Bound by a Secret (2009) Reviews

• Bound By A Secret- A Very Good Soap Opera ***1/2

  edwagreen2009-03-08

  One point of contention is that through a lot of the movie, you think that Lesley Ann Warren and Meredith Birney are sisters. Only later on do you discover that they've been life-long friends with quite a secret. Birney took Warren's child at birth and raised her as her own. Warren goes on to become a Broadway luminary and television star before abruptly pulling the plug on her career due to her terminal condition from breast cancer. She returns to the Birney residence with the idea that she will tell her daughter, who calls her her aunt, that she is really her mother. Meredith gives a solid performance as the friend, who is afraid of life and taking chances. When Will Hutchinson comes along, she is hesitant to get involved with him since her own husband walked out on her with "their" child some years before. Nice to see Timothy Bottoms back in films. Older now, he looks like a cross between Howard Duff and former President George W. Bush. Warren still looks so pretty after all these years. I, of course, was taken back to her wonderful performances in "Cinderella," as well as "Victor, Victoria." How can I forget "Evergreen?" This wonderful film does a great job in resolving dilemma among all the women involved.

• Found this really irritating

  ssmith-1212010-09-01

  I usually find movies of this genre soothing and pleasant after a day at work but this one just irritated me. I understand the premise and I applaud letting the nurturing Mother take "center stage" but otherwise it was too bumpy. The LAW character was on too much of an emotional roller-coaster and the MB character was not thinking about what was good for the child she reared. Such whining and fussing about "home and family" as if that trumps a father caring for his family. How, if they grew up in that town, did no one let it slip that the baby was really LAWs and what about the medical history angle for the daughter and granddaughter? I was really uncomfortable throughout the movie.

• I enjoyed the movie but...

  del-cain2009-12-02

  This film was based (loosely, unfortunately) on a wonderful little novel titled Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party by Ginnie Siena Bivona. There were some rather strange twists added to the plot until it is almost unrecognizable. The issue of the parentage of the daughter isn't there and the illness is not handled as a surprise. The novel focuses entirely on the relationship between the two women and and becomes an exemplar of what friendship is or at least what it is supposed to be. Still, I liked the movie but the book was much better. Besides the recipes in the back of the book are great and you can't get that from the film. They just aren't very much alike. I think both reading the book and seeing the movie would be a good idea for anyone who has ever had a friend.

• Good

  Christmas-Reviewer2011-03-03

  This is a film in which holds no surprises. You can see what's coming and that's okay. The nice thing about this film is the cast. All great actors and nobody seems like they are acting. The friendships feel real and these people in this movie act normal! The title makes it seem like a mystery but the film is no mystery. I think the film should of been called "Heart Strings". I never herd of this film. I saw it pop up on a channel. This film was watched because I saw who was in it and I have a soft spot for the leading ladies. Timmothy Bottoms shines in a minor role but he shines every moment that he has. Watch and enjoy with the family! The film is worth seeking out

• I would have recommended this movie, if only ...

  ChristyinMontana2010-05-06

  The relationship between the Lesley Ann Warren and Meredith Birney characters was confusing for most of the movie, which caused a bit of a distraction, but the body of the movie was great: family values, heartfelt situations, struggles, conflicts that were dealt with in a real and loving way and resolved, great topic etc. I was just about ready to tell all my friends about this movie, and even purchase it, until I watched the end. After wonderful story and character development, the wrap up appeared to be almost an afterthought. I understand that Meredith's character made some life changes and that she needed to stop holding on to her "daughter" so tightly, and live her own life, but...to show that happening with jumping in the car on the way to a "carefree" trip with her boyfriend (unless I missed a marriage in there somewhere), exhibited irresponsibility instead of a responsible mother/grandmother learning to loosen up and move on in her life. Thinking ahead in the (unwritten) story, what kind of example would this be for her granddaughter and future grandchildren? If you changed the ending to show responsible / family behavior, then I would recommend this without hesitation.