Trying to put himself back together after serving prison time for robbery, Paul takes a job as a parks employee in a small Connecticut town. His co-worker, Murph, a generation older than Paul, is dealing with his own issues, chiefly the the impending death of his very ill gay son. After the men have a run-in with local snob Frederickson, Murph's age and experience starts to temper Paul's fiery nature, as the younger man begins to embrace his new life.
Acting
Ned Beatty's final great performance, Liev Schreiber before he was famous.
Writing
Dialogue so natural you'll forget it's scripted.
Direction
Gilroy lets silence do the heavy lifting.
Director
Tom Gilroy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot entirely on location in Connecticut with a crew of mostly first-timers; Gilroy worked as a park ranger himself.
One of the rare 2000s American films to treat working-class male intimacy without irony or violence — Beatty reportedly took minimum wage to keep budget low.
US
