Tom Eggebeen

When I saw the trailer, I immediately decided to see it, and I did ... it did not disappoint ... music, script, acting, cinematography - it's all there, and well done. The story is full of sadness ... people with one another, but not connected ... bearing burdens they cannot share ... hurting one another, or just hurting all by themselves. Julia Roberts delivers an amazing performance ... the music is nerve-jangling much of the time, to highlight the brokenness of life, with a ticking clock, reminding us that time is passing, and passing quickly ... yet, there are snippets of goodness and hope ... the ending seals it for me - there is a sense that "we will make it" - either as we want, or more than likely, in ways we didn't imagine. It deals with the hard issues ... issues that bedevil all of us all the time, one way or the other ... the faults and frailties common to all. We all live east of Eden. The characters are unique, and well-developed. There's plenty of ambiguity ... as there is in all of us, and all of life. It's a movie to which I had to pay attention ... every line counts, every moment important. I give this five stars, and an Oscar nod to Julia Roberts.