A life affirming movie which establishes that we are all part of a bigger plan and we all have roles in our lives. Highly recommend this movie about the value of our lives!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
One of very few films I've purchased that I actually turned off less than halfway through. A cognitively dull, white male nostalgia-fest. While the production did an excellent job at historic props & costumes, the actual dialogue/characters failed to engage. Donating to my local thrift store - someone's sure to like it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this movie because I had heard such good stuff about the book. The movie is good - maybe the book will be even better (I usually read before I watch - but didn't have time for the book yet). You know the saying..."The book was even better..." It does have a nice theme/idea to it. It's definitely an appropriate movie to give as a gift to someone like, say a parent or a conservative friend - I ordered another copy for my mother-in-law. I think the rating must be maybe PG 13, least I would rate it as such - since my dvd said "Not Rated". There are a few somewhat violent scenes - but nothing in comparison to the 'big blockbusters'. Overall, I think they did a good job - it is certainly a movie that makes you think about how we are all connected in this world. It's inspiring in that sense. I just ordered the audiobook for my sister - so we'll see how she likes it, and I'll be back to review again for that item! If you like movies that inspire in that sense (without all the overrated action scenes) then you might very well like this movie.Read full review
What "Color Purple" did for our disheartened souls in the 80s, Five People does for the unimportant and weak for our hard times in the here and now. Somehow, I missed this about the time I really needed to see it, but now I'm glad I did. In this made-for-television film produced in conjuction with Hallmark and one of the best-selling N.Y. Times authors/producers Mitch Albom, John Voight takes his career to a totally new level in his role as Eddie, the 83 year old maintenance man at Ruby Pier Amusement Park who has spent his entire adult life (with the exception of Army Veteran in W.W.II) The film begins with intertwined flashbacks that help us get acquainted with the now old Eddie (John Voight), the child Eddie (Callahan Brebner, and the Young Man Eddie (Steven Grayhm). As Eddie's wartime experiences are dramatized along with his courtship with Marguerite, we learn how Eddie was crushed in early life by his unfulfilled dreams of his youth and his subsequent disillusionment with a bum leg. Director Lloyd Kramer uses color to distinguish between the now and then: black and white for the past, blue for the present, and orange for heaven. The film allows us to realize that life is not a series of random events without meaning or purpose, but that everything happens for a reason and that it is important to communicate with those we may have hurt, forgive others, and refrain from superficial thinking and poor judgment. Five People shows us just how important our lives really are, no matter how small and insignificant our parts may seem to others, are part of the vast web of interconnections that affects everyone and everything. The ripple effect plays out like a rock hitting a pond. Eddie has an accident at work in which he passed over, He was smashed by a lift ride at the park while trying to save a little girl. He couldn't remember whether he had save her or not, just felt warmth, joy, love, and peace. Eddie meets and talks with five people who were not easily identified as such, but perhaps the most influential people in his life that changed the outcome of who he was and why. Eddie was quick to anger and slow to reason and he painstakingly strove to grasp the reasons why these people happened to be so important to him in heaven. As he gets and instant replay of traumatic events from the past, it soon becomes clear what they share with him. This knowledge allows him to complete and illuminate the past. Eddie first meets "The Blue Man" (Jeff Daniels), part of the sideshow at the park. The second was his Army captain (Michael Imperioli). The third was the original owner's wife of Ruby Pier (Ellen Burstyn). The fourth was his wife Marguerite (Dagmara Dominczyk) who died earlier in his marriage. Lastly was little Filipino girl named Tala (Nicaela and Shelbie Weigel). Each shows him how he impacted their life or they his--and not always for the better. This film is quite moving and tender at many moments and very stirring at others. John Voight played this role when he was 66 and he's 71 now. He's normally 6'3" and his younger version is actually on 5'10", however, he hunched over quite a bit and had pounds of makeup on playing 83. It was amazing to see him perform in this film, although I think he actually did have a stuntman in many takes to do the really hard stuff. Thanks John. Thanks for making a difference in many people's life. I'm so glad that you have the opportunity to do so many wonferful things. I've got give 5/5Read full review
Absolutely love this movie! Have to follow it closely as the ending brings everything to light. Makes one think about just how much we are all inter-connected! Enjoy!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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