Warning * SPOILERS *
VERY OVERRATED INDEPENDENT - a few charming scenes, lots of dead space, culminating in a cliched anticlimax.
The good: Dale Dickey's performance is a tour de force. Slowly but relentlessly, she conveys a combination of realistic acceptance with indomitable spirit.
The wait: We spend the first 50+% of the film waiting for Wes Studi to show up. It's a slow go with Dale's character's old radio playing the part of Tom Hanks' volleyball in Castaway. There are three vignettes as we are waiting. Five cowhands with only the young one talking want to unbury their dead father from the campsite because a windmill blocking the view has been built. Think Larry, Darryl, and Darrel from Newhart. Two female lovers invite Dale to a very nice dinner where she is asked by one whether she should pop the question to the other; that takes about three minutes all in. Best from my perspective was the enthusiastic mailman (mail-boy?) hoping against hope that he can deliver the letter Dale is waiting for.
Finally, Wes shows up. Wes Studi has long been a personal favorite. His performance is terrific here and he is certainly ungodly handsome for his purported age.
Unfortunately, after three very nice moments, It turns into a two-night stand with a trite bromide ending the 20-minute exploration. After 5 minutes of morning, Dale gets her motor back and drives back home after a couple of very nice vignettes.
To me, it was pointless albeit a lot better than the ugly and relentlessly slow political polemic called Nomadland. Since, Nomadland has a lot of fans and I certainly found A Love Song better than that, if you liked Nomadland, definitely give this one a shot. If your idea of a sad but excellent Love Story is more like Brief Encounter, take a pass.
VERY OVERRATED INDEPENDENT - a few charming scenes, lots of dead space, culminating in a cliched anticlimax.
The good: Dale Dickey's performance is a tour de force. Slowly but relentlessly, she conveys a combination of realistic acceptance with indomitable spirit.
The wait: We spend the first 50+% of the film waiting for Wes Studi to show up. It's a slow go with Dale's character's old radio playing the part of Tom Hanks' volleyball in Castaway. There are three vignettes as we are waiting. Five cowhands with only the young one talking want to unbury their dead father from the campsite because a windmill blocking the view has been built. Think Larry, Darryl, and Darrel from Newhart. Two female lovers invite Dale to a very nice dinner where she is asked by one whether she should pop the question to the other; that takes about three minutes all in. Best from my perspective was the enthusiastic mailman (mail-boy?) hoping against hope that he can deliver the letter Dale is waiting for.
Finally, Wes shows up. Wes Studi has long been a personal favorite. His performance is terrific here and he is certainly ungodly handsome for his purported age.
Unfortunately, after three very nice moments, It turns into a two-night stand with a trite bromide ending the 20-minute exploration. After 5 minutes of morning, Dale gets her motor back and drives back home after a couple of very nice vignettes.
To me, it was pointless albeit a lot better than the ugly and relentlessly slow political polemic called Nomadland. Since, Nomadland has a lot of fans and I certainly found A Love Song better than that, if you liked Nomadland, definitely give this one a shot. If your idea of a sad but excellent Love Story is more like Brief Encounter, take a pass.