Around the Bend (2004)

Please don't spend money on this.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Banal, confusing, with a seemingly endless stream of lame histrionics. The actors appear to be sleepwalking. A tiresome one-note piece of crap.Caine manages to camp it up dutifully. Even more than usual, Walken appears to be impersonating a corpse. The score is annoying and irrelevant. The narrative contains not a single amusing scene. The whole mélange is an insult to the creative and productive act.So unremittingly awful that only those seeking a near-death experience should even consider it. Rigor mortis will set in quickly. It will drive anybody in search of even a tincture of human sensibility Around the Bend.Not even with Monopoly money, folks.

I found this to be one of the most tedious and pointless films I've ever seen. According to the DVD cover it was suppose to be funny and a masterpiece. It was neither what it was was slow and depressing. It tried to be profound, nearly every line spoken was spoken like it was the most profound thing ever said. None of the characters were either likable or even that believable. At the start gathering from the music it was trying to be whimsical but it was as flat as a pancake. Despite having two great actors in Michael Caine and Christopher Walken not even they could save this from being a stone cold turkey. The only good thing about this film was the soundtrack and the cinematography (New Mexico always looks amazing). 2/10

This is what is known as a "mid-sized movie", full of recognizable, but good, character actors, engaging dialog, strong intimacy, and no need to dazzle and impact a viewpoint of the audience. As that, it is perfect.The plot involves four generations of the Lair family, a kooky great-grandfather who deals with his impending death by thinking up alternative funerals, a grandfather who has been missing for decades due to a history of alcoholism and thievery, a son who "just wants to be normal" (we always know how well that works in family-driven films...), and a grandson who wants to go along for the ride because it will be fun. Once the grandfather (Walken) comes home, the great-grandfather makes some plans... only he has to die to make sure his progenitors will carry it through. Enter a road-trip, some spice-of-life, and a generous heaping of self-discovery, and voila, you get the prototype for this film.I think what's interesting about this movie is that it's full of dazzling panoramic long-shots of New Mexican sunsets, and yet in those shots maintains a close intimacy with the characters. Intimacy is the defining word in every case for this movie, as even when the characters are trying their darnedness to reject their family, their words bleed a need to be together. And they all know it.This movie isn't the type to last on the conscious of many viewers because it's so quiet and devoted, but it has strong sticking power to those few who really enjoy its color and colorful characters.--PolarisDiB

This film, has that feel good ending. The type of film that makes you sit back and wonder about your own life.The Klennix moments were backed up with sparks of love and joy.If you like "Life is a House" then you will love this. A must to watch.Christopher Walken never fails to let you down, with brilliant acting that seemed so real.This is a must have in the movie collection and will be one for the girls night in.Definitely a fantastic drama. That has all the makings for a long lasting film.