Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

GazerRise Fantastic!

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

robert-temple-1 This is so difficult to describe, it is 'off the radar'. If anyone ever wanted to make a film unlike any other, without the slightest affectation, and as naturally as milking a cow, this is it. It is a miracle of difference amidst a sea of sameness. The film is about a family who live miles from the nearest road in Taos County, New Mexico, and who exist with practically no money. Even their dentist is paid by work done on his fruit trees. They have no phone, no electricity, and are 'off the map' in every sense. As such, they are rare survivals of a pre-commercial and pre-consumer world. Naturally, bureaucracy wants to destroy them or at least make them submit to 'a penalty' in the form of fines for not filing income tax forms on non-existent income. An IRS man arrives, having taken four days to find their house in the middle of nowhere, but he is 'sucked into the quicksand' of their lives and never leaves. He is played with great sensitivity, pathos, and whimsy by Jim True-Frost. He has one of those 'Mister Nobody' faces, but by becoming an individual he becomes a somebody, and an artist. The central roles in the film are played by Joan Allen as the mother and an eleven year-old girl, Valentina de Angelis, as the daughter. They are both spectacularly good. The kid is funny, alarmingly clever, and irresistibly charming. Joan Allen as the mother is a commanding presence who through the force of her character and personality holds together both the fictional household and the actual film. (Is she really part Hopi Indian, or is that just in the story? The boundaries are blurred.) This delightful fable began life as a play and was expanded into a screenplay by Joan Ackermann. May she prosper! Campbell Scott the director has given it his all, and his all is a lot. In fact, they have all given it their all, and their total all is enough to feed our dreams for years to come. Sam Elliott is magnificent as the depressed father, who without saying much is nevertheless fully eloquent in the misery of his despair, and J. K. Simmons put his own touch on the character of George the friend. Even the coyote does well, and the animal handlers certainly delivered. This is more than just a movie, it is more even than a 'statement', it is a new wrinkle to the Universe. Let's keep that wrinkle going. Tell all your friends.

lastliberal I used to go visit my parents when they lived in New Mexico. I'd time my visit to see the Balloon Festival. The colorful balloons dancing across the New Mexico sky is an apt metaphor for why this land is so special.The Grodan family (Bo (Valentina de Angelis), Arlene (Joan Allen) & Charley (Sam Elliott) lead a minimalist existence in this land. They grow their own food, hunt for small game, and live without TV or telephone. They make their own entertainment. Into this family William Gibbs (Jim True-Frost) walks in and his life becomes enchanted. He has been trying to find his way all his life and he begins to do so the moment he spots Arlene naked in the garden entranced with watching a wolf.The film featured an outstanding performance by Valentina de Angelis in her first film. It was a tender and thoughtful and, at times, a funny film.

dr. mojave great little movie. having lived in new Mexico, i get it. a bit tedious at times, but well worth the investment. this movie has a big heart. i grew to love the characters. many people would yawn and give up. i like these kinds of movies that take time to develop (if there is a pay-off at the end). this movie paid off big time. Sam Elliott and Joan Allen are always great. Amy brenneman was a nice touch (i have enjoyed her since she played Faye moskewitz on Frasier). the girl (bo)was great too. she has great camera presence (like Andie McDowell). if manged properly, she has a fine future. - all in all, see this movie. it makes you feel good about life.

ricecakegeisha The writing was poetic, real, human. I have been recommending this movie to every lover of film and words that I know. There were sections of the script which sounded like poetry, and yet, retained a natural flow. I especially liked many of the scenes with the character George. The boat scene seemed a little over the top, but the filmmakers even pulled that off. Hopefully, Off the Map will rock the careers of some talented people and put them On the Map in terms of job opportunities and film viewers' expectations. I know I'm going to look up Joan Ackerman as soon as I complete this to see what her other writing credits include. If you're more concerned with characterization and meaningful dynamics between people than with yawn yawn action, see this film and listen closely.