Wonderful Touching Film with Ellen Burstyn's Best Peformance ~~"Resurrection"

Resurrection

Universal Studios
Sales Rank: 511

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 Wonderful Touching Film with Ellen Burstyn's Best Peformance, 2000-09-24

Ellen Burstyn is surely the most under-appreciated American actress of the last quarter of the past century. Her work in her Oscar nominated films-"The Exorcist," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Resurrection"-is certainly superior to that of Sally Field who ended up with twice as many Academy Awards. Resurrection is the least well known of this particular trio, but it is arguably her most compelling performance.

Burstyn plays Edna McCauley, who experiences clinical death after the car accident that kills her lover and who returns to life with amazing healing powers. Edna begins using these new powers, but insists on attributing them to the power of human love rather than to divine intervention. Edna saves the life of Cal Carpenter (Sam Shepard), a young farmer, and then falls in love with him. However, he wants her to confess that her powers come from God, and when Edna is unable to do this it sets up a tragic confrontation. The film ends with a touching scene that is as moving and as memorable as I have ever seen, giving "Resurrection" a final eloquence that underscores the entire experience.

The supporting cast is outstanding, especially Roberts Blossom as Edna's stubborn father, Eva Le Gallienne as Grandma Pearl, and Robert Farnsworth as Esco in a wonderful bit part that takes on added importance as the story continues. Shepard is solid, but it is Burstyn's performance that shines throughout "Resurrection." This 1980 film was directed by Daniel Petrie from a script by Lewis John Carino.

"Resurrection" was remade as a 1999 television movie starring Dana Delany, which is what inspired me to go back and look at the original version again. This time the lead character is named Clare Miller, and there are some interesting reconstructions of the elements of the original film. The ending of this film, where the main character makes a decidedly different decision regarding how she will spend the rest of her life, is an interesting but totally valid change. I think it just speaks to the inherent appeal of the basic storyline.

Note: Please be careful. There are about 2 dozen different movies entitled "Resurrection" dating back to the silent era. If you pick up a crime/thriller with Christopher Lambert, it will not be my fault.

Reviewed By A2NJO6YE954DBH

This review was cited from Amazon.ca.

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