An Unfinished Life Blu-ray review
By Alexandra Heilbron on September 24, 2013 | 3 Comments
When An Unfinished Life first came out in theatres, it didn’t get much fanfare. I saw it on the big screen and considering it was released by a major studio (Miramax), I couldn’t understand why there was minimal publicity and it opened on only a handful of screens across North America. It deserved much more and that’s why it’s great news that it’s being released on Blu-ray, so more people will have the opportunity to see this gem.
An Unfinished Life tells the story of Einar Gilkyson (Robert Redford), a man who is so angry about his son Griffin’s death in a car accident 12 years earlier that he’s become bitter and unable to enjoy life
— years later, he’s still wallowing in his grief. He lives on a ranch with his former ranch hand, Mitch (Morgan Freeman), who was attacked by a grizzly a year earlier when he and Einar startled it as it was devouring one of their calves. Mitch needs daily care, including a needle to deal with the pain. Mitch lives in a small cottage next to the ranch, and Einar brings him his meals, helps him dress and plays cards with him to pass the time. Their friendship is an anchor in Einar’s life — it makes him feel needed and gives him someone to talk to.
Meanwhile, Einar’s daughter-in-law, Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez) has bounced from bad relationship to bad relationship, dragging her 11-year-old daughter, Griff (Becca Gardner), along with her. Finally unable to continue to expose Griff to the violence she endures at the hands of her current boyfriend, Gary, Jean leaves him. When her car breaks down, leaving her and Griff with little money to survive on, she buys bus tickets to the small town where her father-in-law lives. He’s surprised and none too pleased to see her, because she was the driver of the car in the accident that killed Griffin. He’s nonplussed to discover he has a granddaughter — Jean explains she discovered she was pregnant shortly after Griffin’s funeral. She promises she’ll only stay until she can get a job and get back on her feet, then she and Griff will move on.
Mitch is thrilled to have some life back on the ranch, which ceased to be a productive ranch after the bear attack. However, he carries no ill will towards the bear, saying that it was only doing what bears do, so when the bear is captured and kept in a small cage, it causes him considerable worry.
Ultimately, the movie’s theme is that of forgiveness — can we forgive those who have caused us pain, when that wasn’t their intent? Can we get over our pain and see the beauty in the life we have now, and not dwell on what we don’t have?
The ranch scenes were filmed at Indian Gardens Ranch in British Columbia and the mountains and surrounding scenery are breathtaking. The performances are also outstanding – Redford is gruff but charismatic as Einar – it’s tough not to admire and like him despite his quick temper. Freeman is gentle and wise, but strong-willed as Mitch. Lopez gives a good performance as Jean, who hasn’t been able to have a healthy relationship with a man since her husband died, because her guilt makes her feel unworthy of being loved by a good man. Becca Gardner, as the stoic but open-hearted Griff, turns in a performance so real, so understated, that it’s hard to realize she’s acting.
An Unfinished Life is presented in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround, and includes the following special features:
- Audio commentary with director Lasse Hallström, producer Leslie Holleran and editor Andrew Mondshein
- The Making of An Unfinished Life featurette
- Training Bart the Bear featurette
Other home releases this week include: Iron Man 3, The Collection, Fill the Void, The Kings of Summer and Redemption. ~Alexandra Heilbron
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I’ve seen it. Good movie.
I too saw this film in the theatres and could not understand why it wasn’t given more traction. The above reviewer said it was a gem…absolutely true. See this movie. Wonderful cast and story.
Most was filmed in Ashcroft / Kamloops and Logan Lake area.