This classy two-part miniseries, adapted by Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo from his multilayered novel, boasts one of the most impressive casts ever assembled for a small-screen presentation. Leisurely paced but impressively staged, Empire Falls occasionally seems plodding, but that's only because we're grown accustomed to films with sparse exposition and perfunctory character development, and Russo together with director Fred Schepisi take their sweet time here setting scenes and introducing characters. Most of the action (such as it is) revolves around Miles Roby (Ed Harris), the manager of a modest diner in a small New England town virtually run by wealthy, matriarchal Francine Whiting (Joanne Woodward). Miles is a man with a bit of historical and emotional baggage, involving his ex-wife Janine (Helen Hunt), his ex-con father (Paul Newman), and his supercritical brother (Aidan Quinn). Flashbacks reveal even more complex relationships, including one between Miles' mother (Robin Wright Penn) and a somewhat mysterious man (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who approaches her while Miles' dad languishes in prison. Once screenwriter Russo, who previously examined small-town life in the screen adaptation of his novel Nobody's Fool—which also starred Newman—establishes all of this backstory, he allows Miles to take a more dynamic role, and the plot changes radically following an unexpected, unpredictable event. Empire Falls isn't perfect, but this 10 Emmy-nominated miniseries is well worth watching. And more than a few viewers will recognize the story's roots in Charles Dickens' classic Great Expectations. DVD extras include audio commentary with Schepisi and Russo, as well as a “making-of” featurette. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)
Empire Falls
HBO, 2 discs, 195 min., TV-14, DVD: $29.98 November 28, 2005
Empire Falls
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