Off the Map
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Leisurely paced but ultimately affecting story (based on a play by Joan Ackermann) of the unconventional Groden family living in virtual isolation in New Mexico -- a husband (Sam Elliott) suffering from such depression he barely speaks; a mother (Joan Allen) who sometimes gardens in the nude; a precocious 11-year-old daughter (Valentina De Angelis) with a mind of her own; and the Internal Revenue Service agent (Jim True-Frost) who comes to see them about unpaid back taxes and who is so charmed by their bohemian lifestyle he decides to stay. Peculiar as the synopsis may sound, actor Campbell Scott's second solo directorial stint is actually a rather sweet story with a positive message about the value of family and love, and features solid performances all around, including that of J.K. Simmons as the husband's best friend. Fleeting, shadowy nudity, some crass language and brief sensuality. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2005
Full Review
If you liked Joan Allen in "The Upside of Anger," in which she co-stars with Kevin Costner, you'll be doubly impressed by the warm and earthy maternal qualities this versatile actress brings to her latest role.
"Off the Map" (Holedigger) is a leisurely paced but ultimately affecting story based on a play by Joan Ackermann.
The unconventional Groden family lives in virtual isolation in New Mexico. The husband (Sam Elliott) suffers from such depression he barely speaks; the mother (Allen)sometimes gardens in the nude; and the precocious 11-year-old daughter (Valentina De Angelis) has a mind of her own.
When an Internal Revenue Service agent (Jim True-Frost) comes to see them about unpaid back taxes, he is so charmed by their bohemian lifestyle and unpretentious outlook on life he decides to stay.
Peculiar as the synopsis may sound, actor Campbell Scott's second solo directorial stint is actually a rather sweet story with a positive message about the value of family and love. The performances are solid all around, including that of J.K. Simmons as the husband's best friend, and Amy Brenneman as the daughter grown up in the flash-forward scenes.
The film contains some fleeting, shadowy nudity, some crass language and brief sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.