I expected a lighthearted comedy, and instead I got a slow-moving story that was actually pretty depressing. And I’m actually hesitant to call it a story — there didn’t seem to be any discernable plot. It was just a bunch of little stuff that didn’t build up to much of anything. Amy Adams was, as always, fantastic, but I feel like Benjamin McKenzie was wasted on this film — his role didn’t nearly do him justice as an actor.

All in all, I found myself mostly bored and ultimately disappointed.

a lot of people seem displeased with lingering shots of scenery, pacing, and a lack of conclusions for this movie. not me. i thought the colors, composition, and pace was really beautiful; it turned the countryside and their lives into another work of art, like the outsider art madeleine was so eager to go elsewhere and find. i would have liked some more backstory development—like why exactly ben mckenzie’s character was that mad at his brother, and why the brother was kind of an asshole. but the end of the movie seemed to fit the flow of the family Life: few, if any, questions answered out loud—but with lots going on in the silent background (or in their minds, or in their woodshops, etc.).

amy adams makes it a DEFINITE worth consuming.

This was a very strange movie. And from someone who likes strange movies, that’s saying a lot. I didn’t really care for it. The only likeable characters are Embeth Davitz and Amy Adams. Amy Adams definitely steals the show.

This movie just seems to show us a place and time of this weird and distant family – doesn’t really tell us anything. I wouldn’t watch it again.

It’s one of those movies where I kept checking to see how many minutes were left.

Amy Adams was fantastic in this movie. She takes a character who could easily have been irritating and unintelligent and instead gives her such heart and likeability. It’s easy to see why her performance has been so loved.

The movie itself, however, was not so good. What was up with those lingering shots on empty rooms and scenery? As the director isn’t Terrance Malick, they seemed quite unnecessary and could have turned a 100 minute movie into a pretty decent 80 minute movie.

Alas. It wasn’t to be.

But we love Amy Adams.

I finally watched this movie today. It was very good. It ended a bit too abruptly for me. I wanted more story. But alas, it was not to be. LOL. Ben McKenzie (the guy from O.C.) was great in this. I really, really liked him in this. But Amy Adams was the star. She was great. She made me laugh out loud, and she gave a great performance. I recommend this movie. It is great.

Slow and totally without purpose. Not at all entertaining.