Product Details

• Actors: Michael Caine, Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas, Jonah Bobo, Glenne Headly
• Directors: Jordan Roberts
• Writers: Jordan Roberts
• Producers: Bob Yari, Elliott Lewitt, Julie Kirkham, Mark Gill, Ron Smith
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: February 22, 2005
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006Q94A0
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,593 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Around the Bend" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Around the Bend concerns four generations of Lair men. There's eccentric patriarch Henry (Michael Caine), prodigal son Turner (Christopher Walken), bitter grandson Jason (Josh Lucas), and great-grandson Zach (Jonah Bobo). Shortly after Turner arrives in L.A. for a surprise visit, the ailing Henry dies. The remaining three take off on the road trip he had insisted on before his untimely passing. Jason is none too pleased--after all, his father ran out on him 30 years ago--but it was his Henry's dying wish. So there they are on the way to New Mexico, where long-buried secrets will finally be revealed. Heartwarming, if predictable, Around the Bend represents the softer side of its three leads and Walken is particularly effective in an uncharacteristic role (i.e., miles away from The Deer Hunter). His Turner is a bit odd, to be sure, but mostly he's just a regular guy who's made a few--rather substantial--mistakes. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

The story of four generations of men who are suddenly brought together by the chance to uncover the truth about their familys past. The journey will take them out on the road to a world full of surprises. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/27/2005 Starring: Christopher Walken Michael Caine Run time: 83 minutes Rating: R

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of us lead extraordinary lives..., August 4, 2005

By	Self-kerbed "Kerbistani Rebel" (Kerby, OR United States) - See all my reviews

I've read most of the other reviews of this movie and many of the viewers didn't get the point. If you grew up as I did, in a family that was atypical and dysfunctional in the extreme, if you've ever been abandoned at an early age by a parent (as I was) and have held a grudge against that parent for cutting out (as I still do, although this movie has caused me to question my attitude as nothing has before), if you've lived a life where you saw and were subjected to great violence at the hands of intelligent yet disturbed human beings who were your family members, people with addictions and PTSD, this movie will resonate for you in a very special way. I found all the characters engaging and intensely *real*. I am one of the last people to get hung up on sentimentality. For someone to call this movie 'syrupy' or 'cheesy' indicates to me that this person has never experienced great depth of emotion, has never seen someone they loved lash out in pain and insanity and has not done anything in their lives they've regretted and wished with all their heart and soul they could go back in time and have another chance to do over again. This is a movie for survivors, for people who need to learn forgiveness for others in their lives and forgiveness toward themselves. Christopher Walken is a magnificent being and he seems to shine in everything he does. But Michael Caine is also very engaging in this film, as are the other performers. There is not one bad performance in this movie. Yes, it is difficult to watch. Yes, the emotions are strong. No, it is not syrup or formula. This is an amazing movie. For some of us, this is not fiction -- it is a powerful portrayal of less-than-perfect and far from ordinary humanity. I believe this is one movie that will, over the years, become perceived as absolutely legendary. There is nothing wrong with introspection, other than the fact that it makes many people (Americans in particular) uncomfortable. Shallow people looking for to be passively entertained should stay away from this movie -- go elsewhere. Thoughtful people who have lived life, carry a few scars around and ponder the finer points of existence -- please buy this movie and show support for it.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Far from perfect but it certainly deserves some praise, March 19, 2005

By	Linda Linguvic (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This 2004 film wasn't nominated for any Oscars. I can see why. It's a bit maudlin, the pace is slow and it is too introspective for its own good. But Christopher Walken did win a Golden Satellite Award (whatever that is) for best actor and another Best Actor Award at the Montreal Film Festival. I'm glad, because it certain deserves some praise although it is far from a perfect film.

The film opens with Michael Caine. a cantankerous old man who lives with is adult grandson and young great grandson, planning his own demise. As he's been an archeologist all his life, he gets quite creative as he talks about tribal rituals. Within the first few minutes of the film, the small family gets a visitor. It is Christopher Walken, his son, who has been out of touch with the family for many years. Michel Caine is elated, although the grandson, Josh Lucas, is a bit put off. After all, Christopher Walken, his father, had deserted him when he was only 2-years old and he still bears resentment. The young grandson, played by Jonah Bobo is delighted, however. He's only six year old and to him, and, to him, the world is a wonder.

Soon the four men are having dinner in Michael Caine's favorite restaurant, the local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Later, Christopher Walken say is he is leaving the next day. And this sets Michael Caine in motion. He commits suicide in a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and leaves his family instructions for a complicated ritual which not only involves mixing his ashes with that of his dog, but also traveling around and scattering ashes in a wide variety of places that mean a lot to him. Also included in this ritual are many meals together in various Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.

Some of what follows is quite comical. Other parts are melodramatic and play like a soap opera. The acting was great, especially Christopher Walken. Usually his parts are very small, but this time the whole story wrapped around him and he was in almost every scene. Naturally, family secrets are revealed. And there is a lot of bonding. I even had a few giggles during some of the lighter scenes. And, after the film was over, I found myself thinking about for a long time. I'm surprised that I liked it as much as I did. But I just can't help my positive feelings for this film and I therefore recommend it.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sentimental journey . . ., August 16, 2005

By	Ronald Scheer "rockysquirrel" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Fans of Christopher Walken, Michael Caine, and road movies will enjoy this indie film and overlook its sentimentality and trials of credibility. Walken, as a long-absent father returning unexpectedly at the doorstep of his grown son (Lucas), grandson (Bobo), and dying father (Caine), brings a time-ravaged, gritty presence to a film that keeps threatening to turn into a feature-length KFC commercial. Between Walken and Caine (who departs the film much too early), the film has an emotional grounding that makes it compelling even when the script will make dry-eyed viewers want to grimace.

Meanwhile, the New Mexico photography casts a glorious glow over the characters' journey across the desert Southwest and underscores a theme having to do with tribes, family loyalties, fathers and sons, and the importance of rituals. The music track is fine, the credits sequence reveals a spirit of warm generosity, and the DVD documentary of the film's production realistically reveals the tedium of working on a movie set. Altogether, there's more than enough to like. Give it a go.