Empire Falls (2005)

Not all movies are made for the big screen and this month's review is dedicated to one of them: Empire Falls. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Richard Russo, produced for television release only by HBO, and featuring a superb cast including Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Paul Newman, Empire Falls offers up a cultural snapshot of what it is like a small and blue-collar town in the northeastern U.S.

The mill town of Empire Falls, Maine has seen better days, and for decades, in fact, it has seen only a succession from bad to worse. From the Empire Grill, Miles Roby gazes over this decaying realm. This is a story of a man encircled by history and dreams. Family, lifelong friends, and neighbors provide comforts and feuds. It is the story of a man, but it is also, on a larger scale, the story of a town - the story of one of many falling empires.

"Lives are like rivers. Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to," says the beginning of one of the eight chapters that divides this 240 minute movie. Empire Falls trades its long duration with a slow but strong construction of colorful three dimensional characters. "Every small town has a big story" says its tagline and I am sure you will be captivated for this powerful representation of American culture.

Although the central story revolves around Miles Roby and his family, Empire Falls is told from the perspective of multiple characters. This film won the Golden Globe Award for the best movie made for television and collected 10 Emmy nominations. It is an excellent choice to see all at once or in parts. Just some small advice from my own experience: Make sure you get first the first DVD when you rent it!