You won't be disappointed!

The Worst Film Ever

the audience applauded

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

"Winter Solstice" is a gem. Its great strength is its acting and characterizations. And it almost never gives in to its audience. Nor to the usual guy film boilerplate.LaPaglia and Janney are up to their usual high standards, but what amazes is that the two sons are remarkably up to their level. They are outright convincing both as individuals and as brothers. And are no more self-conscious, or less in control of their roles than the two leads. If anything, Aaron Stanford as Gabe may have almost stolen center stage.But no worry because the acting, the script, the direction seem to conspire against stardom and showing off. Low key is the intent and no manipulation is in order. The only reservation I have is the touch of romance between Jim and Molly. It may be argued that this is who they are, but I think that the movie's context and content, or the movie taken as a whole, insists on friendship and mutual support--and no more.Finally, this is chiefly a male movie. But to its great credit it never hints at male bonding nor aligns itself with male socialization. Every attempt by the father to assert his role is easily foiled by his peer sons, and every time father and sons act in the male mode, they are quick to relent. The father no more runs his family than does a single parent mother, although like them, he may occasionally try. In short, all the societal and peer pressures are present in this film, but male bonding or male authority are never shown to be a viable responses--not for the father, not for the sons, nor for the other guys that inhabit their world.

This is one of the best movies about men in the midst of emotional turmoil that I have ever seen. Anthony LaPaglia,playing the part of the widower father, Jim Winters, of two sons brings a subtle defeat to every spare word he utters and every movement he makes.The unspoken pain is tangible. The sons have reacted in their own way to their mother's death. The elder in a low paying menial job, the younger, who has a hearing handicap, just about tunes out of everything and is failing in school.The father does his best at being a father but is woefully inadequate through his emotional unavailability. There are no easy solutions in this crie-de-couer of a movie. And mercifully no two by fours of plot development either. Rather we are gently drawn into this shattered family and get to care about them. Jim's slow emergence into the real world (he makes a tentative connection with a new neighbour, played by Alison Janney with a lovely softness) and his slow letting go of his elder son, is the basis of the movie.Wonderful script and direction by Josh Sternfield. Shots were a little too murky on the small screen at times. But overall an 8 out of 10. Movie is highly recommended as one of the sharpest and most telling insights into the emotional world of men.

Winter Solstice tries hard. It really does.It pretends to be a "meditation" on family life, but it fails miserably...what it offers is 90 minutes worth of poorly scripted and shabbily edited material (if you do see this film, check out the boom microphones floating at the top of the screen...I laughed out loud: it was awesome!) The actors did a great job considering the lack of material they had to work with; unfortunately, they could do no better than trudge through a painfully shallow storyline, which, for even the most patient film viewer, is SUPER FRUSTRATING.Save your cash and scold your local theatre houses for charging people to see this rubbish. Shame on them!

In Winter Solstice Josh Sternfeld's debate as a director is a true original. This is a movie that shows exactly how men communicate. Men tend to avoid emotional conversations. Some women may look at this negatively because of their frustration with this fact. Women would love to see their men discuss their inner most feelings and share in their pain and happiness. This movie shows the truth behind men's issues with showing emotion. Many people would consider it an ego thing. I think it is more of pride in oneself. Men were brought up to stand on their own two feet, and to make it on their own steam. This is exactly what Jim Winters(played by Anthony Lapaglia) deals with in raising his two sons on his own. Jim and his two sons have to make it on their own after the loss of Jim's wife. The three communicate in a truly male way. Not saying much, but saying a lot in how they act and react. I could relate to this movie so well because all of the conversations I had with my father were very much the same as in this movie. If you are a man who wants to see men portrayed in the light they deserve go see this movie. If you are a woman frustrated with not being able to talk to your man, take some time to watch this movie and try to leave any prejudice at the door. Winter Solstice is not an exciting movie by any stretch of the imagination. Its about everyday life and how men deal with their lives. Go see it, but don't expect some major complicated plot. Its as uncomplicated as most men are.