
Ballast
2008, Drama, 1h 36m
79 Reviews 2,500+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A searing debut by director Lance Hammer, this subtle and contemplative Mississippi set drama lingers long after its conclusion. Read critic reviews
You might also like
Where to watch
Ballast Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Lawrence
James
Marlee
John
Director
Writer
News & Interviews for Ballast
Critic Reviews for Ballast
All Critics (79) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (6)
-
Quote not available.
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 -
Quote not available.
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
The opening half hour is electrifying, the ending interestingly open-ended...
March 22, 2011 | Full Review… -
Quite a debut here from writer-director Lance Hammer, working on a minuscule budget in the Mississippi Delta, and evoking a memorably forlorn kind of regional specificity.
March 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Quote not available.
March 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
A difficult, subdued film, but intelligent and with more intricacy and subtlety than at first appears.
March 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Ballast
-
Jul 17, 2011One of those no-soundtrack, no-action, mumbling dialog dramas, this time about a penniless single mother - reclusive brother in law- errant son triangle. It did nothing for me.Lesley N Super Reviewer
-
Dec 13, 2010"Ballast" is simply one of the deepest moving pictures I have seen in a long time. The story is about three people who live a life of poverty, despair, and sadness in Mississippi Delta. The first time watching this was tough due to the slow pace of the picture but gradually this is one of Lance Hammer's strong strengths because he patiently giving his characters life and a the start of a future. I really admired the mother Marlee played by Tarra Riggs. Her character was the most fascinating to me. What took me by surprise is how she becomes a leader. A REAL leader while slowly building a foundation. Lawrence (Michael J. Smith) is Marlee's sister-in-law and Marlee's son James (JimMyron Ross) who at first hangs out with troublemakers then realizes they are using him. There is also a fourth character who goes by the name of John (Johnny McPhail). Not much is known except that he seems to be a good neighbour(John found Lawrence shot and called paramedics for help. When Lawrence is healed, John checks on Lawrence to make sure he's alright). Overall "Ballast" is a paridigm picture that I didn't expect. This picture is an honest way of seeing real people doing things real people would do in the real world. Lance Hammer's picture also made me wonder and say "There is hope in life. There is real hope for those who are unfortunate".Brian R Super Reviewer
-
Aug 22, 2010A minimalist film, but with a lot of heart and emotion. No glitz or glam here - just a peek into the life of a family. Great performances from the cast.Sarah P Super Reviewer
-
Aug 22, 2010Ballast looks beautiful, and I want to see what Lance Hammer does next, but someone needs to kick the shit out of this kid.matt s Super Reviewer
Ballast Quotes
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.
Movie & TV guides
About Tomatometer
The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review
About Audience Score
The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher.
Verified