Evening (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  On her deathbed and filled with regret, a woman recalls a brief romance with a doctor while her daughters contemplate their lives. Though the film is slow in places, I found it profound and profoundly moving. Ultimately, it supports domestic life, but it does so by denouncing regret… More
  On her deathbed and filled with regret, a woman recalls a brief romance with a doctor while her daughters contemplate their lives. Though the film is slow in places, I found it profound and profoundly moving. Ultimately, it supports domestic life, but it does so by denouncing regret -- a journey that resonates with me. Ann, fading away to her death, wonders how life would have turned out if she had pursued a man with whom she had a one night stand years ago just as her daughter wonders whether to stay with the man who impregnated her; it is perhaps too convenient that these storylines so flawlessly intertwine, but as the stories unfold, I forgot about the convenience and concentrated on the theme. There isn't an outstanding performance in the film, save possibly for Toni Collette as the uncertain daughter, but everyone is solid. I did think that the romance between Ann and Harris should have been more passionate or more deeply connected; as it is, I wonder if a one night stand is really worth a lifetime of regret. Overall, I enjoyed <i>Evening</i>, a poignant drama with timeless themes.

• Carlos M

  
  Such a stellar cast wasted in a tedious, boring film that is incapable of being remotely interesting or gipping.

• Nicki M

  
  This kind of made me want to shake someone! Good cast, beautifully shot and acted, (with the exception of the over the top dying mother), really enjoyed it right up until the final ten minutes which just peed me right off. Great message in a movie - mother settles for second best… More
  This kind of made me want to shake someone! Good cast, beautifully shot and acted, (with the exception of the over the top dying mother), really enjoyed it right up until the final ten minutes which just peed me right off. Great message in a movie - mother settles for second best and dies regretting it, then daughter does same (dressed up in Hollywood sentimentality). Lovely. Glad I sat through that one.

• paul s

  
  this is not a necessarily bad film, but somehow, something was missing - I didn't feel in any way connected to the two daughters (Richardson and Collete), who have "issues" with one another and yet are able to come together when the script calls for it. I found much of… More
  this is not a necessarily bad film, but somehow, something was missing - I didn't feel in any way connected to the two daughters (Richardson and Collete), who have "issues" with one another and yet are able to come together when the script calls for it. I found much of the writing to be contrived and certainly not breaking any new ground (except for the concept voiced late in the film by Streep, playing the ageing best friend to the dying Redgrave - who states that are no mistakes in life; and that in the end what will is what will). Many of the emotional moments seemed overwrought - as the scene between daughters where each called out the other's charactor flaws - I just felt it could have been handled much better - the scene seemed like something out of a made for TV movie - all the emotions just so pat - each sister says her piece and then they hug and reconcile - not very realistice. The memory scenes held a bit more sway, but even with them there seemed a certain contrievance that, in spite of some nice dialog, came off flat and in one case in particular (the "next morning" where Glenn Close goes way over the top mourning her son's demise) I was wondering why the scene even existed. The accidental meeting between Harris and the main charactor, even giving credence to creative license (as it was all just a memory anyway), seemed unnecessary and disjointed. Streep, as usual, lit up the screen in what was little more than a cameo role, while Close was totally wasted and the aforementioned scene seemed a vehicle to get her more screen time. Overall, the nice touches (seeing the night nurse in a ball gown) were far outweighed by some overwrought and unnecessary scenes, and an overall sense of falseness - like when the single sister finally announces to her boyfriend that she is pregnant - it should have been cathartic if played well - but it came off as staged and the emotions phony.

• Red L

  
  I've always loved films of discovery. In this movie, two daughters discover who their mom loved as a young woman - and develop a feeling for how significant that relationship was and still is for their mom. This movie is frustrating however in that we watch through over two… More
  I've always loved films of discovery. In this movie, two daughters discover who their mom loved as a young woman - and develop a feeling for how significant that relationship was and still is for their mom. This movie is frustrating however in that we watch through over two hours to find out what? Ann should have acted on her instincts earlier in her life?

• Mason W

  
  What a strong and powerful cast. An ensemble that includes Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Toni Collette, Natasha Richarson, Claire Danes and more. This film chronicles a life of a woman from her days as a young adult dancing on the beaches of New England to now as an ill… More
  What a strong and powerful cast. An ensemble that includes Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Toni Collette, Natasha Richarson, Claire Danes and more. This film chronicles a life of a woman from her days as a young adult dancing on the beaches of New England to now as an ill older woman. The message of enjoying your life and those around you is something that comes across strongly. This is a film worth watching.

