To me, this movie is perfection.

Nice effects though.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The first time I saw this film I thought it was very bad, and I did not understand it then I read some posts at the discussion board about it and not only watched it again, but read the story on which it was based.I ended up going from my original 1 star rating to a 10 star rating.I became totally enthralled with this film and this story once I finally understood what it was about.Keith Carradine as Marvin Macy, is totally HOT. He is broodingly handsome and how Miss Amelia could resist him, I can't even imagine. However, she is besotted by Lyman a "little person", back then referred to as a dwarf--possibly a distant cousin--who has turned up in her life unexpectedly.Lyman is sometimes unkind to Miss Amelia. He also leeches off her while trying to attract the attentions of Marvin Macy. Yes, there are some marvelous homosexual undercurrents in this story that I completely missed the first time around.Marvin is obsessed with Amelia but he's flattered by Lyman's interest in him.Unfortunately no love scenes occur between any of the characters, but it is still a fascinating character study.Eventually this develops into a jealous, obsessive love triangle with some very unexpected results, and tragic conssequences.Southern Gothic at its best!

Having seen the "definitive" stage version of this, featuring Colleen Dewhurst and Michael Dunn, I wasn't hopeful for this film holding a candle to it. I came away feeling that this particular piece does not translate to film. Vanessa Redgrave is a wonderful actress and seeing her beautiful, expressive face with no makeup and her hair cut short is quite startling, but effective. I found myself focusing on her big blue eyes most of the time, as they told the mood of her character throughout. I doubt they could've found anyone better for the role. It's simply that the entire production didn't quite gel. It truly works better in the theatre. I'm still not entirely decided on whether I completely disliked it.

Simon Callow is a great director and a visionary and should set his sights on directing again. Edward Albee's story is touching and funny, a true classic and Callow does a solid and witty job of bringing it to life. The acting by Carradine is questionable but Vanessa Redgrave makes up for that. Also Rod Steiger is always a sure thing. Callow should do more directing.

This film adaptation of Carson McCullers' novella is the best of all the screen versions of her works. Cinematography is excellent. Vanessa Redgrave turns in a great performance as the stoic Miss Amelia, unlucky in love but yearning to fulfill her thwarted desire to love and be loved. With the arrival of a dwarf claiming to be a relation, Miss Amelia finds herself able to live and love again. But with the arrival of Marvin Macy, her absentee husband, things take a change for the worse. The other performances are good, and the scenery and costumes accurately reflect a Depression-era southern backwater. A near-literal transcription from book to screen, without annoying time changes, character elimination, or overacting to distract from it. Good.