Overrated

Best movie of this year hands down!

An action-packed slog

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

The story starts out quite interestingly with a brother's cross country road trip search search for a bone marrow from an estranged abusive father for his sick younger brother. They meet a kind waitress who is in a slightly abusive relationship. Mariah Carey stars and sings one not too spectacular song. Mariah is a bit The brothers are played by Ethan Peck and Adam Rothenberg. Mariah's husband is a scary cop who comes after her but unpredictably things turn out okay for her.It isn't a sentimental tale, but you want to see what happens.Strangely the whole movie is filmed with an orange filter. The scenes progress slowly - could have been sped up.The ending has a poignant little twist. Wish there had been a bit more shown at the end.

Several years after fleeing their abusive father--and then losing their mother and only guardian to an unnamed cause--two young brothers hit the road on their own, but one of them contracts an unspecified disease requiring a bone marrow transplant. Stark, sketchy, turgid drama...tailor-made for indie film festivals as the writing is deliberately obtuse, the characters hopeless, and the landscapes barren and lonesome. Still, an arch phoniness renders the project unconvincing--and the characters uninteresting. Mariah Carey pops up as a put-upon truck stop waitress whose dream is to become a songwriter; changing the focus of the narrative almost instantly upon her arrival, Carey's working girl seems an unlikely fit for the troubled siblings, though at least she provides some quiet sparkle to the otherwise dour proceedings. *1/2 from ****

Kerrigand has exaggerated on the "beautiful painting" mumbo jumbo about this film. We saw it last night at a free screening north of Dallas. My man went with me and we both agreed: it was not a bad movie --in fact, I had VERY low expectations of Mariah Carey & co. and I was very surprised. She did a good job and the two brothers also did a good job with their characters. The acting was mostly pretty good (only a couple of scenes made me want to either hurl or giggle at the absurdity.. but many movies have a couple of scenes like this). Overall, good job.The last 20 seconds of the movie was sub-par; I hope they change it before the release.The main reason I was still disappointed with the film despite being pleasantly surprised by the acting was because it was a bit slow and I wasn't in the mood for a drama (I'm not usually in the mood for a drama, to be honest). And that's exactly what this is. So if you like'em a little emotional and slow (think Terms of Endearment but not quite as funny), you'll probably enjoy the movie. But if you prefer action or comedy, spare yourself.

Let it be said right from the start. Yes, "Tennessee" is a road movie with two guys and a girl. It's been done many times before. In fact, it was the third such film I saw in a 24-hour period here at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, where "Tennessee" had its World Premiere. And, yes, the girl is superstar diva Mariah Carey. But there's a big difference between what the film appears to be and what it actually is, which is a surprisingly sweet film that was totally satisfying.Aaron Woodley's "Tennessee," directing from a Russell Schaumberg script, is one of those films with a plot that's difficult to even briefly summarize without revealing spoilers. Due to a tragic turn of events, brothers Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and Ellis Armstrong (Ethan Peck) embark on a journey from their trailer home outside Albuquerque, New Mexico to their hometown in Tennessee. In so doing, they must face a past they'd rather avoid. Along the way they meet up with a young would-be singer-songwriter (Carey) whose own dreams need some inspiration and support. The IMDb page has a comprehensive synopsis.Although three people dominate the film, it's the young men who are the focus of the story, not the Mariah Carey character, a fact which will likely be lost on many who see the cast of the film without giving it a chance. Adam Rothenberg and Ethan Peck are the actors who carry this film with their powerful personalities. Carter (Rothenberg) is gruff, rough, tough, and downright dirty. He drinks and swears up a storm. In perfect contrast, younger brother Ellis (Ethan) is soft, sensitive, sweet, and tender, with his creativity demonstrated in his love for photography. It's hard to imagine anyone with a sibling, or even a close friend, who won't be able to relate to one or the other (or both).The landscape of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Tennessee is so stunning that even the most inexperienced cinematographer would have had a hard time avoiding the beautiful vistas which help give the film its lush look. Here, in the hands of David Greene, "Tennessee" becomes a true travelogue, filled with jaw-dropping sunsets and breathtaking peaks. Of course, the fact that the film's protagonist is a photographer makes the visual style that much more appropriate. Natural and single-point lighting give the film a soft appearance. What Mariah Carey adds most to the storyline is her music, and the country soundtrack is perfectly in tune with the towns through which they travel.The biggest surprise for me was that "Tennessee" is not as comedic as many films with even darker themes. The recent trend towards gallows humor, provoking nervous laughter in similar stories, isn't apparent here. There are more tears than laughter, and even when the film is trying to be light the result is more often a smile than a chuckle. It's touching nonetheless and not as depressing as the storyline would indicate.It's a road movie that's poignant and touching with overplaying the genre to the point of sugary sweetness, as many do. There are enough twists and turns along the way to retain viewer interest even beyond the initial concept. The setup comes early but surprises abound. "Tennessee" is that sweet little American indie which is the elusive holy grail of film festivals.