• Nate Z

  
  [CENTER][img]http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1803/marla2ik5.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Arial]My Kid Could Paint That - Prodigy, fraud, normal preschooler? This incisive and captivating documentary looks at a four-year-old who has made thousands of dollars on her… More
  [CENTER][img]http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1803/marla2ik5.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Arial]My Kid Could Paint That - Prodigy, fraud, normal preschooler? This incisive and captivating documentary looks at a four-year-old who has made thousands of dollars on her modern art paintings. If she is the real deal, what does that say about modern art when a child can compete with serious artists? This intensely interesting story is given as objective a viewpoint as possible even as the filmmaker is forced into his own movie when the family he's been documenting is looking at his film as a favorable retort to a very critical 60 Minutes segment casting doubt that the paintings are genuine. The filmmaker has his own doubts and explores the nature of journalism and storytelling and objectivity and what is art, and that's when the documentary transcends its story and becomes about much more. I have no doubt that the child is involved in painting (the question registers with how involved her failed artist father is), but the people that are buying her paintings are buying them because they are also purchasing the story. [I]My Kid Could Paint That[/I], as one interview subject states, is really a story about adults seeking the limelight, because otherwise it would just be a kid having fun painting in the confines of her home. Is she exploited? Is she a genuine talent in a world of paint splashes and squiggly lines? Will she ever just be allowed to be a kid? These are just a few of the tantalizing questions this mature and insightful movie raises. Nate's Grade: B+ The Namesake - Extremely heartfelt, this cross-generational family drama runs aground on some familiar territory but is boasted by strong acting. Whenever the film's focus falls to the arranged married couple settling into a new country and a new relationship, that is when [I]The Namesake[/I] is the most affecting and interesting. Too much time is spent on Gogol (Kal Penn) as their son who has completely embraced American culture and throws off his Indian roots. Of course he comes around in his opinion but his character never feels fully formed or completely believable, more like a composite of a prodigal son. Director Mira Nair has an obvious personal attachment to this tale of an Indian family trying to make their way in the U.S. of A, and she never misses her mark when dealing with the intensely decent and selfless father and his love for his wife. It's a shame then that the movie shifts too much focus at the halfway point onto Gogol. [I]The Namesake[/I] is a touching and entertaining that's a cut above thanks to sensitive performances. Nate's Grade: B+ Kickin' It Old Skool - A moderately surprising comedy that's really much more fish-out-of--water than tired [I]You Got Served[/I] dance parody. Jamie Kennedy busts a move as a kid in a man's body who wakes up after being in a coma for 20 years. There is an overemphasis on recreating the 80s in the early part, with a crushing amount of catch phrases, name drops, and dated toys and fashions. The rest of the film follows the sports formula closely as Kennedy reassembles his aged Funky Fresh Boys to win a dance competition for standard goals like saving his family and winning the girl of his dreams. [I]Kickin' It[/I] is a simpleton comedy that never aims it sights too high, but every now and then the film connects on a gag or a character that produces some real yuks (my favorite being a homeless man convinced he invented break dancing). Some of the jokes are pretty dusty and the romance is, like most of the conflict, forced and contrived, and yet I cannot hate this movie. I never grew weary watching it even though during the climactic dance-off tournament there is a dearth of even attempted comedy. Nate's Grade: C A Mighty Heart - Good intentions and some proficient camerawork can only go so far to make a film worthwhile. Angelina Jolie gives the best performance of her career as kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl's wife (she's French and Cuban, making for one really tricky accent). I wanted to like this movie more. The subject matter is serious and timely, the filmmaking has a sturdy docu-drama look, and the acting never comes across as phony, but alas, I think I mentally checked out because much of the film is a detective story that I already know the ending to. Daniel Pearl was infamously beheaded, so watching an hour of his wife, friends, and local police scramble to track down key figures, their allegiances and acquaintances, and the whereabouts of Daniels can come across as fruitless and somewhat cruel. This film doesn't have the same cathartic feel that [I]United 93[/I] had because that moment was universal, and while I can admire the cinematography and superb acting I can't ignore the fact that watching people search and fail gives me little emotional reward as a viewer. Nate's Grade: B Evening - A chick flick crammed with lots of bona fide stars and A-list talent that manages to squander all talent. It slogs on and on, the back and forth nature of the plot does little to keep an audience alert, and the story it tells in the past is so pedestrian, so miniscule, and ultimately so mundane that you can't help but wonder why an old woman on her deathbed would be flashing back and remembering it. This high profile weepy never finds the right tone and often settles for maudlin and predictable plot turns. [I]Evening[/I] is the kind of movie that kills the chances for a large, female-driven film to get made in Hollywood. Nate's Grade: C-[/FONT][/COLOR]

