Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Galina "Empire Falls" (2005) is a screen adaptation of Richard Russo Pulitzer prize winning novel of the same title. It is a multi character drama that takes place in a small town Empire Falls, Maine. In its center if Miles Roby (Ed Harris) who manages the local restaurant, "Empire Grill" that belongs to a wealthy and powerful widow Mrs. Whiting. The film concerns Miles's re-evaluating his life and searching for answers to the difficult questions. In his search, he looks back at his childhood, his relationship with his mother and the connection between her life and Whitings family. Miles also has to deal with the problems of those close to him: his father Max (Paul Newman stole the show with his performance as a prodigal father), his teenage daughter Tick, his ex-wife Janine, and many more. Based on the first-rate writing, the film is masterfully shot and extremely well acted story of a small and forgotten town with no future.

tbmichael **This contains spoilers about the second part of the movie** I really appreciated the casting, the first few acts, and the setting. Very true-to-life and relevant. The second disk was a soup sandwich, and I imagine that the closing of the novel stunk as well. After the strong first 2 hours, the letdown of the last part was tremendous, and made we wonder "why bother?" When it was finished, I wanted that time back -- I had been cheated. It was evident to me that the author/screenwriter had wandered out into a field and needed a way to get back. Also, I wondered if HBO had funded the first part and then lost funding on the second. So much was contrived that it looked as though they were trying to save money and just get it over with.Very disappointing, and I think this is a good example of why Hollywood is losing box office and relevance. When you start out strongly relating to *real people* and *real life,* you should try to end up that way, too.The first few chapters are worth watching, but you're going to be let down. You were warned.

Stephen Herman You have read so many positive reviews, and they are right on the mark. I also agree that you should read the book, and Russo's "Nobody's Fool," - a laugh-out-loud book. This film is a metaphor - but not just about New England. It is a metaphor for what is happening in our country today: greed, corruption, power and control.To lighten up here a bit, if you enjoy deeply drawn characters and are fascinated by psychodynamics, growth and development, jealousy and betrayal, the kindness and the cruelty of children, the power of love, the uncertainty of which direction to choose, the puzzles of our dreams and our nightmares, and what courage it takes to follow one's deepest desires and to be true to oneself, you will love this film.

Jay09101951 They go where they must, not where we want them to go. With those words from this totally terrific movie, you get touched for the 1st of many times in a simple movie about simple , plain people who like the rest of us, must struggle with the things like a difficult childhood, a bad marriage, feeling like your life didn't turn out they way you would have wished and all the other things that make life the up and down adventure it is. All of the acting is first-class, as good as any film made today. However, I must single out Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and Estelle Parsons who to me deserve Oscar nominations but of course won't get one in this made-for-HBO classic. This film is almost like therapy as one might identify their own troubles with some of the characters and see how they learned to overcome their troubles. I short, this is a real throw-back to the days 40-50 years ago when classics like this were common. This is a rare film for 2005.