Bonneville Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Faced with the decision of a lifetime, Arvilla Holden hijacks her two best friends and sets off in a vintage '66 Bonneville convertible.
| Tom Skerritt | Emmett |
| Victor Rasuk | Bo Douglas |
| Tom Amandes | Bill |
| Tom Wopat | Arlo |
| Robert Conder | Taxi Driver |
| Jayson Creek | Maitre d' |
| Bruce Newbold | Bishop Paul Evans |
| Steve O'Neill | Doctor |
6.10 out of 10 (558 votes)
Visitor Reviews
belly laughs and sweet tears too!
posted on 01 Jun 2009I loved the great relationships in this buddy movie for gals, and wish I could see more movies about real people in dramatic/comedy- so interesting and a great discussion starter too about life, death and what to do with the remains. All the stars give great performances, Jessica Lange is stunning and sweet and really lovely - she makes her character someone you wish you knew! And how to describe Kathy Bates and Joan Allen? Just the best buddies a girl could ever have. The scenery of Utah, Nevada and California is amazing! In fact, for a great scenic movie with gorgeous shots of the surroundings, Bonneville far surpasses " A Year in Provence" that was so hyped last year. Hope everyone gets a chance to see it!
Small movie showcasing realistic Golden Girl roles
posted on 22 May 2009And for such a quiet, understated movie, how could you obtain a more perfect coalescence of performing art: with Jessica Lange (Arvilla), Kathy Bates (Margene), and Joan Allen (Carol). The number of Oscar nominations among them is 11, with three wins—two for Lange in Blue Sky (1995, leading) and Tootsie (1983, supporting) and one for Bates in Misery (1991, leading). Regardless of the many awards and kudos, none of them in Bonneville seems to stand in front of the other... they weave their characters harmoniously like a once-in-a-lifetime piano sonata composed by your high-school music teacher....For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and book reviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.Brian Wright Copyright 2009
Great light hearted enjoyable film
posted on 20 Apr 2009Bonneville is a movie that is more like what Hollywood used to make for films. A movie with a real believable story and not all a bunch of digitized magic. Finally a movie where the actors can act like real people we can all relate to in our own lives. Lange,Bates and Allan did a wonderful job of portraying three Mormon friends rebelling against her step daughters wishes to fulfill her late husbands desires. A wonderful film with feeling and happiness. Should be more like this..Christopher Rowley did a wonderful job of directing this cast in a heart felt film. Drop of Water productions should go along way in the future.
Caution: Women on Road Trip, Stumble, Fall
posted on 31 Dec 2008Bonneville is the result of what happens when a bunch of men produce a movie about-- and ostensibly for-- women, but make sure it's written and directed by men. Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever get to see the woman's point of view in a Hollywood movie. Ever.Three BFF's of a certain age, set out on a road trip for the purpose of personally delivering the remains of one's recently deceased husband, to his funeral service. You see, the man's daughter by his first marriage, is intent on having Daddy interred with Mommy, even though Daddy was married to another woman for the last 20 years of his life. But we all know that women are jealous of other women so if the widow doesn't ante up the ashes, the step-daughter will take away her house.There are many similarities between this and another significant female buddy road trip movie from a few years back. The Bonneville gals even don the "uniform" of the free feminine spirit—the chiffon head scarf and a pair of big dark glasses a la Grace Kelly. Not to mention, they're in a convertible and the sight of all that unruly hair would be too much for most viewers.En route from Idaho to California, Arvilla, the widow and her pals, the feisty Marjeen, and Carolyn, the obedient Morman, prove that women just can't be left on their own as they helplessly stand by, pondering their fate, when they blow a tire on the Salt Flats of Utah. Thank God that a young strapping man on his own personal quest wanders up to save them. Thank the screenwriter that this hottie doesn't sleep with one of them and steal their money.During a few more stops along the way that seem impromptu but are really part of Arvilla's grand scheme to relive earlier adventures, albeit only in her mind, we are lulled by lovely scenery, a new-age hip soundtrack (courtesy of the young strapping man), and the predictable bit of bickering from our menopausal ménage.And what girl-bonding trip would be complete without a handsome silver-fox to ride in and rescue the quirkiest, least attractive yet most "real" gal with true romance? So much for real-life rejection and disappointment.Eventually, the three take a break from all this passivity and rent a houseboat on a convenient lake. Mere hours later Arvilla manages to run it aground. I kept waiting for her to accidentally drive the car off into a canyon. Oh wait, that's the other movie...Fellas, let me tell you a secret: For centuries women have known that if they act helpless, you'll not only take over and do the dirty work, you'll feel better about yourselves having done it. She's running the whole game but she doesn't even have to break a nail. But trust me, when you're not around, she does just fine. In fact, women are infinitely more collaborative than movies (and men) give them credit. It is not credible to think that Kathy Bates couldn't have put her weight into getting that lug nut off the wheel. Even less so that the three of them didn't work together to figure it out. So stick to writing and directing and producing those fresh and original young man coming-of-age stories. No one does them better than you. Lord knows you've had enough practice.At last we gather at a chapel to honor the absent patriarch, but where a woman's master plan is undone by simple clumsiness played for laughs. If you like your cine-women to act out the rituals of sisterhood, yet worship at the altar of men, this might be your movie. Personally I hope the next time I travel the heroine's journey to rediscover the feminine spirit-- yet remapped as folklore by men— is never. Ever.
