Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Rose (Laura Dern) is taken in by the Hillyer family to serve as a 1930s housemaid so that she can avoid falling into a life of prostitution. Rose's appearance and personality is such that all men fall for her, and Rose knows it.Some of this film is a little bit scandalous. I won't say what parts, but if you've seen it, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Perhaps there ought to be laws about certain things (though this was the 1930s and people didn't care back then).Laura Dern has made a nice career out of quirky roles. She may be best known for "Jurassic Park", but she has not shied away from David Lynch and others. I don't know the films of Martha Coolidge, but after seeing this one, I think maybe I ought to look for more.

I will never cease to be amazed how historically inaccurate movies are or how morally bankrupt the people responsible for making films these days are. No one in the thirties would have kept a tramp as a house keeper especially with children in the house. It simply would not have happened and all the stupid reasons it might have happened are leftist writers pushing their agenda using a period movie to disguise their moral depravity. There are the usual digs at the South which were totally uncalled for and not probable by coming from the mouths of Southerns and the wife actually defends moral equivalence in one speech. Total rot. The only reason I watched the piece of garbage to the end was to see how bad the plot would get. It didn't fail to live up to my worse fears. Happily this movie was not exactly a huge hit, but then not too many movies are these days. The public isn't stupid.

If you grew up Southern you always have a thing about Hollywood actors trying to put on a Southern accent. I cringe when I hear Paul Newman, his wife Joan Woodward or Elizabeth Taylor trying to be "Southern." I liked "Rambling Rose" because, for once, the actors nailed it. Only to be expected, I guess, since Diane Ladd is from Mississippi and Laura Dern is her daughter. (So how to explain Robert Duvall, who grew up in San Diego? Well, he's just one helluva an actor.) Aside from the accents, the acting was outstanding.Also I thought the soft summery lighting was perfect, unlike some period movies that seem done in comic book colors. I wonder where the location scenes were shot--anybody know?The story itself wasn't great, but was above average, IMHO.

Robert Duvall was splendid in this movie. I do not want to ruin it for people watching, so I can not tell you much but his acting was great as well as Laura Dern. What a dynamic and thought provocative movie with so many interesting twists that are unexpected. The wife was really good too. The morals of it, the conflicts, the family. This movie had it all, love, conflict, compassion, passion and all great acting too! I would imagine if this movie is a book I should read it actually. The nuances were subtle and well done, it did address some touchy topics as well. The young boy actor really was well cast too. I guess all in all, the casting was super, the dialog was well done and the way they captured the south was excellent as well.