A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party... while he was still alive.
It contains yet another pitch-perfect performance by Robert Duvall, who has given more great performances over the age of 60 than any actor, probably ever.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 Aug 2010
fresh:
Eccentric and ultimately touching.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
20 Aug 2010
fresh:
The creaky foreshadowing is a big problem, and the movie runs in place for most of its second half, though Duvall manages to pull it back on track with his climactic soliloquy, which sobers and silences the carnivalesque funeral party.
– J. R. Jones,
Chicago Reader,
15 Dec 2010
fresh:
That the finale ends up being trite is a shame, but the long, gentle jaunt to arrive there is a pleasurable one.
– David Jenkins,
Time Out,
18 Jan 2011
fresh:
Sweet and gentle and occasionally makes you crave a catnap.