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INVENTING THE ABBOTS (R) 

Set in Haley, Illinois in 1957, Inventing the Abbotts is a look at the lives of three sisters from a rich family, two brothers from a poor one, and the on-again-off-again, love-hate tension that exists between the two clans.  The three sisters are played by Joanna Going, Jennifer Connelly, and Liv Tyler.  Respectively, one's the good girl, one's the bad girl, and one's the girl with her own set of ideas.  The two brothers are played by Billy Crudup and Joaquin Phoenix.  Jacey Holt (Crudup) is the older brother, the one who's passion for the Abbott girls is matched only by his disdain for their father.  Doug Holt (Phoenix) is the younger brother, a quieter boy who only loves the youngest Abbott Pamela (Tyler).  Complicating matters is a mysterious cloud surrounding a supposed affair between Mr. Abbot and the Holt boys' mother (Kathy Baker), who now lives as one of the town's social outcasts.  

This, I must say, sounds a bit more convoluted than it actually is.  Inventing the Abbotts really comes off as a quiet piece set in a small Illinois town.  The two families (the Holts and the Abbotts) share a history--a history that shapes each family member's behavior even as they try to run away from it.  And from there stems all the chaos.  

For what it's worth, Inventing the Abbotts ends up being a watchable if unspectacular film.  The performances by Tyler, Phoenix, and company are strong, and the story carries itself at a consistent pace.  Consistently slow, some would probably say, but for some reason I paid attention until the end.  Nope, this film will probably not inspire you in any way, but you probably won't hate it either.  It's one of t-h-o-o-o-s-e kind of movies...

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

monicahi@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "this movie was nothing like i expected, jt was really cool and not too mushy, sappy, or bloody; it rocked." (7/2/98)

fiji_girl42@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Only 4 stars... it did kind of drag on... but who would mind with Billy Crudup in one of the main roles?? He is sooo easy on the eyes... Ok, enough shallow-mindedness from me for one day... Until his next movie... ;)" (6/8/98)

bbdawl@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "I really loved this movie! I guess it's 'cause it kind of relates to my life. I really love the actors and the actresses are great! Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix are the best. But since the last thing Joaquin wants is to become a teenage heart throb, I won't lead anyone to think that I'm obbsessed.I don't care what some motherfuckers say about little teens loving actors and shit. I just admire their work and how it shows their personality. This movie kicks royal ass!" (4/16/98)

xena_54@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "I really Like the movie. It was different from all the other movies. I thought it would be, like a heart warming movie. It's was cool."  (12/19/97)

Anonymous entry gives this movie  stars: "I really liked this movie! The acting was good, but I think the best part for me was the relationship between Pam and Doug. The two actors did a very good job of portraying the love they felt for each other and the pain they inflicted on each other. I felt like crying towards the end of the movie." (12/6/97)

snowlan@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "who is the narrator? the credits didn't say but it sounds like micheal keaton could you please let me know, thanks." (11/30/97)

Hepburn15@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "I thought that the movie was very good, but a little slow in some parts. I thought that Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix gave very promising performances, but I wish that Jennifer Connelly's part had more screen time than what it had. I think that the narration over some parts in the movie was really dumb and pointless. It made me feel like I was watching "The Wonder Years". Overall, a good movie." (9/1/97)