Sally Field's flawless performance as a mother whose imminent death reunites her four grown children elevates a fairly formulaic melodrama in the made-for-Lifetime mode into something considerably more memorable.
As Anita (Field) enters the final stages of cancer, her children assemble in southeastern North Carolina for the final days of her life: Oldest brother Keith (Ben Chaplin), a filmmaker, arrives from L.A. hoping his Zen, play-it-as-it-lays attitude will get him through, while Emily (Julianne Nicholson), Anita's only daughter and, for better or worse, her best friend, has turned to a manual entitled "How to Die" to help her mother and herself. Busy ex...
Released:
2006
Rated:
R
Length:
102 mins