• Arash X

  
  Starts good and goes well but the last twenty minutes could have been so much better

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Lajos Koltai.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Claire Danes, Vanesse Redgrave, Toni Collette, Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep.</b> Just as I was about to walk out the door to see this in theaters, I'd thought I'd sit… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Lajos Koltai.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Claire Danes, Vanesse Redgrave, Toni Collette, Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep.</b> Just as I was about to walk out the door to see this in theaters, I'd thought I'd sit down and read some of the critics reviews. I like to do this a lot, so it gives me an idea on what the general opinion is about the film and then I view it in my own mind and see if I agree/disagree with there thoughts....and I must say, that for the first time in a long time, I agree 100% with what they said about 'Evening'. The story follows Ann Grant, she is on her death bed and we are taken back to her past and shown her experience with romance, all while covering her daughters emotional trauma and life changes in present day. I can't help but be truthfully honest with this film, it is in no way a bad film, it has great intentions, but many things bog it down. What I will say first is that the film is beautifully shot. Lajos Koltai, with his cinematographer, captures the beauty of the landscapes exquisitely and with such an eye, that it really is a visual experience. The story had the potential to expand on some very real emotions and points of real life, but it ultimately falls flat due to some reasons. The high point was revolving around one character named 'Buddy', his character holds the most depth and we explore his confusion in life and sexuality and a considerable amount of emotion and depth is built up there to keep us captivated, but thats where it ended. The other characters, including our leading lady, are dull and we stroll through the slow pacing learning about them and it loses our attention....and with the addition of clichéd plot points and cheesy dialogue moments, when the film aims to be sentimental and thoughtful (with a good heart and intentions I might add), it just doesn't work. The large acting ensemble of stellar actresses are not all high notes. A lot of brilliant actresses are wasted because of there characters, with Toni Collette ending up just treading over old emotions with her role and Glenn Close given no real depth to make us feel for a key scene involving her (you'll see). But having said that, some shine. Mamie Gummer proves to have a lot of potential and essence and I sat in the theater surprised at how they got such a great look-a-like of Meryl Streep....until I found out it was her daughter, with her mother overlooking her, she can go very far. Meryl Streep is on screen for no more than 10 minutes in the final act and she lights up the screen and Hugh Dancy does his role justice....and Claire Danes still annoys the hell out of me. "Beautifully filmed, but decidedly dull." is the key line of Rottentomatoes.com for this film, a critic site I respect and I have to agree with them. Although it is beautifully filmed, a visual feast with exquisite cinematography, the potential in the story is bogged down by dull characters for the most part and a forced emotion and addition of cliché to try and make up for it. A big disappointment from such a promising film, it ended up being bland, with good intentions....thats not a good thing.

• Dean M

  
  Emotionally family drama of a mother who's on her deathbed, finds her mind turning to her youth. This story is full of actresses than actors, Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette, Natasha Richardson, Claire Danes, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep do really wonderful performances. I had… More
  Emotionally family drama of a mother who's on her deathbed, finds her mind turning to her youth. This story is full of actresses than actors, Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette, Natasha Richardson, Claire Danes, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep do really wonderful performances. I had some tears when I watched older Ann (Redgrave) and Lila (Streep) finally reunited after years later that made me feel happy, that was what I thought of Ann's dying wish.

• Jeremy S

  
  As Roger Ebert very aptly wrote A Weepless Weeper.

