William H. Macy is Bill Porter the door-to-door salesman for the Watkins Company deemed unemployable because of his cerebral palsy.
His performance is an actor's dream or nightmare depending on the actor's abilities and heart. And Mr. Macy proves he has the heart to play a difficult role with all the heart needed to make the viewer care deeply for this man who overcomes his disability to gain his own independence and sense of self.
Of course the script co-written by Mr. Macy with director Steven Schachter has a lot to do with his performance. But the real life story of Bill Porter is so compelling that it would be difficult to do it poorly.
While the audience is being manipulated (to a certain extent) to feel the inherent greatness that Mr. Porter has in his character the script does not shy away from his foibles and inability and subsequent anger -- to accept what he considers to be charity.
The soundtrack was used incredibly effectively to highlight the various moods and temperaments of the action in the film it was outstanding.
Kyra Sedgwick as Shelley Brady was outstanding as the woman he allows into his life to help him in his business; their relationship is sometimes volatile but the underlying love and respect for each other shines like a beacon.
This is an amazing film and should be required family viewing to help everyone understand that though people are all different we are all still the same.
His performance is an actor's dream or nightmare depending on the actor's abilities and heart. And Mr. Macy proves he has the heart to play a difficult role with all the heart needed to make the viewer care deeply for this man who overcomes his disability to gain his own independence and sense of self.
Of course the script co-written by Mr. Macy with director Steven Schachter has a lot to do with his performance. But the real life story of Bill Porter is so compelling that it would be difficult to do it poorly.
While the audience is being manipulated (to a certain extent) to feel the inherent greatness that Mr. Porter has in his character the script does not shy away from his foibles and inability and subsequent anger -- to accept what he considers to be charity.
The soundtrack was used incredibly effectively to highlight the various moods and temperaments of the action in the film it was outstanding.
Kyra Sedgwick as Shelley Brady was outstanding as the woman he allows into his life to help him in his business; their relationship is sometimes volatile but the underlying love and respect for each other shines like a beacon.
This is an amazing film and should be required family viewing to help everyone understand that though people are all different we are all still the same.