Labor Day

[Beate]

Free book? What free book? I guess I was too quick in getting interviewed, I had just finished signing the form and turned round and there he was, thrusting the microphone in my face. Then we left and I never noticed any books!

[Diamond1]

After having enjoyed the book I just had to see the film. Yes, there are plot holes the size of Belgian and it could have been better but Kate Winslet is absolutely brilliant in it and carries the film and who wouldn't want such a considered and lovely man around the house..... darn the wrong accusations!! I enjoyed the film but, yes, the book is better.

[prettyxcool]

Free book? What free book? I guess I was too quick in getting interviewed, I had just finished signing the form and turned round and there he was, thrusting the microphone in my face. Then we left and I never noticed any books!

I was right after you, but he showed no interest in interviewing me and kept turning to the people next to me!! But after finally getting a half hearted interview, and then went to go there was a lady standing by the wall with a box of books, you can't miss her as you have to pass her to leave so perhaps, she only got there after you left!

[RevKeith39]

Was not looking forward to this at all, having read reviews about its schmaltz. How wrong those reviews were! Slow, yes, but nicely slow [there is such a thing!]. Acting top-notch, direction perfect. Occasional poor dialogue but kept my attention throughout. The last couple of minutes could have been omitted without damaging the film. It's tempting to view me as an old romantic - true, but there was also the fact that I'd seen 'Starred Up' 2 days previously and I know which film I enjoyed sitting through the most. A peach! [sic]

9/10

[alexjerreat]

If I were reviewing this film as a wine critic, I'd say I was getting sharp, citrussy notes. Why? Because this film is a bit of a lemon. It starts well: the ambiguous posture of the fugitive (Brolin) has us in fear of an imminent, psychopathic outburst. But then it turns into slush, and that's surely the fault of the director because the reservoir of acting talent on hand is deep.

Very quickly, Brolin reveals himself to be the male equivalent of Shirley Conran's Superwoman, the archetypal strong, silent type. Demonstrations of his kindness, or rather goodness, and therefore implied innocence, are hod-loaded in a sequence of heroic acts of DIY and car maintenance. And can he bake a cherry pie? Well he can sure bake a peach one, and in the most sensuous, seductive fashion.

In mitigation, the tension around the fugitive's sincerity - is he wooing Winslett only to guarantee her acquiescence or is he simply an extraordinarily nice chap? - is reasonably well maintained. But with so much good acting strung together in such a ham-fisted, over-signposted way, it's hard to stay in tune with this film.

P.S. My companion enjoyed Labor Day and said it was much better than GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. Vivre la difference.

[Ms Thrifty]

Hokum but entertaining enough. I've seen this compared unfavourably to Witness, which I have seen, but too long ago for me to recall, so Labor Day stood (or fell) alone for me - 7.5/10.

Btw, did anyone else think that Josh Brolin looked much better with the beard? Glad it reappeared at the end!

[akh43]

I didnt know much about this film before going to see it and thought it was just a romance story. I felt it was much more than that and I did enjoy much more than I thought I would. I would give it 8/10 as I thought it was a heartwarming story and I liked the characters and felt for them in a difficult situation.

[fetta]

Thank you Ms Thrifty, I was looking for the right word and hokum is just perfect!
Found Labor Day thoroughly entertaining as it made me giggle at its absurdity not to mention that at the begging it seemed more like a cookery program then a feature film. It probably wouldn't have been funny had I pa*d to see it but as it was free I can only thank Paramount Previews for the 2h light entertainment of spotting plot holes and learning new recipes.
6.5/10 if seen for free, 3/10 if not

[RAZORBACK]

Just got back from seeing this and thought it was okay, however solid performances from a pretty decent cast were let down by a slower than necessary pace and a pretty generic story.

Although I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again it did just enough to get a 7/10 from me...

[missgotty]

This film is for the romantics for sure. It was OK but totally unrealistic, with plot holes to boot. Cringworthy Ghost references too. Not all bad, definitely worth a viewing on DVD. The main male character was the perfect man for a murderer! 5/10.