Review of That Evening Sun (2009) by Gavin S — 05 May 2011

Fantastic piece of acting by the always super Hal Holbrook. The story of a man at the end of his road in life reflecting back and refusing to go off quietly into his senior's home. A grumpy old codger like I always aim to be, so I loved him right off the top.

After breaking out of the old folks home, he gets to his farm to discover his son has leased it out to a ne'er do well drunkard who spends his days drinking and doing a lot of nothing. Abner (Holbrook) refuses to leave, saying it's his home, and sets up in the Sharecroper's shack next to the farmhouse.

It's here that the battle of wills really begins. Great to just sit back and watch the 2 of them go at it. This was also the last film work of the late Dixie Carter, Holbrook's real life wife, who plays his now deceased wife in the film, which adds even more poigniancy.

Barry Corbin of Northern Exposure fame supports as Abner's neighbour. Great to see that older actors aren't relegated to the sidelines. Shares some similarities with Clint's 'Gran Torino', vis-a-vis old widowed men adjusting to new realities while maintaining their morals from bygone eras.

To top it off, fantastic music from Patterson Hood (Drive By Truckers) makes this a great piece of Southern filmmaking that could take place anywhere and apply to most men of that age. Highly recommended.