Film: The Greatest
Cast includes: Carey Mulligan (An Education), Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise)
Writer/Director: Shana Feste (Country Strong)
Genre: Light Drama 2010
In brief: Bennett Brewer has a secret to tell Rose… “I’ve been in love with you…” …and those are Bennett’s last words before the fatal car crash. Rose had waited since freshman year for Bennett to notice her. And suddenly, cruelly it’s over. At the funeral, Bennett’s parents notice Rose… she’s the one with a cast on her arm. Rose survived the crash and now, three months later, Rose is at the Brewer’s front door. “I’m the one he got pregnant.” Rose is keeping the baby. All she wants from the Brewers is a chance to know the father of her baby… a chance to know the things she would have known about Bennett, had he not been killed so suddenly.
The problem is that no one in Bennett’s family is prepared to connect with Rose… mostly because they’re not prepared to accept that Bennett’s dead. Grace is desperately trying to find out from the man in the other vehicle if her son suffered. Allen doesn’t want to talk about his son… as if not talking about him will change the fact that he was killed. Ryan is overwhelmed by the prospect of being compared to his older brother, who was the greatest… voted “the best all around” by his classmates. Rose is an intruder on the family’s grieving process. But Rose’s relationship with Bennett isn’t over… it’s just beginning… but she doesn’t want the father of her baby to be unknown.
While the topic is serious, the handling of the story is more of a warm, feel-good family drama. We soon realize we’re never in any real danger of having our emotions tested by an overly difficult narrative. There’s little doubt as the plot unfolds that it will all come together neatly in the end. If anything, it’s a little too neat and feels a bit contrived, but it’s entertaining.
2 popped kernels
Well done but not very challenging or memorable
Popcorn Diary
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Both upbeat and somber
Tempo: In no hurry
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Thought provoking
