Big Stone Gap 2014

     This film is based on a book written by the director Adriana Trigiani and partially based on her own life.  In the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia there is the tiny town of Big Stone Gap.  In the year of 1978, Ave Maria Mulligan is a 35 year-old spinster pharmacist.  She rides all over the town to deliver medications to her customers and a lot of people live out in the wooded areas.  She thought she knew who she was and what she wanted but that changes after her mother passes away.  There is a letter for Ave Maria with information never disclosed to her while her mother was alive.  She starts to plan the ‘trip of a lifetime.'  Big Stone Gap is a small coal-mining town and most of the men are minors and their fathers were miners before them.  It’s still a dangerous way of life because accidents can happen in the mines.

      Somewhat like a Hallmark Movie based in the Appalachians?  It also seems like a musical with a play practiced and then performed for an audience?  Maybe it’s more like Little House in the Appalachians?  It is hard to put this film into a category and there is a lot going on all the time?  The letter surprises!!  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

103 min, Comedy directed by Adriana Trigiani with Patrick Wilson, Ashley Judd, Whoopi Goldberg, Judity Ivey, Angelina Fiordellisi, John Benjamin Hickey, Bridget Gabbe, Erika Coleman, Jenna Elfman, Anthony LaPaglia, Jane Drakowski, John S. Rausch.

Note:  Imdb 5.6 out of 10, 35% critic 59% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 282 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  It is a surprise that this film was made actually where it is supposed to be?  Dagmara Dominczyk has a small role as a visiting movie star and she is the wife of Patrick Wilson.