The Patron Saint of Liars (1998)

From the award-winning director of Paris Trout comes this powerful adaptation of best-selling author Ann Patchett's New York Times Notable Book. Emmy-winner Dana Delany (China Beach) stars as Rose, a desperate expectant woman who leaves her husband and takes refuge in a shelter for unwed pregnant women. She begins a new life, raising her daughter and marrying the shelter's handyman (Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption). But when her first husband tracks her down, she is faced with the agonizing decision whether to flee her past once again

I wasted 90 minutes of my life on this

"The Patron Saint of Liars" features one of the least likable and least understandable characters I have ever seen. The main character, Rose, seems to be almost incapable of real feeling or emotion. She is loved but does not seem able to love in return. I kept thinking that at some point, the viewer would be given insight into why Rose behaves the way she does.
I was assuming that there was a reason she was so damaged, but there wasn't, or at least we are not told if indeed there was. Perhaps Ann Patchett, the author, is simply saying that some people are this way and they should just be accepted. The acting was ok, and it was nice to see Clancy Brown in the role of Rose's almost-too-good-to-be-true second husband, but it all just seemed so pointless. It felt like a huge waste of time. February 6, 2008

Is Rose a Saint or a Liar?

Looking through a video guide recently, I was reminded that I never read the book The Patron Saint of Liars by Anne Patchett nor seen the cable movie. I decided to rent the movie and found msyelf spending a pleaurable time not only watching this movie but discussing it with friends who have seen the movie or read the book.

Rose, a young pregnant woman leaves home and finds herself
at a Christian home for unwed mothers. There she finds comfort
among the nuns and other pregnant girls. When she makes the
decision to keep her child and then marries another man,she
sets in motion a series of lies and behavior that will come
back to haunt her many years later.

I found the performances, particularly Sada Thompson as a nun and Dana Delaney as Rose, riveting. My one objection was that Ellyn Burstyn had much too small a role as the neighbor of the home for unwed mothers. I highly recommend this movie and look forward to reading the book.



February 26, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...