the same of the audience.
It's any director's job to tell the actors how to feel, but never a good idea to ask the same of the audience.
There's a touching subplot about Redford's relationship with Morgan Freeman's crippled ranch-hand, and some nonsense about the capture and liberation of an enigmatic bear.
An Unfinished Life takes us on the journey from the stifling prison of resentment to the freedom and healing of reconciliation. It's a trip worth taking.
There's something strangely poignant about watching Robert Redford trying to be Clint Eastwood.
An Unfinished Life isn't going to win any prizes for originality, yet despite the derivative feel - and some hokey melodrama - it's still a solidly entertaining film.
A wistful smalltown drama, this is predictable and pleasant, with enjoyable performances. It suffers from heavy-handed symbolism, but as an undemanding mainstream movie it has its simple pleasures.
If the story seems overly familiar, it's because it's basically Heidi. Okay, so a couple of extra characters have been added and there's a great big bear instead of all that business with the wheelchair, but [it's] essentially the same.
Un drama familiar previsible, inofensivo y hermosamente fotografiado, con buen elenco y poco más a destacar.
Director Lasse Hallström and the cast (including Morgan Freeman as Redford's hired hand and Josh Lucas as the local sheriff) respond with great work-in Redford's and Lopez's cases, their best ever.
This is a phenomenal character study of the grief of a father and the guilt of a friend. If you find it's unfolding too slowly for you, just focus on the wonderful performances by Redford and Freeman, and they'll pull you through.
If only the bulk of the film focused on the grizzly and not the deplorable people.
Audience Reviews for An Unfinished Life
Super Reviewer
Einar (Robert Redford) is the father-in-law of Jean (Jennifer Lopez) whose husband dies in a car accident while she was driving. She leaves her husband's house soon after the incident, but returns years later with her daughter when she needs a hiding place. Einar finds it difficult to forgive her, but he's fond of his grand-daughter. The movie displays how each character deal with their pain. Einar's friend Mitch's (Morgan Freeman) parallel track, also emphasizing the power of forgiveness, is equally good.
While it's a bit slow, it's not boring. The humor at regular intervals also makes it lively. Morgan Freeman gives an incredible performance as usual, while Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez also live their character amazingly and give a natural performance. The girl playing Jean's daughter is also terrific.
Check it out if you wanna see a good family drama displaying the aspects of healing, redemption and forgiveness; and if you've patience.
Super Reviewer
-
- Mitch Bradley: Would you bury me next to Griffin?
- Elinar Gilkyson: Don't you think you ought to die first?
-
- Jean Gilkyson: You stay because you don't think you deserve any better, because you think it's the best you can do.
-
- Mitch Bradley: You want to know what I dreamed last night?
- Elinar Gilkyson: What?
- Mitch Bradley: I dreamed you weren't such a miserable son of a bitch.
- Elinar Gilkyson: That's not dreaming, it's wishful thinking.
-
- Griff Gilkyson: Don't bears like honey? Winnie the Pooh does.
-
- Mitch Bradley: I was dreamin' about the sea last night.
- Elinar Gilkyson: Didja get wet?
- Mitch Bradley: Walked right in. It felt like falling in love. Smelled like a woman. Tasted like one too.
- Elinar Gilkyson: Yer memory's not that good.
-
- Gary Winston: God, Jean I don't know what happened. But I feel like a redness or something comes over me and I feel like you've backed me up in a corner and I...I...you do that and I hate it when I'm like that. I'm sorry.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Bad Reviews | 4 months ago | 0 |
Latest News on An Unfinished Life
January 12, 2006:
Critical Consensus: A Regal "Holiday," A Well-Trodden "Road," A Tepid "Tristan"This week at the movies brings us films about a risk-averse woman cutting loose ("Last...
August 1, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin: An Unfinished LifeFinally earning a (limited) release after sitting on a Miramax shelf for about a year is Lasse...
What's Hot On RT
Bradley Cooper's Best Movies
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Total Recall: Bradley Cooper's Best Movies 25
- Parental Guidance: Epic and Beautiful Creatures 2
- Comic Book Movies You Can Watch Online 6
- In Pictures: The Cars of Fast & Furious 0
- Digital Multiplex: Warm Bodies and Aftershock 8
- Discover the Best-Reviewed Films in Summer Movie Scorecard 2013 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects 17
Top Headlines
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Take Place in L.A.
0
-
10 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the Hangover Movies
1
-
Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and David S. Goyer Talk Man of Steel
0
-
New Transporter Trilogy in the Works
0
-
Richard Linklater Plans "Spiritual Sequel" to Dazed and Confused
0
-
King of Kong Filmmaker Seeks Funding for Lost Limb Documentary
0
-
Which Film Franchise Has Been the Best for Female Characters?
6
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
"Every secret takes on a life of its own."
An Unfinished Life isn't the most original thing you'll ever see, but it does do a lot of things well. It's well acted, especially by screen legends Morgan Freeman and Robert Redford. The Wyoming scenery is beautifully shot and the cinematography is amazing. So those are the things I really loved about the film. For the things I didn't now. Jennifer Lopez is miss cast if you ask me. She doesn't fit the role and is a mediocre, if sexy, actress at best. The other thing I didn't really care for is how the story took the easy way out to man times. There seemed to be some really interesting directions the film could have gone, but they were skipped every time for a more predictable option.
Overall I still enjoyed the film as a whole. There were some truly beautiful moments and some occasionally funny ones. This isn't a movie that is overly important, nor will it ever be a classic; but what it is, is a solid piece of filmmaking. Could it have been better? Sure, but as it is; it isn't too bad.