A Mormon Thelma & Louise
posted on 29 Dec 2008Bonneville an adventure that three middle age women (Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Joan Allen) embark on when one of their husbands, Joe, dies suddenly. Conflict arises when the daughter (Christine Baranski), by a previous marriage, of the deceased decides she wants to bury him near the family (the daughter's family) home in Santa Barbara. Arvilla (Jessica Lange), the 2cd wife of twenty years must deliver the ashes or risk loosing the house in Idaho that she shared with Joe. Joe specifically requested that his ashes be spread in nature but his daughter does not want to acknowledge the other life he built in Idaho and uses the Idaho homestead as leverage to get Arvilla to hand over the ashes. Lange and posse (Kathy Bates as Margene and Joan Allen as Carol) start a 'Thelma & Louise' style trip in an early-70's Pontiac Bonneville convertible. The movie points out that the three friends are Mormon but the religion of the deceased husband is not discussed. Margene is looking for a autumn romance, and Carol is wound up tight and very devout. All while Arvilla is just trying to cope with the sudden death of the man she loves. Will the three heroines find their way to happiness or contentment? Undoubt-ably. The movie is definitely enjoyable but drags in the center (bathroom break). Never actually seeing Arvilla and Joe together, I never got a feeling of how deep their love was. The Film originally slated for a 2006 released was re-worked for 2007. Since this was an early preview of the re-work things can still change.
A Little Film with Heart: Appreciating Fine Actors
posted on 19 Dec 2008BONNEVILLE creeps up on the viewer. It is a solid marriage of light comedy and sentiment and the somewhat slight story is brought to life by the natural gifts of a trio of superb actors. Why it did not find popularity in the theaters is probably due to the topic of death and the cast of 'older actresses', but it is a solid little film that deserves more attention. Arvilla (Jessica Lange) has lost her husband of 20 years and promised to scatter his ashes over places the couple loved. Her step daughter Francine (Christine Baranski) demands the 'ashes' be buried next to her mother's grave in Santa Barbara, threatening her stepmother with eviction from her Pocatello, Idaho home if Arvilla doesn't comply. Two of Arvilla's friends - the restless widow Margene (Kathy Bates) and the oh-so-Mormon Carol (Joan Allen) support their friend and plan to fly with Arvilla to take the ashes to Santa Barbara. But circumstances begin to change when the threesome bond tightly and decide to take Arvilla's husband's old Bonneville on a road trip to California. From here on the film is a Road Trip - a time when the three women learn lessons about life and death and love and compassion from each other - and from a young hitchhiker Bo (Victor Rasuk of 'Saving Victor Vargas', 'Stop- Loss' etc) and trucker Emmett (Tom Skirrett). The trip from Idaho to California passes through some of the Southwest's most beautiful scenery, places once shared by Arvilla and her late husband, and slowly the urn of ashes is distributed along the way to the dreaded Santa Barbara funeral. Christopher N. Rowley directs this sweet story by Daniel D. Davis with great respect for the gifts of the three fine actors, allowing them to show us just why they remain some of our finest talent on the screen. It is not a great film, but it has such a fine heart that we can relax and just ride along with it. Grady Harp
A Great Reflection on What's Important in Life
posted on 19 Dec 2008What a superb feel-good movie!! The acting was right on the characters. The scenery was perfect--and I never would have thought to set the movie in the locations that it was in...but it worked beautifully! But what impressed me the most was the writing...it made you think. Isn't that what a good movie should do? Interstingly, after watching Bonneville, I actually found myself reflecting on life--what is important...and what isn't. And I learned a bit more about taking that chance...doing what is in your gut and you're heart! I would love to say more, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. This is a 'must see' movie for everyone and makes my list of top movies! I will be seeing this one again.
