Trying to put himself back together after serving prison time for robbery, Paul takes a job as a parks employee in a small Connecticut town. His co-worker, Murph, a generation older than Paul, is dealing with his own issues, chiefly the the impending death of his very ill gay son. After the men have a run-in with local snob Frederickson, Murph's age and experience starts to temper Paul's fiery nature, as the younger man begins to embrace his new life.
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There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Approaching retirement age, Connecticut parks and recreation worker Ned Beatty (as Murph) is partnered with young ex-convict Liev Schreiber (as Paul). In dire need of cash, the latter held up a "Dunkin' Donuts". While Mr. Beatty looks back on a life soon culminating with his own tragedy, Mr. Schreiber looks forward to a possible second chance. We begin with Schreiber's hot-tempered encounter with manipulative Campbell Scott (as Ronnie Fredrickson). This begins a father/son bond between the two leading men. Beatty decides to lend Schreiber a helping hand, for reasons which become evident; as we learn about Beatty's relationship with his own, doomed son. Writer/director Tom Gilroy's story unfolds slowly, and includes a couple of disjointed vignettes, but strands weave together outside a funeral home; and, we are left uplifted, after listening to two extraordinary men save lives they never expected to save.******** Spring Forward (9/11/99) Tom Gilroy ~ Ned Beatty, Liev Schreiber, Campbell Scott, Catherine Kellner
I liked this movie and found it an interesting character study that creates a hypnotic viewing experience. A few times the writing can be a bit overboard, but it's mostly very good.The one scene that stood out to me as really out of character was one towards the first where the character Paul runs off into the woods and starts crying. To me, it seemed vary unlikely that it would've happened this way. It doesn't seem likely, and this seemed more like a blunt object to set up the plot and background than coming out of the character here.To me, this movie was much more interesting for things that were unsaid than for the things that were said. The negative space is used well and I was glad they didn't follow up everything with some explanation of what happened next. You have to stay observant and make connections rather than expecting to be spoon fed. Nothing is certain in life, and neither is this movie. If you want a very linear storyline then go see something else. But if you want to examine the edges of things that are said and things that are meant, but not said, this is a good movie.Fascinating to watch. Peri Gilpin's brief appearance was perfect, also.
Well, I guess if one feels that if nothing blows up, and no one is killed, that "nothing happens" in this movie, then one would be correct. However, if you want to see one of the great actors of the last 30 years (Ned Beatty) and an up and coming insanely great actor (Lieb Schriver) just have normal interactions, that are still riveting, for they are so real, then this is the movie for you. Just watching these two guys interact is wonderful. And the puppies are really cute (not to mention Lieb Schriver). Sorry if I spelled his name incorrectly. In any event, this is one of the few DVDs I have bought. This and Napolean Dynamite, which might give you an idea of how widespread my tastes are! But heck..to each his own, right? I think this is a terrific website, too!
A rare delight for those of us who watch a movie more for the acting techniques than for the explosions and bikini babes. Beatty and Schrieber portray two city workers who muse about their lives during their day to day working relationship. Nothing really major happens. No plot twists abound. No great arc of transference happens in the plot, just a gentle "getting to know you" feeling develops as the viewer gets drawn into the story very gently. I've seen lots of movies and I must say this is one where I couldn't predict what would happen next because it defies Hollywood traditions by choosing the natural moments in life to focus on rather than the supernatural. It's a small gem for those that prefer their movies to be more introspective than most
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