Winter Passing
Winter Passing ★★½ 2005 (R)
Reese (Deschanel) is a disillusioned actress living an empty life in New York, trying not to acknowledge the fact that her mother has recently died and she hasn't seen her father, a reclusive, alcoholic, once-famous novelist, in years. Motivated by an editor's (Madigan) offer of big money for potential love letters written by her parents long ago, Reese reluctantly returns to Michigan to reconnect with her mislaid father. Upon her arrival she's greeted by Corbit (Ferrell), her father's spaced-out caretaker, and Shelly (Warner), who handles her father's business matters. Dancing between humor and affection, the characters all carefully paint a portrait of loneliness and awakening. However, that dance is often a little too slow. Inspired performances, especially in Ferrell's wise restraint. 98m/C DVD . US Zooey Deschanel, Ed Harris, Will Ferrell, Amelia Warner, Amy Madigan, Dallas Roberts, Deirdre O'Connell, Robert Beitzel; D: Adam Rapp; W: Adam Rapp; C: Terry Stacey; M: John Kimbrough, John Kimbrough.