Ulee's Gold

Starring:Peter Fonda, Patricia Richardson, Christine Dunford, Tom Wood (II), Jessica Biel, Vanessa Zima, Steven Flynn, Dewey Weber, J. Kenneth Campbell, Traber Burns, Ryan Marshall, Chad Fish, Will Sexton, Dale C. Marshall, James T. Whitehurst, Charles Branner, Jim Flanagan
Director: Victor Nunez
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Director Victor Nunez's richly photographed Ulee's Gold drew critical acclaim for Peter Fonda's and Patricia Richardson's subtle performances--and premiered as the Festival Centerpiece in 1997's Sundance Film Festival. Vividly photographed and set amid southern Florida's tupelo swamps, the film's narrative hinges on the evolution of a more-than-platonic connection between neighbors Ulysses, Ulee for short (Fonda), and Connie (Richardson). Known for her role on TV's Home Improvement, Richardson makes a satisfying foray into film with this appropriately smaller role where she manages to hatch out of potential typecasting. Fonda's independent, stubborn, and reserved Ulee anchors the narrative. He is a bee keeper whose struggling small business is all that keeps him focused in the wake of his wife Penelope's death, his daughter-in-law Helen's (Christine Dunford) drug addiction, and the de facto single-parent obligations he takes on to his adolescent granddaughters. (Notice the Homeric references.) Soon the plot twists, however, in the sociopathy of Eddie and Ferris, friends of Ulee's jailed son--a sociopathy that is also the impetus for the family to confront its dysfunction and for Connie and Ulee to see more in each other than mere neighborliness. Thankfully, Nunez foregoes the bathos of a Hollywood ending and leaves us satisfied on one hand with Helen's healing and Eddie's justice but uncertain, though hopeful, about Ulee's next step. --Erik Macki

Description

Sometimes a man's true strength lies in his power to grow from the forces that sting the heart and cut deep into the soul. Peter Fonda (Easy Rider), in 'the performance of his career (Newsweek), received a Best Actor Golden Globe and an Academy Award(r) nomination* for his portrayal of a man who escapes one war only to find himself at battle with an even greater enemyhis wounded spirit. Featuring an uncommonly fine cast (Rolling Stone), Ulee's Gold comes wonderfully close to magic (Los Angeles Times)! Third-generation Florida beekeeper UleeJackson (Fonda) may have gotten out of Vietnam alive, but he left a part of himself behind. Now he methodically tends his bees, carefully provides for those who need him and vigilantly keeps his emotions at bay. But when both his family and his livelihood are threatened by a long-buried secret, Ulee must break through his emotional walls, find the strength to change and begin life anew. *1997: Actor

Customer Reviews:

VERY TOUCHING FILM.......2007-04-09

I loved the film and it is in my top recommendations to everybody. Its subject is simple: The life of a beekeeper who was a war veteran in Vietnam, a beautiful view of bee culture, and a family disrupted by death, prison, and drugs. This film is a must.

Good as Gold.......2006-11-13

Fonda delivers here as an understated everyman hero.
Why is Ulee the way he is? This is a believable story and not
stock at all. Fantastic supporting cast. Patricia Richardson from "Home Improvement" shows she is not a 2nd bannana.
Besides, you will gain a ton of information on the honeybee business.

Peter Fonda is excellent.......2006-11-12

Peter Fonda is superb as the bitter, we-don't-need-anybody's-help family head who raises bees in Florida for a living, and must suddenly deal with a daughter-in-law (played by Christine Dunford) strung out on drugs and a son (Tom Wood) who's in prison on robbery charges. A couple of ex-con buddies of Wood learn that he hid away a lot of the money from the robbery they committed, and they make it plain to Fonda that they want it. Fonda's got to figure out how to deal with these two ex-cons while trying to detox Dunford at home - and still get the honey collected from his beekeeping operation.

Fonda plays Ulee Jackson like a man with the DNA of a turtle: all his on-screen actions are slow and deliberate - even his incessant handling of his glasses seems to eat up much screen time. His character is supposed to be the ultimate stoic, and he plays it to the hilt. But the story is an interesting one, and the climax in the swamp is pretty exciting. The director (Victor Nunez) also insists on showing as much of the beekeeping tasks as he can get away with (some of it is so detailed it could be used in a beekeepers documentary); you will either not mind this very much or be driven crazy by it. I didn't mind it very much. Fonda is actually pretty fascinating to watch; his performance is right out of the old method school of acting (he IS Ulee and not just playing a role). The movie works and is satisfying to watch.

A great movie.......2006-08-08

I really enjoyed the story line. it spoke to me because i had a hard time relating to others when i first got back to the world. peter fonda does a great job making you believe its real. I highly recomend Ulees Gold.
T. D. G.

wonderful story of a family tryiing to cope.......2005-03-08

This is a sad and deep film about a family in pain, trying to cope in the face of terrible circumstances and mistakes. Peter Fonda is brilliant as Ulee, a mourning widower whose son is in prison as he tries to keep everything together. He is a bee keeper, a humble man of integrity, a Vietnam vet, a father and guardian. THere is an imbroglio with some petty, brutal crooks, which leads to Ulee having to make some real choices and do something against his nature: reach out for help. The result is a totally believable drama of growth and redemption, within limits of a very real life.

Warmly recommended.

Average customer rating:

VERY TOUCHING FILM
Good as Gold
Peter Fonda is excellent
A great movie
wonderful story of a family tryiing to cope

Ulee's Gold [Region 2]
Starring: Peter Fonda , Patricia Richardson , Christine Dunford , Tom Wood (II) , and Jessica Biel
Director: Victor Nunez
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004SX7F

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

VERY TOUCHING FILM.......2007-04-09

Good as Gold.......2006-11-13

Peter Fonda is excellent.......2006-11-12

A great movie.......2006-08-08

wonderful story of a family tryiing to cope.......2005-03-08

Charlie Rose with Peter Fonda; Curtis Hanson (March 17, 1998)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Peter Fonda; Curtis Hanson (March 17, 1998)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, Peter Fonda discusses his new role in the film, Ulee's Gold, a sleeper hit about beekeepers which won him a Golden Globe. He also talks about his new book, Don't Tell Dad, which he wrote about growing up with his famous father Henry Fonda. Then, Curtis Hanson discusses his work directing hit movie L. A. Confidential, which critics praised for it's old-Hollywood throwback style.

Average customer rating:

Ulee's Gold [Region 2]
Starring: Peter Fonda , Patricia Richardson , Christine Dunford , Tom Wood (II) , and Jessica Biel
Director: Victor Nunez
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYK4

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