Good Day for It (2011) Reviews

• Good Day Indeed!

  cytomini2011-04-21

  Hats off to Robert Patrick, Hal Holbrook and writer/director/producer Nick Stagliano for an engaging, entertaining and very original film, GOOD DAY FOR IT. Without revealing too much, the movie lures you in with one possibility and then unfolds many others as it evolves. A simple, beautifully shot tale of how life can force you to make tough choices but that, occasionally, love can prevail. With an outstanding supporting cast (Kathy Baker, Mika Boorem, Lance Henriksen, Robert Englund, Joe Flanigan, Richard Brake AND Christian Kane), the movie artfully combines humor, drama, captivating cinematography and a terrific soundtrack by alternative country singer/songwriter Matthew Ryan. See the film - I'm sure you'll be glad that you did!

• worth your time

  scannerama182011-10-20

  If you enjoy the minimalistic independent movies popular in the 70's you should give this film a try. At first glance, i thought this might have been the greatest collection of has-been actors in one movie in ages. First Robert Patrick, then Lance Henrickson, then Kathy ...what the hell's her last name...oh yeah Baker!. But... slowly... (the pacing is a bit lugubrious, but hey, i said it did have a 70's vibe) the movie grabs you. The cinematography, editing and soundtrack are all above average and the acting ranges from excellent ( Patrick and Hendrickson) to spotty (Samantha Mathis). Overall the level of suspense was consistently high and the story UNFOLDS, which i love. The payoff is pretty good though it strains credulity a bit. This movie reminds me of Lucky Mckee's 'Red' with Brian Cox (a film i HIGHLY recommend) in that it's a very simple story told with style and integrity and isn't that the bottom line in film art.

• excellent modern western/family drama with fine performances

  NateWatchesCoolMovies2012-01-08

  Good Day For It probably won't be seen by many people, except for the die hard fans of the actors involved (like myself), and the occasional casual viewer who stumbles upon it on a shelf of an obscure rental store, or perhaps an obscure corner of netflix. This is too bad, because it is an excellent, moody, emotional and tense tale of a man facing the fears of his past and reconciling with his family. The always awesome Robert Patrick stars as this man, Luke Cain, a tortured soul who once made a dangerous but necessary decision to rob a lot of money from his employer, nasty and sadistic crime kingpin Lyle Tyrus (the terrifyingly intense Lance Henriksen) , to save his baby daughter's life. He leaves his family after this, and does not return for fifteen years, when his daughter is older. When Lyle's gang spots him in town, things get violent and past emotions rise. Everyone in the cast is great, from Mika Boorem as Luke's hurt but hopeful daughter, Samantha Mathis as her mother, Richard Brake as Lyle's slimy brother Norman, and Hal Holbrook as a kindly Diner cook. But performance wise, the show belongs to Robert Patrick, a tremendous actor who had yet to be given a lead role until now, and plays it with a forlorn melencholy, and a stoic toughness that proves he is an actor to be reckoned with, and should be given far more roles such as this. Good Day For It is a great little indie feature with all the right touches of subtlety, beautiful rural cinematography, and smoldering danger. Highly recommended.

• Terrific film, great performances.

  loud5132011-04-20

  After seeing the film at the Sonoma Film Festival last week, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to writer/director Nick Stagliano for delivering an old fashioned drama/thriller that works on many levels. You can just see his love for the old westerns like "High Noon". The actors in this film were all terrific. Bravo to Robert Patrick for delivering his best performance in years. After so many years playing the bad guy it was great to see him step up to the plate in the hero role. He has such character on his worn face and so much sole in his steely eyes. I just became a huge Robert Patrick fan. And Hal Holbrook? He's a legend for a reason. His comedic delivery had the audience in laughter throughout the movie. Lance Henriksen? Fuggedaboudit, one of the best screen baddies of all time. His deathly stare and cold eyes had me in fear for my own life, the guy it crazy good. Then there is TV actor Joe Flanigan playing a small town deputy who has probably never shot his gun before, let alone come face to face with a killer like Lance Henriksen. Flanigan almost steals the film with his quiet performance. I honestly don't know what reviewer davidross was thinking. Sounds like someone with a grudge against all indie films because all his reviews are one stars. That's not fair in this case. Good Day For It is a terrific little film. I sat in a theater of 300 people at Sonoma and the people were at the edge of their seats till the very end. The film won the Audience Award for favorite film in the festival. Can 300 movie fans be wrong? I don't think so. If you get a chance to see this film at an upcoming festival I highly recommend you spend your $10 and enjoy it on the big screen where good films deserve to be seen.

• Annoying anachronisms, but other wise great!

  elmerflp2011-10-22

  Don't get me wrong. I thought this was better than most of the films I have seen this year, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. The problem is the issue of time. Several issues, to be exact. First, there is the problem of the antagonistic gangster characters, who, with one younger exception, all appear to be in the middle-aged or geriatric age groups. To be a credible violent felon, you should not look as though you depend on Medicare for fracture treatment and bullet extraction. Second, the young girl uses a sleek wireless laptop to arrange a reunion with her estranged father, and yet she does not seem to possess that device which is organically attached to the fingers of the modern teen, namely, a cell phone with texting capability. Worse still, she uses rotary dial phones and pay phones, both of which suit a modern teen about as much as a corset and a bonnet. Finally, in this film with sleek wireless laptops, nobody but the police officer seems to be driving a car made after the 1970s. Aside from these annoying anachronisms, the film was superb!