Big Stone Gap

I don't think I stopped smiling from the first frame until the end, even though a few times I was smiling through tears. Call it a chick flick if you will, but this is a film with great heart and more than a little gravitas. I have enjoyed Adriana Trigiani's novels for years and was pleased to see that Big Stone Gap was to be made into a film. I admit that I was a bit skeptical about the author serving as writer and director, but kudos to her for an outstanding job! The cast is excellent -- Ashley Judd and Patrick Wilson are just right as not-so-young single residents of a small Virginia town where everybody wants to mind their business. The supporting cast includes veteran actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jenna Elfman and Judith Ivey, who really pull their weight. It's funny, heartwarming, and absolutely beautiful, shot on location in the real town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where Trigiani grew up (and where Patrick Wilson's grandparents lived. Go figure.) No phony Southern accents in this film - They get it right. Thank you!!

I read where someone said it was a film that would only interest residents of Big Stone Gap. Not true! It does however, depict a way of life that is fast fading away. The movie is set in 1978, as was the book of the same title, but I can tell you having visited the area, that it remains largely unchanged today. Trigiani consistently creates characters in her novels that touch our hearts and become our friends. This movie version of her debut novel truly brings her already vibrant characters to life. I credit the honesty of the film, and it's adherence to the original story, to Trigiani's hands-on approach to movie making. It is obvious her heart and soul went into this project. If the reviewers who criticize would only slow down, step back, and allow themselves to be transported to this simpler time and place, they too would fall in love with Big Stone Gap.

Well, it has some cudling moments for the ones who likes to lugh and cry when watching movie, and especially the last will hit a high score. but what we missed, my wife and i, was the true sting to the plot of the story. actually, there are really nothing groundbreaking and unique about this film. the acting are good, and the cast tries to make a beautiful impression, but the jumping jack flashy-feeling are missing here and youll never really '' find that lovly feelin' ''. it would have been a lot more interesting if she left looking for her father.....

its based on a novel, a fine one for sure, but adapting the story into a screenplay are difficult and in this instance i feel the glitch-factor alot. the time line and fast shifting environments and rather awkward editing and direction , makes it hard to follow and rend into the story

its not a rewatch for me , and the grumpy old mans wife does just barely recommend it.

A small town woman in the late 70s whose at that age when she should be married with children, by the standards of the town, discovers who her real father is, which causes her to take a second look at life.

The story is laid out perfectly as Ashley Judd leads and ensemble cast that features Whoopi Goldberg, Jenna Elfman, and Patrick Wilson. It's one of those things that delivers by the third act, and it makes you feel good inside.

However the first two acts are not that inspiring for me. The jokes seem off and the delivery was pretty lackluster.

The whole thing may have been too corny for my taste and more suitable for the small town folks the story is about.

The movie ends strong, but not so strong that I would recommend watching the entire thing.

Adriana Trigiani is a fantastic writer especially if you are from the south and have moved away. Her humor is spot on with her southern twist. Love her books and have anxiously awaited seeing this movie for some time. I hope it gets better distribution soon. Fantastic cast. Ashley Judd, Whoopi & Jenna Elfman were cast perfectly for their characters and so was everyone else. Scenery was beautiful. I have read nearly all of her books and I hope we have a sequel soon because the story just gets better and better in the other books. Prepare to laugh and laugh. Her portrayal of a true small southern town is so special. You feel like you are part of the town and you feel like you know everyone. It's a turn back in time of the way things used to be. It's a special movie full of heart and soul.