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Sep 14, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Everyone's had the experience of seeing a beloved book turned into a disappointing movie, but whom do you blame when the author writes the screenplay? Richard Russo adapted his award-winning novel for this 2-part, 3-hour HB0 film. The longer format allows it to capture some of the Dickensian detail of the title small town and its colorful characters, but it is missing something and, despite a great cast, moves slowly and fails to engage the way the book did. It is notable as Paul Newman's last role (he was also in "Nobody's Fool," another Russo adaptation) and he's great as Ed Harris's eccentric, but lovable codger of a father. The cast also includes Newman's wife Joanne Woodward, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Aidan Quinn, Helen Hunt (miscast as always), Dennis Farina, Estelle Parsons, and William Fichtner.