Release Date: December 4th, 2009
Rated PG for mature themes
Running time: 100 minutes
Kirk Jones (dir.)
Kirk Jones (writer)
Massimo De Rita (original screenplay)
Tonino Guerra (original screenplay)
Giuseppe Tornatore (original screenplay)
Based on the 1990 film from Italy, Stanno Tutti Bene, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
Dario Marianelli (music)
Robert De Niro as Frank Goode
Drew Barrymore as Rosie
Kate Beckinsale as Amy
Sam Rockwell as Robert
Austin Lysy as David
Sam Rockwell as Robert and Robert De Niro as Frank in Everybody's Fine.
Photo credit : Abbot Genser
Our reviews below:
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Everybody’s Fine Review By John C.
***1/2 (out of 4)
While watching Everybody’s Fine, I wasn’t really thinking about what I thought of it. It was only about half an hour from the end that it occurred to me just how much I liked it. Though each character is ordinary in their own way, they each have their own mystery and intrigue. I was fully immersed in these characters from beginning to end.
Over the opening scene, we see Frank (Robert De Niro) doing household chores. Next thing, his kids call and cancel their reservations to get together over the weekend. Each one has an obvious excuse, and a real reason for canceling that they aren’t ready to tell their recently widowed father. So he decides to go on the road, and make a stop at each of his kids houses. I wouldn’t even think of spoiling the plot points that are developed over the course of the film.
Robert De Niro is wonderful in the lead role. His performance is perfectly nuanced and incredibly believable as an every man father. His adult kids are played perfectly by Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale. But it is Rockwell who shines brightest in his few scenes.
This is a moving and touching portrait of a family, that’s excellently directed and beautifully acted. The song that plays over the closing credits, (I Want To) Come Home, written and performed by Paul McCartney, is one of my favourite film songs of the year. Though not strictly a Christmas film, Everybody’s Fine is destined to become a perennial favourite.
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Everybody’s Fine Review By Erin V.
***1/4 (out of 4)
In the new film Everybody's Fine, Robert De Niro plays Frank, a widower who's four adult children live in different parts of the US, and usually come together to his place for the holidays. When all of his children suddenly cancel on him, you can see how lonely he is, and understand when he decides to go to them instead. As he sees each of them, they tell him the same thing. 'Everybody's fine - don't worry, we'll try to make it next time.' As he visits them, he knows something is off - but what?
This is a well-made, and very touching drama. It's not really a holiday movie, so much as it is a film about family relationships. It's quiet pacing really works, and we are just content to sit and watch as the visits, and answers slowly unfold. The music in the film by Dario Marianelli, finishing with a song during the end credits by Sir Paul McCartney, helps to hold the tone of the movie consistent.
This is one that whether you see it now in theatres, or wait for the DVD, it is definitely worth checking out. The acting is all excellent, and the story gives you a little something to think about in terms of relationships between family members.
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Everybody’s Fine Review By Nicole
***1/2 (out of 4)
Everybody's Fine is a low-key drama about an older family. Robert De Niro is believable as Frank, an older man whose wife recently died. Frank lives alone, and hopes that his our children will come and visit him. They are apparently busy, so Frank, despite his doctors orders not to travel, decides to visit his adult children. He hasn't seen them in a while, and would like to see how each one is doing. Frank finds that one of his children, David, has become an artist. David, however, is not home. Frank then visits his other adult children, Robert, Rosie and Amy. Each one is apparently very busy, and can only visit Frank for one day. The question is, are they really busy, or are they just keeping things from Frank?
I liked Everybody's Fine. The story is believable, as are each of the characters. I found it interesting how Frank would always picture his children as young kids, as opposed to adults. We see brief flashes of this when we first meet the "kids" in a dream sequence at the end.
Although this movie ends at Christmas, it can be watched any time of the year. Everybody's Fine is a touching, quiet movie that I think many people, particularly seniors, will like.
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Everybody’s Fine Review By Maureen
***1/2 (out of 4)
Everybody's Fine is a touching, low-key drama about family relationships over the holidays. Robert De Niro plays widower Frank Goode, who wants nothing more than to get his four adult children together for the holidays. When his four children can't come to him he sets out on a bus and train road trip to surprise each of them with a visit.
Robert De Niro gives a wonderfully believable and touching performance as Frank. All of the actors in Everybody's Fine including, Drew Barrymore as daughter Rosie, give good performances. But it is Robert De Niro who carries this film.
Everybody's Fine is a well written story often told through Frank's flashbacks of his children when they were younger and through phone calls heard over the miles of phone wires seen from the bus and train windows. Frank spent his life coating telephone wires to support his family and give them the opportunities he didn't have.
Through the course of the movie it becomes obvious that Frank's children are sheltering him from certain facts and everybody isn't necessarily fine. Facing the truth brings the family together in a classic holiday ending. The song that plays over the closing credits "(I Want To) Come Home" by Paul McCartney sums up the movie perfectly.
For anyone who has ever struggled with going home for the holidays, Everybody's Fine is an honest, well made film. Take a break from shopping and stop in your local theatre.
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Everybody’s Fine Review By Tony
***1/2 (out of 4)
As Everybody’s Fine opens we see Frank Goode (Robert De Niro) doing chores around the modest house where he and his wife, recently lost to cancer, brought up four kids. Retired with occupational health problems, Frank is proud of the factory job that put all his kids through school. His son David is a New York artist. His daughter Amy (Kate Beckinsale) is a Chicago advertising executive. His other son Robert (Sam Rockwell) is a Denver musician. His other daughter Rosie (Drew Barrymore) is a trained dancer in Las Vegas. He calls them all to invite them home for a reunion, but David doesn’t pick up the phone and the others all graciously decline. Frank decides to pay each of them a surprise visit. In his journey, he discovers that, though none of them lived up to the ambitions he had for them that his wife had led him to believe were fulfilled, the love they share comes through.
Sensitively directed by Kirk Jones, Everybody’s Fine is a very moving film that anyone in a far-flung grown up family will relate to. The cast is excellent, as are the look of the film and score by Dario Marianelli, with a closing song by Sir Paul McCartney.
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Consensus: Everybody's Fine is a touching family drama, with a believable story line, and excellent acting. Though not strictly a Christmas film, this is one to see this holiday season. ***1/2 (Out of 4)
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Robert De Niro as Frank and Drew Barrymore as Rosie in Everybody's Fine.
Photo credit : Abbot Genser
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