Yes!! A Movie for Me
posted on 10 Sep 2008I have to write about Bonneville in light of the user comment by some of these other users and critics.. I am sick of reading negative or poor reviews from films from all of these sour men. I read a few sub par reviews and thought to myself, Bonneville can't be that boring and it wasn't. I was happy to see a film that fits an older demographic. I went with my grandmother and it has been about 10 years since she has gone to the movies, she was pleased there was something out there she could relate to and not be offended by everything that is on the screen, without giving away much about the film, it was a warm film that highlighted 3 relationships and went through feelings that affect many woman as they reach older age. Worth the ticket, movies like this don't come around every year... all these old men get off these boards and out of the papers and get a life, take films for what they are and why they are made, don't be a hater just because you are sitting at your desk writing about 3 awesome woman.
Bonneville takes you on a wonderful, emotional journey.
posted on 17 Aug 2008Bonneville allows you to step away from all the "I have to" things going on in your personal and professional life and takes you on a wonderful, emotional journey, where you share the cross country experiences of Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Joan Allen. It's a "feel good" movie, with great actors, a story to tell, and outstanding scenery. It's an adventure that everyone can enjoy, whether young or old or male or female. It's also a movie that permits you to imagine how you would handle personal conflicts associated with making the right decisions in life, and then dealing with the consequences, either good or bad. I highly recommend Bonneville and know you'll walk away with a smile on your face and more at peace with the world around you.
Gal pals on a road trip.
posted on 07 Aug 2008Comedic drama about three close friends on a road trip. Arvilla's(Jessica Lange)husband Joe dies and she is forced to bring his ashes to a funeral in Santa Barbara arranged by his daughter Francine(Christine Baranski). Arvilla's two friends Margene(Kathy Bates)and Carol(Joan Allen)go along for the ride in Joe's Bonneville. A few stops are made along the way as Arvilla leaves some of her husband's ashes. She describes Joe as a man of the world and his ashes should be spread about instead of being buried next to his previous wife. Along the way Margene is smitten with a big rig driver Emmett(Tom Skerritt). Carole, the prime and proper Morman, learns to gamble and drink in Las Vegas.Some real beautiful scenery. Some silly situations, but I think this flick was way too long. Bates is actually a hoot; while Lange is just pathetic. Also in the cast are Victor Rasuk and Tom Wopat. No THELMA and LOUISE here, sorry.
Best Movie I've Seen in a LONG LONG Time!
posted on 30 Jul 2008Why aren't there more movies like BONNEVILLE?! We attended a sneak preview this Monday and couldn't believe we'd stumbled upon 90 minutes of such thoughtful and entertaining enjoyment! My friends and I couldn't stop talking about how we can really identify with these folks, we could BE living in this movie ourselves, and that's why we feel so good after we've seen it. The plot twists and turns in Bonneville are the best part of a fantastic movie: with the road trip metaphor bringing us eye-blink gorgeous scenery around each and every turn in the road, the ups and downs of their relationship make us blink and THINK "what would I do"!
a tragic waste of time and talent
posted on 24 Jul 2008"Bonneville" stars Oscar winners Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and three-time nominee Joan Allen. After losing her husband, Arvilla (Lange) returns home to cremate his body and spread his ashes. These plans are spoiled by his vindictive daughter, Francine (played by Christine Baranski), who has a prior will ordering that her father's ashes be returned home and leaving his house to her. Arvilla's best friends, the wild Margene (Bates) and uptight Carol (Allen) suggest trading his ashes to Francine in order to keep her home. The friends embark on a cross-country road trip in the deceased's '66 Pontiac Bonneville to bring the ashes to Francine.I had high hopes for this film, expecting nothing less than perfection from a phenomenal cast like this. But sadly, "Bonneville" felt like a post-menopausal "Thelma and Loiuse" rip off to me. I guess it speaks to the fact that Hollywood just isn't producing good roles for female actresses in this age range. This movie was an insult to these legendary ladies by casting them in parts they could have done in their sleep. They deserve better! Despite the best efforts of these veteran actresses, this feature struggled to be entertaining.The only positive thing I can say about "Bonneville" is that the cinematography was enjoyable as the friends travel through scenic Utah, California, Nevada and Idaho. The score desperately tried to keep the tempo flowing, but this was a long 90 minutes. The gratingly monotonous story and dialogue were predictable, filled with clichés and droll humor. First-time director, Christopher Rowley, and writer, Daniel Davis, disappoint with this failed attempt at a middle-aged female buddy movie.Bonneville debuted at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival, but hasn't been released until now… after all the Oscar hopefuls. That says all you need to know about its commercial viability. If you watch the trailer, you'll already know what to expect from this aggravatingly ridiculous film. Simply put, this was a tragic waste of time and talent.
