A Place for Annie

I was sitting at home last Saturday, bored to tears, turned on the t.v. and for the next two hours sat entranced by this powerful and moving film that really did justice to the HIV-babies and their mothers that we hear so much about.

Top-billed Spacek and Mary Louise-Parker really shine in this film...Parker (who has full blown AIDS) comes back to reclaim Annie, her child, who she was forced to give up when the baby was six months old. Spacek adopted Annie and the film shows the tensions and struggle that the two ladies go through to see eye to eye in the care of Annie. The end may surprise a few people; the entire film is top-notch!

Sissy Spacek is way too righteous, and Mary Louise Parker too much a snot. What saves this movie is Joan Plowright, and Jack Noseworthy playing normal people, and they do it well. Susan Lansing is a single mother who was thrown out of her family when she became pregnant at 16. Years later she supervises a neonatal unit, and becomes outraged at the benign neglect given to aids babys. She nurtures, fosters, and want's to adopt Annie. Annie's mom, meanwhile has gotten sober and is looking for some redemption. Much follows as the two fight over the child, but the best reason to watch this move is the scene the morning after Linda almost burns down Susans house. Jack Noseworthy and Joan Plowright drive the scene, and it's the best in this movie.

Yes ladies, Gentleman and gracious people inbetween... this is another film to throw the whole HIV thing in our faces. It's inevitable really... they'll keep on playing the story out until they find a cure... and then when they do find a cure, there'll be a flood of sequels! Sissy plays mom... and Sissy plays mom well... but that's about it really. It's made for TV gumf... so if you like this kind of thing, then you'll like it. You sad git.

I had a better time watching the dust settle on the top of my TV. AVOID.

2 flaps out of 10 (and that's just because I'm in a good mood)

Yes that is basically what this movie is whether you liked the film or not.

I personally did not.

I found it to be patronizing, overly technical and just so damn sappy the important message of the film was almost (but not entirely) drowned under the thick treacle coating and so-so acting.

Why such a brilliant actress like Sissy Spacek continues to make films like this is beyond me, apart that important little word beginning with M (money if you're wondering).

By watching this film you get the idea that it is there to not just educate and make people aware of the situation regarding HIV babies, but to draw it out into a long and almost boring sermon.

Though I do understand and appreciate the fact that this film is appealing to quite alot of viewers, I can only give my opinion by stamping it "BAD".

Sissy Spacek was outstanding in this movie, as was the actress that portrayed the babysitter. However, the way the Child Welfare agent handled the case for the mother who had previously abandoned her baby, Annie, was so unrealistic! I might addd, what judge would award custody to a crackhead who passed her HIV to an innocent child, and then totally abandon that child? Also, why was no home visit conducted on the biological mother, and the foster mom who wanted to adopt this child? That is something that is always part of the process to ensure a child has a clean decent environment in which to live, before a judge hands down a decision whether or not to award custody to a biological mother or allow a foster mom to adopt the child. By failing to order home visits, the judge had nothing to compare as far as home environments for the child. If the judge would have ordered home visits to be conducted by a Child Welfare agent the agent would have seen firsthand the trashy place that that Annie was going to be forced to live in, versus the healthy environment provided by the foster mom who wanted to adopt Annie, and there would be no way the judge would have granted custody to the biological mother! This whole situation concerning the way this custody decision was handled was totally absurd! I think the writers should have done more research on the process that a Child Welfare Agency actually follows in real life, to avoid misleading the viewing audience. The storyline was quite heart wrenching however. It clearly shows the devastation that occurs to those who get involved in the habit, and the innocent ones in their lives as well!