Memorable, crazy movie

How sad is this?

The first must-see film of the year.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

*Spoilers?* this is one of the 1st movies I watched with my new best friend in college. That was 10 yrs ago, pretty sure I fell asleep while we watched it, too much Chinese takeout lol. I liked the idea of this movie and I thought it was trying to deliver a good message, albeit, slightly misguided attempt. I thought the acting was pretty good given the scattered material. I jus don't understand how Lexie, a nurse, didn't understand how birth control works. I mean 6 kids by 5 different dudes?? I mean even a person who doesn't believe in birth control would find this CA-RAZY. I also feel Willie's whole storyline was completely disjointed from the rest of the movie; he was garbage so there was no reason to continue following his storyline (minus Cusack who was really good). If the content had been tweaked this could've been way better; instead we got a step up (barely) version of a Lifetime TV movie

Novalee Nation Natalie Portman) is a very pregnant 17-year-old from Tennessee heading to California with her boyfriend Willie Jack (Dylan Bruno), but is abandoned by him at a Wal-Mart store in Sequoyah, Oklahoma where she takes up a homeless existence - no job, no skills and only $5.55 in her pocket, so she secretly lives in the Wal-Mart. Locked in one evening six weeks later she goes into labor and her new friend Forney (James Frain), who's life was in jeopardy because of his alcohol addiction and his choice to dropout of college, delivers her daughter Americus. The situation's so bizarre that Novalee becomes a small town celebrity: she is a strong woman of many talents and she decides to raise her daughter and rebuild her life in Sequoyah, with the help of eccentric but kind strangers. Much to her surprised, Novalee gets an unexpected visit from her mother (Sally Field) who agrees to hold to the $500 given to Novalee from the president of Wal-Mart and to have them both share an apartment. However after agreeing to pick her up the next day, the mother flees with the $500 leaving Novalee and Americus stranded. All manner of freaky friends and strange characters populate this story, giving some fine roles for Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing , Joan Cusack, among others. It is a funky story that somehow rings very true. Grady Harp

Well, among all the young actresses in Hollywood, Natalie really leads the pack, ahead of Angelina, Jessica. She has really this fragility and kindness that I crave. That's why the first half-hour of this movie is absolutely extraordinary: a pregnant young mother on her own in a supermarket has the stuff of the best fairy tale: With only a few words and a lot of expressions, Natalie told us her feelings in that hard time for her. This beginning has the same zen spirit as the future "Terminal" and it gave me the opportunity of having a glimpse of one of my dreams: i have always dreamed about getting stuck in a big supermarket and experience it all alone at night! After the birth, the movie loses a bit of its charm: It turns into the life of simple people (rednecks?) in the country. The character of Natalie is mishandled because she doesn't act and have lines of a mother.By luck, she met an extraordinary courteous knight. I didn't know this actor, James Fain, but he is really good and a bit similar to Tobey Maguire. In addition, his care about the single family is exactly what i lived not so long ago. Even as a friend, he is really attached to the child and is deep in love with the mother. The difference is that my story ends in another way because i never had the guts to ask the question as Fain did.

Don't be a jerk. we don't need to see evidence of your ability to use correct syntax and BIG WORDS. this movie is great. it's sort of tongue-in-cheek, depicting the American working class as it exists in certain rural areas. its excessive use of Wal-Mart and brief but hilariously slanted depictions of country music are hilarious. also, naming her baby America is just another jest at some of those excessively "patriotic" Americans. take a step back and realize not every movie is so literal, unlike the Tom Clancy books you read."fundamentals are the crutch for the talentless" -Kenny Powersbyeeeeeee