Customer Reviews

Hard Promises

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The chemistry of the actors in this movie make the sweet little love story really a gem. Sissy Spacek is a teacher ready to get re-married when her daughter sends a wedding invitation to William Peterson, the ex. He has been a drifter following jobs all over the country and doesn't even know he's divorced. He rushes back to win Sissy back with comic results. They find they still have a spark for each other. Their daughter just wants her family back and this lends a touch of bitter-sweeetness to the movie. Mare Winningham is great as Sissys best friend.

William Petersen is a wandering husband who's wife (Spacek) has obtained a divorce without his knowledge. When his daughter sends him a wedding invitation, Petersen heads for home, thinking he can re-charm his ex into cancelling her wedding. It has some laughs and a tear jerker ending. Great movie I recommend to all.

More than just "pleasant," as the previous review suggests, this film with the sexy star of CSI William Petersen, reveals the mature choice women must make in weeding out suitors. Spacek's character must choose between the sexy but problematic ex and the cherishing beau.

A wandering ex-husband (William Peterson) is shocked when his former wife(Sissy Spacek) is gettting married from a wedding invitation sent by his daughter who tries to convince him to reconcile with his ex-wife before she gets married.This nicely done movie is a very pleasant romantic comedy well worth seeing!!

Though this story plays out with awkward intelligence, it is a good
movie that won't drain you to watch. It's all about one family who sees Sissy Spacek's now ex-husband come back from being out of town for way longer than is acceptible. We learn early in the story that he has a pre teen daughter who adores him. And she has to suffer the same way his wife does because despite good intentions, he can't come back to reclaim what was once his.

"Hard Promises" is a bit like a doing a rural remake of "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" into which you incorporate the basic premise of "Sweet Home Alabama". While not in the same league as the former, it is considerably less offensive than the latter-which it may have inspired.

Billed as a romantic "comedy", the film contains little humor (unless you are still amused by small town stock characters) and nothing profound in the romance department. But like "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" it is about the interplay of love, freedom, and caring among people who have allowed a considerable distance to grow up between each other.

It features a nice performance by Sissy Spacek (who looks unexpectedly sexy and beautiful) and a nice portrayal of a charismatic character by William Peterson. Yet they are both upstaged by Olivia Burnette who plays the Francie character (handled so well by Peggy Ann Garner in "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn").

Joey Coalter (Peterson) is an aimless free-spirit who neglects his wife and daughter while drifting around the country. Like Johnny in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" he is full of unfulfilled promises and pipe dreams. He returns on the eve of his wife Christine's (Spacek) wedding; having been alerted by his daughter that Christine has obtained a divorce during his latest absence. About all Joey has going for him with viewers is that he loves both his daughter and his wife. About all he still has going for him with Christine is the charisma of a free- spirit and a continuing physical attraction.

His daughter Beth (Burnette) is his ally in his attempts to salvage their family, as she is not particularly fond of her mother's fiancée (Brian Kerwin). Kerwin's stable but boring character is the polar opposite of Joey and she thinks her mother is overcompensating for Joey's historical unreliability.

"Hard Promises" is mostly dedicated to exploring Joey's inherent and impossible to change aimlessness. This gets a little oppressive if you are looking for a dynamic story but the film is a successful exercise in unity and style. The score and the editing reinforce this theme and provide a surprising number of really beautiful and moving film moments. The climax is unconventional and they go out on a nice scene between father and daughter.

It is an unexpectedly slick production, a triumph of style over substance.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

I purchased this movie purely on the basis of Sissy Spacek's reputation. She usually plays such good parts in films and I'm almost always pleased with her work. In my opinion, this film is so lacking, not up to Sissy's usual standards. The story was rather boring and I found it very hard to sit through it. It ended the way it should have. That's about all I can say positive about it. There was a lot of foul language too, something I hate.

Let me say that I love Sissy Spacek. Love this storyline.

BTW I think this is sort of a spin-off of "Julia Misbehaves" with Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Elizabeth Taylor.

This was a really great film! It had a bittersweet ending and Petersen was wonderful as usual in the role of Joey Coalter. The young girl who played his daughter Beth did a great job too. I remember her from the TV show The Torkelsons. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies.

I liked the small town feel of it my only complaint was his best friend Pinky was so selfish and how come Joeys daughter could find him and Pinky couldnt please!