Susan Granger’s review of “An Unfinished Life” (Miramax Films)
If you’re curious why this Lasse Hallstrom picture sat on the shelf for two years, look no further than Jennifer Lopez, seriously miscast as a desperate widow who moves in with her father-in-law because she has no where else to go when she flees from an abusive boyfriend.
Jean Gilkyson (Lopez) was responsible for the car crash which killed her husband, the only son of Einer Gilkyson (Robert Redford), who has never forgiven her. Aside from caring from his injured buddy Mitch (Morgan Freeman), who was mauled by a bear, ornery Einer has stoically isolated himself on his now-defunct cattle ranch in Wyoming. Jean and her 11 year-old daughter (newcomer Becca Gardner) are unwelcome, barely tolerated guests. But Jean gets a waitressing job with Nina (Camryn Manheim) and begins an affair with the local sheriff (Josh Lucas). The dramatic menace is provided by the unwelcome appearance of Jean’s bad-tempered boyfriend (Damian Lewis) and a grizzly (Bart the Kodiak Bear) that prowls the nearby mountains.
Written by Mark and Virginia Korus Spragg, it’s a small, intimate story about forgiveness – about how the things that rip people apart somehow bring them back together. But it never quite works on an emotional level. Despite a facial bruise obviously supplied by a make-up expert, J-Lo doesn’t have the acting chops to pull off this kind of complex, sympathetic role, so Lasse Hallstrom (“Chocolat,” “The Cider House Rules”) is forced to compensate by focusing, scene-after-scene, on Redford’s terse reactions, although Morgan Freeman contributes his usual stalwart authenticity. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “An Unfinished Life” is a sentimental 6, tugging at the heartstrings but only on a strictly superficial level.
