I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Good idea lost in the noise

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

A Brilliant Conflict

This is a very strong film, no doubt.You can tell it's an adaptation of a novel because of how well structured it is. Just like all of those Forest Gumps, Shawshanks, Big Fish... there's a quality in the pace of the story that's superior to the more basic and linear development you'll get with mainstream Hollywood films.Anyhow, there is purpose and meaning to the development of the narrative here, and as mentioned in the title, there is a modern fairytale quality to this film that always brings a charm to the silver screen viewing.Steve Martin, Gabriel Byrne, his wife in the film Laura Linney or Catherine O'Hara (Martin's close friend) all do a great job but it really is Alana Austin, the final grownup version of Martin's adopted daughter, Mathilda, who steals the show. She was just 12 during this film and has all the precocious smarts and surprising maturity young girls often have at that early age.Well written, with an interesting philosophical almost existential question at the center of it, realistic and challenging... and just the right marriage of comedy and drama, and one of these films that grows on the viewer, with a real atmosphere and simpleness at its core.Perhaps too sensitive and subtle, hence the relatively low average by the fans.8/10.

I thought this was a perfectly-good movie, but am confounded regarding the second-to-last scene, where-in the politician's brother's skeleton is found, along with the gold coins he stole from Mr. McCann (in a "drained lake?"). What relation did the finding of the skeleton have to do with the custody battle? I paid close attention while watching the movie, and still, fail to make a connection. This one incongruous scene caused me to detract one star in my rating of A Simple Twist of Fate. I do appreciate the movie's characters being multi-dimensional. Mr. McCann is both eternally-wounded by his former relationship and ecstatically happy with his new one. He is both a hard-drinker and a very responsible parent (did he give up the booze?).The senator is not single-dimensional, either: Although he seems like an ambitious, material-driven capitalist, fate brings his daughter back to him and his paternal instinct, he finds, is still intact. He actually has a bit of a heart.The acting in A Simple Twist of Fate was good, maybe especially that of Catherine O'Hara. The message of this movie seems to be that love can heal your heart and make you whole again.The scene with the skeleton...I have no idea how that is pertinent.

This film is so understated and underrated as to be in danger of completely disappearing from the radar screen. For Steve Martin to be in a non-Jerk type roll makes seeing this movie next to impossible for a great number of people. No, he's not acting weird. No, he doesn't have an arrow on his head. No, he isn't going for the laugh. This is Mr. Martin at his acting best. If you were impressed by his recent turn in 'Shopgirl' the do yourself a favor and go out of your way to find a copy of this movie. Are there times when humor finds its way into this movie? Oh yeah but for the most part there is nothing but good solid storytelling with excellent casting and an excellent script. See this movie if you want to see a wonderful character study acted out by a superb cast.

This movie was a real disappointment. Steve Martin did okay in the lead role about a man whose wife tells him that their unborn child belongs to another man and they divorce and he becomes a recluse who drinks and counts his gold coins...but it was hard to see past the many years of outrageous comedy Martin did to take him too seriously here. The acting and dialogue were just awful. Linney and Bryne were wooden and lacked any depth whatsoever and I didn't care about anything that happened to them. The little girl, who rarely uttered a word (which seemed a bit unrealistic for any child)was played by so many child actors it was hard to tell it was even the same character in any particular scene. Overall it was mediocre and I would not recommend it.