Hallmark Hall of Fame: Plainsong (#53.3)

source: Plainsong

Moviecut—Plainsong

"Plainsong" is a touching story about how people you would least likely suspect can help you at the time you need it most. Tom just had his wife leave him and his two boys. If that's not enough, he has to deal with a delinquent student assaulting him and then being forced to pass the kid. His boys, feeling weighted by their mother, look for attention in the form of an old lady and two brothers who live all by themselves. Meanwhile, Victoria is saddled with a baby sired by a boy who refuses to take responsibility for his actions. She gets help from a teacher at school, who is also Tom's love interest. Everyone comes together with two old brothers who live all alone when they all find a way to help everyone else and put their own problems aside. Content Description Sex: Sex between teens is implied when a girl becomes pregnant. Language: None Violence: A few mild fist fights. Drugs: None Nudity: None James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/19/2021

Plainsong is an excellent example of a book that should never have been made into a movie. It would take at least a mini-series to do justice for this novel. ANyone who has not read the book would be lost for a good portion of the film. Aiden Quinn made an excellent performance. Good casting for the McPheron brothers. Because I have read the book, I had high expectations for this movie, even if it was for tv (and Hallmark for that matter). However, the movie did have a 'simplicity' to it, which is the most credit it can get in comparison to its book. I would encourage anyone who found any interest in the film to read the book. In lieu of remakes, I suggest mini-series sans greeting card commercials.

I've seen just about every film directed by Richard Pearce. There's something in his understanding of actors that always brings out the best in them. That's especially evident in films like "Country", "A Family Thing" and "The Long Walk Home". It's hard to walk that thin line between heartfelt personal stories and overwrought melodrama. "Plainsong", however, isn't completely successful in avoiding the latter. The story itself has a lot in common with other Hallmark films, a way of unfolding that is a bit more predictable and/or comfortable than you might see in an average theatrical film. The TV movie feeling is the main, and only real thing holding "Plainsong" back. I'd noticed America Ferrera before, like I suppose most people have. But the only thing I'd actually seen her in was her first film, "Real Women Have Curves". She's so quiet here that it's almost like she's not there at all sometimes. That's not a bad thing, it reminded me of myself for a good part of my teenage years. She gets across the lost and confused feeling so well. The most fascinating and accomplished performances are those of Geoffrey Lewis and William Andrews as the elderly farmer brothers, and Marian Seldes as the lonely shut-in. They are so real, so believable. Rachel Griffiths and Aidan Quinn, whom many will be familiar with, are actually of much lesser interest than the younger and older actors. Nonetheless, they give very good performances. In all, "Plainsong" doesn't reach so far as it might. It stays on the outskirts of anything truly intense, but the feeling of gentle reality still bubbles to the surface. I'm truly glad I saw it, and I can't see how anyone couldn't take at least something away from the experience. I recommend that you pursue more of Richard Pearce's films.

Interesting but too many plots bring this film down. We have a teacher who is pressured to pass a miserable child so that they can get him out of the school despite the fact that the brat assaulted the teacher. The teacher (Aidan Quinn) has a wife who has left him, apparently suffering from depression and has gone to her sister in Denver. There are 2 young polite boys from the marriage who eventually find an old lady dead in her apartment. They deliver the paper to her and never bother to report that the woman, who lost her son in Korea, has died. The boys get caught up with that miserable student, who has bigoted parents. If this isn't enough, we have America Fererra, who has been abandoned by her mother when it is determined that she is pregnant. She goes to live with 2 older gentlemen who have kept to themselves following the deaths of their parents. They are recommended by the teacher in the next room who has romantic visions on Quinn. The school secretary also has an eye on this man. Yes, the movie is interesting but the themes abound. Each character could have developed into a story by itself. Was the teacher motivating the student? The pressure that teachers are faced with to pass students according to their supervisors is another theme. The depression of the mother. The life of the old woman (Marion Seldes) and the 2 older gentlemen who find they can contribute to life. I could go on and on.

I am surprised that some other viewers were disappointed with this movie. It was bit "real worldly" for a Hallmark movie. But, it was about people making mistakes, and having to deal with the poor judgment of others. SPOILER! It was also about people forgiving, accepting others and making room for people who are different. Maybe to some viewers it will be a bit predictable, but it is a story about healing and making the best of what goes wrong with life. I give it 6* out of 10.

I was completely disappointed by "Plainsong". It was a badly-written screenplay and thoroughly depressing movie from start to finish. Two young boys find a dead lady they're working for, and also get abducted and stripped by drunk high school jocks. These lucky young lads also happen to be mothered by an mentally ill woman, who also, by the way get left at a complete stranger's house to spend the night, only to be abandoned while asleep: nice, real nice. Their Dad's not much better (Aidan Quinn, where has your career gone dude?), he's getting ready to date all of the town skanks before the divorce papers are written. He's also is a crappy teacher, nice touch. Add the pregnant teenager to the mix, a 17 year-old who runs off to Denver with her abusive boyfriend only to get drunked up and puts her unborn child in danger, and this is what passes for family entertainment these days??? I can't believe Hallmark put their name on this load of manure. Look, I like a disturbing tale as much as anybody, but they usually have a plot, and don't have the name "Hallmark" associated with them. My wife and I watch Hallmark movies because they consistently are some of the best family entertainment available on television. Not this movie, not by a long shot. A special guest appearance by William Hung couldn't have butchered this "song" any worse.

I sat through the whole thing, hoping it would get better, but it didn't. Seeing Megan Follows again after Anne of Green Gables was sort of interesting, but too bad she didn't play a very good character (she leaves her husband). The acting was fine and the part about the boys being bullied was interesting, but I was hoping for a story of redemption as so often comes from Hallmark Hall of Fame. Disappointing. There wasn't much violence or any really bad scenes, but this is not worth the time to watch. I gave it a 2/10.

I loved the book and I loved the tv version. Every actor was superb. I skipped the Sopranos to watch this and I'm glad I did. Bravo to everyone associated with it. Aidan Quinn was so right as the dad and Brenda from Six Feet Under was perfect as the girlfriend. The three seniors in the story were best of all, the two ranchers and the old lady who dies. I could not get over how moving they were. Then there were the two little boys. They were real, not at all actor-y. The film managed to convey and America so at variance from the cold place many of us experience. It almost made me want to head west. One last thing: the thuggy teenager was also fine as were his repulsive parents. BUT BEST OF ALL was the writing.