The Russell Girl (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jeff Bleckner

Writer:

Jill E. Blotevogel (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Sarah Russell, a 23-year-old aspiring medical school student, visits her family to share some important news but instead finds herself confronting a difficult period from her past. |

Cast

Amber Tamblyn	...	Sarah Russell
Jennifer Ehle	...	Lorainne Morrissey
Henry Czerny	...	Howard Morrisey
Paul Wesley	...	Evan Carroll
Tim DeKay	...	Tim Russell
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Gayle Russell
Daniel Clark	...	Daniel Russell
Ben Lewis	...	Jon Morrissey
Max Morrow	...	Rick Morrissey
Richard Leacock	...	Dr. Gordon
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Ray
Rebecca Dreiling	...	Karaoke Girl
Max MacBride	...	Young Jon
William Cuddy	...	Young Rick
Paula Barrett	...	Fran

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Claremont, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Gillham Road Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When coming home from the baseball game John's uniform is completely clean although he participated in the game and should have gotten dirty.

Superb Writing, Superb Performances

This is one of the best movies I've seen in years. While the "Matrix" crowd may consider the plot "slow," I consider it natural and unhurried. This movie rests on its WRITING and PERFORMANCE, not fancy graphics, nudity, or profanity. You can watch this show with your 3-year-old.

Two families are caught in a very plausible conflict. There is a lot of judgment, anger, blame, self-loathing, and fear involved. The conflict rises to an almost intolerable level, but then is eventually resolved.

Like many real-life conflicts and wounds, the Russell girl walls herself off in unhealthy denial and self-judgment. The family doesn't help either, with the mother blinding herself to the depth of her daughter's guilt.

True to the self-righteous, self-justified attitude of humans in their worst light, the antagonist (Jennifer Ehle) had deepened the wound for many years, but with the artful interplay of emotions and relationships woven by Blotevogel, the wound is finally punctured and healed.

My hat is off to Jill Blotevogel, Jeff Bleckner, Amber Tamblyn, and all the people involved in making this excellent film.