Review of How to Make an American Quilt (1995) by Jennifer A — 26 Mar 2006

[size=2]I'm beginning the rather lengthy task of entering into the database every film I have seen, at least those I have a decent memory of. Some may have the briefest of reviews while many will just have a number. Those films that I consider personal favorites and/or those that have some historical signficance I will add later when I have time for more lengthy reviews.

[b]How To Make An American Quilt[/b], directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, is a celebration of womanhood that features a rather impressive ensemble cast of Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Maya Angelou, Ellen Burstyn, Jean Simmons, Alfre Woodard, Kate Capshaw, Dermot Mulroney, Jared Leto, and Rip Torn. The story centers on Ryder's character who is a graduate student trying to decide if she should marry Mulroney. She spends the summer with her grandmother (Burstyn), an avid quilter, and meets many older women who share their stories. Overly sentimental? Yes. That said the fine ensemble cast make this a watchable film.

[b]Moonlight and Valentino[/b], directed by David Anspaugh, is another film with a strong, mostly female ensemble cast. Rebecca (Elizabeth Perkins) loses her husband in an accident, and her friends rally for support. The cast also includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Kathleen Turner, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jon Bon Jovi as a sexy painter. It's pretty sappy, and not as good as [i]Quilt[/i].

[b]The Wood[/b], directed by Rick Famuyiwa, chronicles the lives of the three best friends. Half of the film is set during their childhood days and the other half as young adults. Stars Taye Diggs, Omar Epps, and Richard T. Jones.

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