That Evening Sun

Hal Holbrook stars as widower Abner Meecham in this tale of a Tennessee farmer who flees from a rural nursing home, only to discover that people have moved into his house. Meecham has always been surly, stubborn, and spiteful; so when he breaks his hip, his son Paul (Walton Goggins) dumps him in a residence for the elderly, where his body heals but his spirit is dying. After Abner sneaks out, he finds that Paul, a stressed-out trial lawyer, has leased the family farm to Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon), a slacker with a wife, Ludie (Carrie Preston), and 16-year-old daughter, Pamela (Mia Wasikowska), which leaves Abner no choice but to sleep in the dilapidated sharecropper's shack. Tension and hostilities abound (eager to annoy Lonzo, Abner adopts a stray dog who barks incessantly), particularly after Abner catches Lonzo wielding a garden hose like a bullwhip, beating Ludie and the defiant Pamela, and reports the attack to the sheriff. Adapting a short story by William Gay, director Scott Teems creates what is, essentially, a three-generational character study, anchored by Holbrook (in one of the best performances of his career), who gracefully epitomizes the curmudgeon, clinging to memories of his wife, Ellen (played by Holbrook's late real-life spouse, Dixie Carter), in dreamlike flashbacks. Not your ordinary villain, McKinnon's opportunistic antagonist wallows in dangerous, deep-seated anguish, while Barry Corbin is impressive as Abner's kindly, commiserating neighbor. Compelling yet subtle, this richly complex human drama is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by writer-director Scott Teems, cinematographer Rodney Taylor, and editor Travis Sittard), cast and crew interviews (76 min.), “The Art & Craft” production featurette (34 min.), a “That Tennessee Sun…” making-of featurette (9 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (S. Granger)