I LOVED it!
posted on 25 Apr 2008This is a great movie! The scenery is breathtaking and Kathy Bates is hysterical. Lots of fun! It moves really well, and I especially liked the totally different personalities of the three friends. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! We were in a full theater and people were laughing out loud. I haven't seen Jessica Lang in a movie for a long time, so it was a pleasure to see her back in action. Kathy Bates adds so much to anything she appears in. I still wonder if Jessica Lang kept her house? Sequel in the making? I wonder how many days/weeks/months it took to shoot this movie. Cinematography should win an award. Maybe we'll see that at the Oscars next year?
A really fun and sweet film!
posted on 22 Mar 2008**********Definitely spoilers about the end!!!!!!************** I really believed I was going to be bored with this film. And I really have no idea why, except that sometimes I try watching a film believing it's going to be great and end up disappointed, so this was one of those that I thought was going to be bad but ended up nothing but fun for me! It's another sweet and simple film about the loss of a loved one (I've been vacuuming these up lately with gusto!). Arvilla (Jessica Lange) has lost her beloved husband. It's not revealed how, except that he died in Borneo, and had been a writer and professor of some sort. He had loved his life and his work, and had refused to retire. He and his wife had lived for 2 decades in a lovely home in Pocatello, Idaho, and had had a great marriage.When he dies, Arvilla is lost, and naturally, her stepdaughter Francine (Christine Baranski) comes to the house not with comforting words or love, but with ultimatums. Dad's ashes will be buried in CA with his FIRST wife, her mother of course, and Dad should never have been cremated. Oh, and one more thing, Dad left the house to HER, and she wanna sell it. So get out. It's easy to think of Baranski's character as a royal bitch, and not much is presented to steer you toward another opinion. Sure, her father is dead, but it's all too apparent that Francince hates Arvilla for marrying her Dad and for their moving away from the CA coast to Idaho. "His real home is Santa Barbara," Francine proclaims.Torn by her promise to the late Joe that she would scatter his ashes somewhere beautiful rather than pickle him and bury him in a sealed box, Arvilla reluctantly promises Francine she will fly Joe's ashes to CA for the funeral. She is so broken up by all of the recent events that her two good friends Margene (Kathy Bates) and Carol (Joan Allen) decide that she needs moral support on her trip to CA. Arvilla packs up her late husband's favorite car, a classic maple-brown Pontiac Bonneville convertible, and away they go, deciding quite quickly that rather than fly, they will drive to CA, and see a few great sights along the way.The cast includes Victor Rasuk, Tom Wopat and Tom Skerritt as a fun-loving trucker who only has eyes for Margene. The pivotal plot-point of the story is that awful promise Arvilla was forced to make regarding Joe's remains, and how she weighs the importance of that against the promise she made to Joe before he died.I thought the end was sad for Arvilla, and I didn't think of Francine as any less of a bitch, really. Did she trip down the steps on purpose or what? It's sad that Arvilla had to lose her beloved home because her stepdaughter had some personal vendetta against her.
Great for everyone
posted on 10 Jan 2008I thought the movie was great.The characters were believable and enjoyable.The plot was a simple one it's a road movie.Due to a death our hero's must travel to another town using a shiny red Bonneville.It is kind like watching Golden Girls on vacation. Usually with this type of movie they drag the audience off to some sub plot where I tend to fall asleep.Bonneville kept moving and never dragged.It covers a hard subject with a gentle touch.The movie shows the audience that no matter how old you are you can go on a trip and have laughs,tears,and lots of fun with good friends.You can even learn something new about a friend you have known for twenty years.I would recommend this movie to everyone.Bonneville gave me the same feelings as Fried Green Tomatoes.It was a woman empowering movie.As women get older they decide maybe for the first time in their life. They decide what they want to do, not what someone else wants them to do.This movie was not a ground shaking film where thousands of repressed women were released from shackle's but just a small step in the right direction for women in general.
Great Film for Family viewing
posted on 03 Dec 2007Film shows extraordinary friendship between ordinary people in trying circumstances. The witty remarks in this film during personal hardships adds the humor needed to get through life's circumstances. The three main cast members compliment each other throughout the movie. The supporting cast adds another dimension to the superb three leading actors. Great scenery accentuate the thought process from scene to scene. Music also helps the tempo of the movie. Costumes were very good. Acting was genuine and the actor's subtle remarks shows individual character as well as their great acting ability. I thought the idea of the telephone was very cleaver and can possibly start a new trend for phones.
