Customer Reviews

Montana Sky

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Montana sky", based on a novel of the same title written by Nora Roberts, is an entertaining movie that even those that have not read Robert's book will like.

The story begins with the funeral of Jack Mercy, a multimillionaire rancher that dies suddenly, leaving "Mercy ranch" to his three daughters, Willa (Ashley Williams), Tess (Charlotte Ross) and Lily (Laura Mennell). These three young women have different mothers and don't know each other, but will have to live together for a year as stipulated in Jack's will, if they don't want to lose their inheritance. Jack's interference doesn't end there: as autocratic in death as he was during his lifetime, he has left two overseers for a year, and one of them is Willa's hateful neighbour, Ben (John Corbett).

Willa, the only one of the sisters that lives and works in the ranch, along with her half-brother Adam (Nathaniel Arcand), resents her sisters' presence, and the fact that she now has to deal with Ben daily. But not everything is what it looks like, and sometimes what seems like bad luck can turn out to be for the better. When a dangerous stalker threatens them, Willa, Tess and Lily will need to trust each other, and the men around them, in order to survive.

Sounds interesting? Well, it is :) Truth to be told, I was somewhat afraid to watch this film, because I didn't think such a great novel could become a movie without losing the nuances that make it so good, but Mike Robe (the director) managed to avoid making an oversimplified version of "Montana sky". Even though this movie is quite different from the book, and despite the fact that several story lines have been omitted or modified, the spirit of the story is still there, and I believe you will enjoy it. That is the reason why I can recommended it to you...

Belen Alcat

PS: I wish the "In death" series (Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb) had movie versions, too. I guess we'll have to wait a little bit more for that to happen :(

PS 2: If you like this movie, I'm pretty sure that you will love the book on which it is based.

Montana sky is the story of a bitter rancher who dies and forces his 3 daughters to farm his ranch for a year in order to inherit the estate. They don't know each other before hand, but they all grow to love the idea and live happily ever after.

The story line for Montana Sky seems almost irrelevant watching this film. Those who are hardcore fans of Nora Roberts might be satisfied when any of her stories are made into movies. While I will admit that this movie was fun to watch (hence the 2 stars), it's mostly fun for the wrong reasons.

The story is based on Nora Roberts novel, but the teleplay was written by April Smith. Every cliche' in the book is used in this movie. The people are so country, the ranch feels more Texas than Montana. The girl from LA is called "Hollywood," and she wears revealing outfits even when doing farm work. The sister from Virginia is the stereotypical frail escapee of an abusive marriage. John Corbett is the traditional eye-candy whose character is only there to suck-in the target market of 40 year old women. Farmhands named Ham, Pickles, and the like are thrown in too. Not to mention a Native American who talks about how the "white man always tries to make a profit off of nature." Are you kidding me?

The film is so inaccurate it's hilarious for ANYBODY who has ever been on a real farm. There is a scene where they need 4 people to herd about 100 cattle, even though there's supposed to be thousands on their ranch. Ridiculous! You don't need 4 farm hands to herd 8 dozen cattle! I guess they thought they could use smoke and mirrors to make them look like many more. It doesn't work. Who has only 100 head of cattle on what is supposed to be a 24 million dollar ranch!!!

So why is this movie still enjoyable? Because I can appreciate bad movies. It's so bad, it's good. This is not a movie to overanalyze. This is a guilty pleasure movie for all those who love Lifetime TV and/or Nora Roberts novels.

The actors do as good of a job as possible with their trite dialogue. The predictable story and flimsy excuses for the men and women to couple up just add to the joke.

Compared to this movie, almost everything on Lifetime seems Oscar worthy. There are good actors here, but there isn't much you can believe in this movie. The talents of Diane Ladd, for one, are very much wasted here. Trust me, she is not alone.

You can still enjoy this. If you can laugh at a romance novel and are a fan of "Dallas," you can have fun with this movie. Just don't expect to take it seriously.

In making a lengthy book into a two-hour movie and then adapting it to the constraints of television, the film makers were barely adequate. Granted, it is no easy task, and it shows here. All the violence and gore were removed for the general TV audience, so that the jeopardy and terror are all but missing. The sex scenes (a Nora Roberts trademark) are so diminished as to be non-existant. The result of the omissions is a bland story at best.

The three sisters are played by beautiful actresses, who are not very good at their craft of creating believable characters. Or perhaps the director is to blame. There are no contradictions, no depth in their characters at all. There's the rough and tumble raised on the ranch sister; the Hollywood take a meeting sunglasses sister; and the wife beater victim scared of a mouse sister. The acting and dialogue of the men are even less competent. They pretty much walk through their roles, as if a stetson and cowboy boots were sufficient to create character.

Then there are the story changes. One example: in the book, "Hollywood" Tess becomes involved with the lawyer, Nate, but in the movie version, Tess takes up with the eye-candy sheriff and Nate somehow disappears. I can't imagine why the film makers decided to change partners for Tess. It will be confusing to anyone who has read the novel. To make matters stranger, when the bosomy Tess offers herself openly to the sheriff--he demurs. Egad. As a man, I found that hard to imagine.

The scenery of Montana (shot in Canada?) is certainly attractive, and the sisters are easy on the eye. Unfortunately a movie, in order to be really good, has to have more that that.

Beautiful scenery, drama, murder & strong characterizations in a well told story of three sisters brought together by death and how each reshape their lives.

Loved watching the movie. Enjoyed the scenery and the story lines. Will watch the movie again. The back drop of the movie, with the wide open spaces of the ranch are great. Loved the interction of the main characters. In the end love finds all of the women of Mercy Ranch.

I rented this movie based on the box cover. Not really looking for a romance movie just a nice drama. I found as I watched the movie I became more and more interested in the lives of the three main characters. The writing is not Shakespeare but the movie flows and the actresses are easy to watch. I enjoyed the play between the actors and seeing Montana. Did not really need the extra plot drama of the murderer plus ex-husband - one would have been fine. Otherwise a fine drama with some fun acting. I recommend if you want something easy for an evening.

DVD was in EXCELLENT condition, just like new. Nora Roberts books brought to life in the MOVIES, absolutely awesome. I fell in love with John Corbett's character, the movie followed the story line very well. Enjoyed the glimpse of the author and her husband in the wedding crowd scene.

This movie actually had decent actors. I think that should be addressed first and foremost. Most of the time when a romance novel is turned into a movie who ever decides to put it on screen usually casts attractive people with limited acting ability.
That can no be said about this movie. The actors are pretty and seem to have acting capabilty. *gasp*
I was a bit disappointed that the movie strayed so much from the Nora Roberts novel, but I can pretty much seperate the two and see each has its own creative merits. Lifetime didn't screw this one up.

Guess I like it for the same reasons I liked Baywatch. Beautiful scenery, beautiful people, pleasant story, a little excitement, a little romance, nothing to serious. Not going to impress the academy, but I had a very enjoyable evening.

movie, but I can't recommend it for the whole family. There are too many bedroom scenes.I like the premise of the plot but the acting was too bad to actually like the movie more than a three. I am sure they are good actors but someone dropped the ball on this one. Maybe it is the editing. I don't know but it could have been better. The scenes are very choppy and the characters aren't portrayed very deep. What is the story behind them etc....