• Mark A

  
  A quiet film with a dynamite cast that reads like a Hollywood Who's Who about a woman at the end of her life reminiscing about what might have been. The film had a surreal quality to it as Ann (Vanessa Redgrave) drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes dreaming and… More
  A quiet film with a dynamite cast that reads like a Hollywood Who's Who about a woman at the end of her life reminiscing about what might have been. The film had a surreal quality to it as Ann (Vanessa Redgrave) drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes dreaming and remembering the past, and sometimes hallucinating in the present, and sometimes interacting with the people who come and go. Two performances stand out for this viewer. Clare Danes, as the young Ann, was marvelous and re-established my belief in her beauty and talent. She is growing up good! And Toni Collette as the younger of Ann's two daughters turned in a very poignant portrayal of a woman making important decisions about her life as she watches her mother fade away. Of special note: Natasha Richardson, who was actually Redgraves' daughter, played her other daughter in what was probably their final film together. Some plot devices tended to be a little too pat, but overall a thoughtful film. And the cast! How many films can boast hiring Meryl Streep and Glenn Close for small supporting roles? Emotional without being sappy or overly sentimental.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Evening," Ann Lord(Vanessa Redgrave) is on her deathbed, being watched over by her two grown daughters, Constance(Natasha Richardson) and NIna(Toni Collette). Suffering from dementia, she utters a mysterious sentence about killing Buddy with the help… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Evening," Ann Lord(Vanessa Redgrave) is on her deathbed, being watched over by her two grown daughters, Constance(Natasha Richardson) and NIna(Toni Collette). Suffering from dementia, she utters a mysterious sentence about killing Buddy with the help of Harris.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]Rewind 50 years and Ann(Claire Danes) is a singer from Greenwich Village who is attending the wedding of Lila(Mamie Gummer), a friend of hers from college, in Newport. Her brother Buddy(Hugh Dancy) disapproves feeling that she should instead marry Harris(Patrick Wilson), the son of their housekeeper, now a doctor, who is the love of her life. But to be frank, everybody loves Harris.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Evening" has a great cast which is nice but the performances are inconsistent to say the least. Toni Collette is by far the best but Claire Danes is very much miscast. Lacking any kind of vision, the movie is told very conventionally with a couple of moments of imagination. It is ironic when you consider that the movie celebrates the very notion of convention. It is about characters who always manage to take the safe way out.(If I have any regrets on my deathbed, it will be for what risks I did not take. I may occasionally think about decisions I have made in the past but I felt they were the right choices at the time and I stand by them.) For men, this would mean a career. For women, marriage and children. This attitude was bad enough in the 1950's but much worse in the present day.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]What would have been much more interesting would have been to give the movie over entirely to a stream of consciousness, having Ann look back on the many focal points in her life(not just her friend's wedding which gets old fast), confusing the past and present in the bargain.(There is some of this but simply not enough.) In the process, the present would be curtailed and this would have been a tighter and better movie.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Note: The pope is coming to town. I'm leaving town. And I will return to these pages on Monday April 28. After that, posting may be a little sporadic due to the NHL playoffs and jury duty.[/font]

• Chihoe H

  
  All in all, it was underwhelming. The disjunct flow of scene intervals, monotonous pace while reflecting both times, and improper start, end, character introduction and building, were the film's downfall. The great cast did a brilliant job in keeping the movie alive, especially,… More
  All in all, it was underwhelming. The disjunct flow of scene intervals, monotonous pace while reflecting both times, and improper start, end, character introduction and building, were the film's downfall. The great cast did a brilliant job in keeping the movie alive, especially, Danes (ILU), Dancy, Richardson and Collette. Claire Danes acoustic singing is an added plus too! It had all the potential to be a great movie of reflections and decisions, although there were some good moments. The book was better, but did nothing for me either.

• Daniel P

  
  Review soon. I sobbed. Yes I'm a cry-baby and I don't care.

• Philip P

  
  Was not as great as it had promised to be. Yes the story was nice and the acting was great, but it was missing something that spark that really makes a love story worth sitting through. You wanted to root for Claire Daines and Harris but then you felt bad for her best friend because… More
  Was not as great as it had promised to be. Yes the story was nice and the acting was great, but it was missing something that spark that really makes a love story worth sitting through. You wanted to root for Claire Daines and Harris but then you felt bad for her best friend because you knew she didnt want to marry the other guy and then you felt bad for buddy-it just was a little much and not one central love story to attach yourself too. It was nice, the actresses performances are a worthy cause to view it, but only if you have 2 hours to spare.

• Yinalí R

  
  Cool movie.

• William G

  
  Yet another suffocatingly sappy tale of romance and regret.

• m h

  
  A very emotional and heartwrenching movie that was filled sadness and tragedy. Not just with the dying mother, but how no one really ended up with who they really wanted or how Buddy dies...after being rejected. Besides her daughters, did anyone really end up happy? With the life they… More
  A very emotional and heartwrenching movie that was filled sadness and tragedy. Not just with the dying mother, but how no one really ended up with who they really wanted or how Buddy dies...after being rejected. Besides her daughters, did anyone really end up happy? With the life they wanted? i just needed a little more happiness. But on the other hand, at least they didn't try to have a typical hollywood ending like most movies do. This movie is pretty typical of what real life would be. But still, I needed a happy ending. Just to make up for all the sadness throughout it. The cast did a wonderful job, very well acted, very believable. And its a pretty good story too. Some of the scenes were very beautifully shot. I liked the backdrops. However the movie kind of dragged on. I mean its a good movie, but nothing that will stick with me for years to come. Good, but kind of forgettable. Still worth a watch I guess.

• Audrey L

  
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