Movie Review: How To Make An American Quilt
The Amblin Entertainment film How to Make an American Quilt opened on this date in 1995. The film starred Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft and Maya Angelou. It was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse.
Synopsis:
How to Make an American Quilt is a drama that was based on a novel of the same name. Winona Ryder stars as Finn Dodd, a young woman struggling with deciding what to do with her future and also her recent engagement to her boyfriend. She tries to get away from it all to work on her thesis and visit her grandmother, aunt and family friends to find some answers. She learns that her family and friends have come together to build her a quilt that celebrates her upcoming marriage. During her stay she learns more about the women in her life and their past loves and experiences.
Positives:
- Winona Ryder is my favorite actress of all-time and she gives a strong performance in the film. Ryder proved with this film that when she was given the opportunity, she could carry a film.
- The supporting cast also does a fine job – especially Maya Angelou & Alfrie Woodard. All of the characters in the film are very likeable.
- It’s nice to see a film tell the story of a group of women, the majority of them senior citizens, in an earnest way.
Negatives:
- The characters are likeable but not that well developed—mostly because there is probably too many of them.
- The film never rises above a script that is filled with clichés and plotlines that, even in 1995, were pretty tired.
- How to Make an American Quilt’s reliance on flashbacks, largely because of it being based on a novel, makes it hard to truly invest in the film. We are constantly being introduced to younger versions of the characters, when the older versions are the most interesting.
Movie Review: How To Make An American Quilt
BY ADAM C. BETTER| OCTOBER 6, 2017| FEATURED, REVIEWS
The Amblin Entertainment film How to Make an American Quilt opened on this date in 1995. The film starred Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft and Maya Angelou. It was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse.
Synopsis:
How to Make an American Quilt is a drama that was based on a novel of the same name. Winona Ryder stars as Finn Dodd, a young woman struggling with deciding what to do with her future and also her recent engagement to her boyfriend. She tries to get away from it all to work on her thesis and visit her grandmother, aunt and family friends to find some answers. She learns that her family and friends have come together to build her a quilt that celebrates her upcoming marriage. During her stay she learns more about the women in her life and their past loves and experiences.
Positives:
- Winona Ryder is my favorite actress of all-time and she gives a strong performance in the film. Ryder proved with this film that when she was given the opportunity, she could carry a film.
- The supporting cast also does a fine job – especially Maya Angelou & Alfrie Woodard. All of the characters in the film are very likeable.
- It’s nice to see a film tell the story of a group of women, the majority of them senior citizens, in an earnest way.
Negatives:
- The characters are likeable but not that well developed—mostly because there is probably too many of them.
- The film never rises above a script that is filled with clichés and plotlines that, even in 1995, were pretty tired.
- How to Make an American Quilt’s reliance on flashbacks, largely because of it being based on a novel, makes it hard to truly invest in the film. We are constantly being introduced to younger versions of the characters, when the older versions are the most interesting.
In Closing:
It is really hard to hate How to Make an American Quilt. Its heart is in the right place and the actors are really giving it their all. It’s definitely a movie that is worth watching, but I can’t imagine many people ever feeling the need to watch it twice. It’s the kind of film that you can completely figure out and guess the ending of in the first ten minutes—which isn’t always the worst thing in the world.
Rating: C
