The Road to Galena

Empty philosophy about happiness and the purpose of life. It offers nothing new, nothing different

Beautifully shot movie. Poetic view of small-town life. Reminiscent of "Our Town." All of the supporting characters' lives have impact and carry a lot of weight. The main character is transformed by the people around him.

This film carried many sophisticated themes on its back for the full duration. Unfortunately they imploded under the weight of a Hallmark-style/Nicolas Sparks-style delivery. The widow of so-many-months suddenly is open to her first love, is convenient. The managing partner who committed to the firm a few months previous is now sticking a flag in his tiny hometown to fight big business. There are too many superheroes and too many villains for this to be real. The real takeaway is that innumerable martyrs have complicated the field for the living by doing disingenuous things, rather than listening to ones whom they claimed to love. This was a fabricated and convoluted conflict story based upon the sum ignorance of mortals.

Inspirational story about following your dreams set against a gorgeous rural backdrop!

The casting was excellent; the story is told as much in imagery as it is in words. There are a lot of very heart-wrenching moments throughout the movie. The opening is very key, so watch it carefully. A wonderful story about growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and where life takes you.

Galena, Maryland a hour and a half from Philly and Baltimore. Less than a hour from Wilmington, De. It is barely country. You can literally jump on a train to Washington, Dc. It sings praises of things being green and seeing wild horses but you are literally 2-3 hours away from Washington, DC, Baltimore, All of Virginia, and philly. These small towns are just as corrupt and nepotism matters. Just because you don't see doesn't mean it isn't there(grew up in the area)

Okay, so sit down for storytime: this movie was filmed near my hometown and my parents are in a few background shots as extras; it's a bit surreal seeing places you knew as a kid used as the setting for a movie. Anyway, a couple of times that they were on set they took my dog, a then-12-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Shadow that loved everybody and would sell you out for the skin off a piece of bologna. There was no need to bring her there, nobody had asked for a dog to be brought in for a shot or anything. But the production team included her as part of a few takes anyway, walking down a town sidewalk with my parents, and apparently she was constantly distracting because the main cast would stop to pet her instead of delivering their lines properly as the script called for. This happened every. single. time. None of the takes with her made it into the final version, so clearly someone at the editing department has no taste. Release the Shadow cut, you cowards. Anyway the movie's not very good. Poorly paced, inconsistent characters, and simultaneously worshiping and weirdly patronizing of the farm life. Injects some hefty drama later when it goes sort of Death of a Salesman but wanders around through subplots before it gets there. (1.5/5)

Absolutely recommend this movie. A young lawyer who has always achieved his dad's lofty goals for him reconsiders what is important to him: his friends and the farm town he grew up in. It's out of theaters now and on Amazon.

Solid acting from main characters, good to see Jill Hennessy on screen again.

Great story. Wonder cinematography. Entertaining from beginning to end!