It's a great ride
posted on 03 Nov 2007Bonneville The new film from unknown director is from Christopher N. Rowley and stars Academy Award winners Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and three time nominee Joan Allen. This is the story of three extraordinary women who go on a road trip to bring one of their dead husband's ashes to his spiteful daughter from his previous marriage.Our film opens up with the introduction of our main character Arvilla who is played marvelously by Jessica Lange whom shows the audience that she still has it in her to be an acclaimed performer. After losing her husband, Joe, while on a vacation, she returns home to cremate her husband and to spread his ashes when his daughter Francine (played by Christine Baranski known for her roles in Chicago and Cruel Intentions) has a will from years prior and orders that his ashes be returned home with her. After Arvilla claims that her will is out of date and he had made a new one she searches all over her house and comes up empty. In Francine's will he leaves his house that Arvilla and Joe lived in to her daughter and Francine is willing to trade her father's ashes in order for Arvilla to stay in the house.Enters her two best friends; rebellious party animal, Margene (Kathy Bates) and goody prude Carol (Joan Allen) give their two sense and suggest maybe it's better to give the ashes to his daughter in order to keep her home. Arvilla has a week to return the ashes to Francine and here starts our adventure. She decides to fly out along with her friends and half way to the airport in Joe's 66' Pontiac Bonneville makes a decision to drive from her small town in Idaho to a cross country adventure.These three women are a true delight and a testament to what love, friendship and faith are all suppose to be. This is truly a film for an older crowd of people but as young man myself, I secretly wished for a happy life to come like the one's of these women. It's an uplifting feel which brings a concentrated confidence for all people. With a breakout performance coming from a young Victor Rasuk as Bo, the film plows down the walls of vanity and brings in the sense of adoration and tenderness.Oscar prospects go for all three women with Jessica Lange going lead and Allen and Bates for supporting. But I have to say that it's Kathy Bates who is the standout of the women and completely steals each scene she speaks in. She'll bring you to tears from her speeches about life to her wishes about death, you can't leave that theater without holding her in your heart. Allen is also great and we all know she is long overdue for her Oscar and we cannot wait for her to make it to a podium soon.The film is a "Grumpy Old Men" meets "Boys on the Side" with a powerful touch and courageous feeling. The film will likely not hit big the awards contention but could snap and go as awards season approaches. It's playing in Toronto as a gala and could be word of mouth hit.Grade: ***/****
Much more than just a 'woman's movie'
posted on 28 Oct 2007Certainly, the audience of this film is more specific than, say, "Driving Miss Daisy". But that's less a reflection on it's quality and more representative of its basic concept. I'm curious quite how the film came to being produced, however - it's hardly a commercial prospect, and a first time film for both the writer and director.Regardless of however it came to be, the end result is quite excellent. In casting the three stars - Lange, Bates and Allen - the filmmakers have immediately assured themselves of, at the very least, a serviceable film. Oh, I think we may have heard the story before, or something similar - and, honestly, the direction doesn't take full advantage of its script. But, in spite of that, the acting and writing makes this quite the very excellent film. Some excellent supporting roles by Victor Rasuk and the great Tom Skerritt.As we follow the grieving Arvilla (Lange) and her friends on their road trip across the southern USA, you may find yourself getting more involved than you expected. This movie initially seems to be very much on the surface - but it goes far deeper than you may expect.A 'small' film - yes - but a truly excellent character study.RATING: 7.3 out of 10
This is a real treat a movie composed of all the essential ingredients. I gave it a 10.
posted on 22 Oct 2007This was the funniest movie I have seen in a very long time. I went to the movies with a group of friends and we all agreed, why can't there be more of these kind of movies? We experienced some sadness and a roller coaster of emotions. Many of them included truly funny, funny comedy. The actors and actress' were casted so well. Kathy Bates is hysterical. I really can't believe anyone could see this and not give it a thumbs up. Bring it on..... more good movies like this one! The scenery was certainly a big plus for this movie also. If you want a short trip across our great country and to be entertained while watching it, go see Bonneville, if in fact, they allow it to be shown at the movies. We saw no sex and no murders, hope that does not disqualify this as a winning movie.
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Supremely Disappointing
posted on 09 Jun 2009Three of the four leads have strong theatre backgrounds (Jessica Lange has been on stage, but not to the extent of the other actors), all have extensive movie and TV backgrounds, and all four were hung out to dry with a wretched script and inept direction. No surprises in the script - one knew where and how it was going after the first five minutes. The actors were reduced to playing one dimensional characters with no assistance or inventiveness from the director. I live in hope that when the actors signed on, it was done mainly to have the chance to work together and the expectancy that they could bring depth to a shallow work. No such luck. Hope the paycheck was good. For the audience, it was a loooooooong 90 minutes.