The Magic of Belle Isle2012
The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)
The Magic of Belle Isle Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Monte Wildhorn
as Charlotte O'Neil
as Willow O'Neil
as Finnegan O'Neil
as Al Kaiser
as Henry
as Flora O'Neil
as Fire Captain
as Carl Loop
as Mahmoud
as Karen Loop
as Bookstore Owner
as Joe Viola
as Luke Ford
as Clown
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Critic Reviews for The Magic of Belle Isle
All Critics (33) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (23)
There's a comforting inevitability to The Magic of Belle Isle, as an alcoholic author spends a soothing, rejuvenating summer in a sleepy lakeside village.
If this were real life and not a movie, Mr. Wildhorn would be written off as a crank and ostracized within a week.
It's earnest, predictable and disposable.
You can quarrel with the smiley-face outcome of every ordeal, but the tenderness and optimism are so powerful and ingratiating that only a viewer with the darkest sensibility will go away untouched.
Shamelessly schmaltzy and predictable from first moment to last, Rob Reiner's The Magic of Belle Isle nonetheless manages to conjure a certain spell.
Madsen, a strong actress who might have matched Freeman, is portrayed in varying shades of blandness. Even Freeman, good as his is, is held back here.
Audience Reviews for The Magic of Belle Isle
This is a hidden gem from director Rob Reiner, reconnecting him with Morgan Freeman from The Bucket List. If you enjoyed that film, you'll probably like this one as well. This concerns a journey through life's turmoil, although without the presence of Nicholson-much less acerbic. Belle Isle is a beautiful, tender story about characters you really care about. Like Bucket List, this movie is about second chances in life, making the best of what time you have left. I appreciated that it had a theme for every stage of life, although it centered on Monte Wildhorn (Freeman). The intersection of his life with the newly-divorced mother and children of varying ages next door was the perfect complement and foil for Wildhorn. The film does venture into schmaltzy, Hallmark territory, but just go with it. Allowing yourself simply to be inspired and entertained won't hurt. One criticism: The sort-of romantic angle between Monte Wildhorn and Charlotte O'Neil (Virginia Madsen) seemed forced, not plausible or realistic to me. Madsen was quoted as saying that her on-screen relationship with Freeman (albeit brief) was the first on-screen romance in his long, storied career. Kudos to Reiner, then for thinking outside the box.
Super Reviewer
Sweet, charming movie Rob Reiner style. Many chuckle moments that I got a kick out of, especially with the character Carl. Morgan Freeman is wonderful, as usual...
Super Reviewer
Comic drama that can best be described as nice, Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen make it seem better than it is.
Super Reviewer
The Magic of Belle Isle Quotes
| Monte Wildhorn: | Imagination--the most powerful force ever made available to mankind. |
| Monte Wildhorn: | Nobody cares about a writer nobody reads. |
| Henry: | That's because you don't write. |
| Finnegan O'Neil: | You tell me to see what's not there why can't you write what's not there? |
| Finnegan O'Neil: | You don't have to leave this planet to tell a good story |
| Finnegan O'Neil: | You don't have to leave this planet to tell a good story. |