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A Painted House (2003)

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15:05-17:00 Fri 29th May 2009 115m
Five

Synopsis

The book might have been a bestseller but this TV adaptation of John Grisham's eponymous coming-of-age tale is surprisingly underwhelming. Offering a romanticised view of life in 1950s rural America, it charts the experiences of the ten-year-old son of a cotton farmer over one difficult Arkansas summer. As far as the plot goes, the film feels bitty and inconsequential, touching on serious issues from class conflict to murder without depth or emotional impact. Insipid acting doesn't help, with even old hands such as Scott Glenn - who plays the youngster's grandpa - lacking necessary verve. The end result is engaging enough, though director Alfonso Arau (Like Water for Chocolate) is capable of better.