Always one of my favorite leading ladies, Ellen Burstyn is at her best, hiding her malevolence behind a sophisticated demeanor as a grieving mother obviously trying to resurrect her late daughter through young artist, Meg Tilly. But how far is she willing to go? The seemingly devoted patron of the arts obviously wants more from Tilly than she's willing to admit, and any smart person would put 10,000 miles between them. But Tilly sticks around, and when Burstyn becomes extraordinarily domineering and melodramatic, the signs are there for her to go, only to find out that she can't, especially when a young man shows up from the late daughter's past.
As clinging as her character is, Burstyn is fascinating to watch, and Tilly does a good job of holding herself up against the Oscar winning legend, having already proved herself as the innocent tragic nun in "Agnes of God". Barnard Hughes is feisty and fun as Tilly's mentor, with Paxton Whitehead imperious as Burstyn's butler and Alastair Duncan filled with many possible twists and turns as the mysterious ex. Quite a unique film, a stylish grand guignole melodrama, mesmerizing in so many ways.
As clinging as her character is, Burstyn is fascinating to watch, and Tilly does a good job of holding herself up against the Oscar winning legend, having already proved herself as the innocent tragic nun in "Agnes of God". Barnard Hughes is feisty and fun as Tilly's mentor, with Paxton Whitehead imperious as Burstyn's butler and Alastair Duncan filled with many possible twists and turns as the mysterious ex. Quite a unique film, a stylish grand guignole melodrama, mesmerizing in so many ways.