S Culbertson

Although the story line was somewhat interesting, this movie progression was excruciating on many levels. At first, I thought Jack was really a girl, playing a boy, and that her hair had grown long because she’d been in captivity five years without a haircut. Or that mom allowed her child to believe she was a boy so her kidnapper wouldn’t mess with her…..Wrong! It really IS a boy, both in character and reality, and despite their eventual escape, mom keeps “Jack’s” hair long and flowing, just like a girl’s. There’s nothing wrong with long hair on boys, but you’d think that “mom” somewhere down the line would’ve given the child some guidance on certain “common” gender differences, but wrong again. And speaking of mom (ma), although she would be considered a decent mom by today’s standards, it was annoying how “little” she explained to Jack during their captivity, and even after their escape, how Jack was left basically to discover little things on his own, even sometimes being frightened by them, all because his laid back mom didn’t explain much to him…and anyone who thinks a 5-year old can’t understand things obviously has never had one. Oh, and speaking of that—-the actor who played “Jack”, if you really thought he was 5-years old, you’d be “wrong” again. He was born in 2006-making him 9 years old when this movie came out….yet another movie faux paus. Also, there were scenes in this movie that just didn’t connect the dots. I’m sorry, but if you want to make things seem real, you really need to have good casting, a good script and dialogue. Although there was some decent acting in the female characters I personally felt the script and casting somewhat lacking. And I wondered why Jack had such mighty big feet for a 5-year old girl. I mean, boy. Now I know.

It baffles me to no end why people would judge a "movie" based on the appearance of racism when it comes to the relationship between Daisy and her driver, Hoke. Just more evidence to show how ridiculously hypersensitive some of our culture has become.The movie is "meant" to be that way, indicative of the era and how "some" wealthy people treated those who worked for them. Yet these same people pass no judgment when it comes to movie portrayals of ruthless violence and hate against some of their own kind, or others who are different. Who's to say Daisy wouldn't have treated anyone beneath her, black or white, the same? Why is everything assumed to be about "race"? And bear in mind, Daisy showed more respect toward the end toward Hoke, not because he was black, but in spite of it. That is the lesson here. The movie is as real as it gets for its era, and portrayal, and a pleasure to watch - that is, if the TRUTH doesn't hurt your little feelings too much.

Kevin Costner is way overrated as an actor and this movie is no exception. It’s no surprise he’s only given simple one liners in many previous movies because his acting is dull, dry, and unconvincing. No emotion at all. Bad script with no depth. This movie also had many unbelievable scenes, and moved slower than molasses. The only good thing was the scenery, mainly at the beginning. The rest felt like punishment.