I like Johan Sayles a lot, but this one--unlike his other multi-character evocations of a region and its cultures--just didn't hang together for me.

In Sayles' visionary sketch, the attentive director wisely affords each member of its portrayed populace individual senses of history - be it informed by anguish or joy, pride of shame - rendering Sunshine State's unravelling tug-of-war between they and a financially-motivated invader a deepened approximation of social, racial import. Snubbing the sensationalism of American Beauty, this more intuitively paints a portrait of conscientious crisis - intelligent and piercing, not snarkily insincere.

"Sayles continues exactly where Faulkner left off, tackling the institutionalized racism that seethes in the New South." - Ed Gonzalez

Another of John Sayles's well-crafted ensemble pieces. Like the novelist he was, he adds a lot of sociological subtext, the performances are on target, and he doesn't forget a few dashes of humor to keep it from getting too heavy. A small winner all around

watchable