Sorry, this movie sucks

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The death of an influential figure can take its toll on an impressionable young person, even years after the tragedy happened. Such is the case with the aimless Duncan Shorter, a young man who has not lived up to his potential. After his father died, ten years ago, he has been restless, dropping out from school and losing jobs constantly. On the other hand, for Jacob, his other sibling, the loss of his father didn't affect his life the same way; he went on to make something of himself, but he loses his priorities as he continues to have extra marital affairs.Duncan's grandfather Ronald, suffering from Parkinson's disease, has moved into Minneapolis with his wife Ruth. Duncan goes to visit one day and finds employment in the building as a handyman. Duncan, who loves his grandfather, bonds with the old man. Ronald doesn't appear to be getting better, as Kate, the friendly physical therapist, tells him. The young woman has a case of wanderlust as she is never stays in one place for much time. It's easy to see how Duncan and Kate are attracted to one another as they develop an easy relationship. When Kate is told about an opportunity in San Diego, where she will be house sitting for a year, rent free, she jumps at the opportunity. Duncan is not keen in leaving Minneapolis where his family and friends are, and where he thinks he belongs. This surprising film, directed by James Burke, was a surprise. Mr. Burke gives the movie an immediacy and reality like no other mainstream films in quite a while. Based on the screen play by Brent Boyd, the film tackles important issues without much effort. The way he presents Ronald Shorter and how his illness affects him and those around him, is one of the best ways how the Mr. Burke succeeds. Compare the way the director and the writer deal with a man afflicted with Parkinson's that makes a film like Nike Cassavetes "The Notebook" treatment of Alzheimer's disease appear phony from beginning to end. Having known first hand the devastating effects of this tragic disease, our heart went after what Ronald Shorter has been dealt by life.Having admired the work of Joshua Jackson for quite some time, didn't prepare us for his intense performance as Duncan. This young actor is a joy to watch because he never makes a false move, he is always a welcome presence in any film. The excellent Donald Sutherland is worth the prize of admission. His Ronald Shorter is hard to watch, but this exactly what a person at this stage of the disease looks and acts like. Mr. Sutherland gets better and better each time one sees him. Juliette Lewis gives an easy going portrayal of Kate, the restless woman in search of adventure, who is not quite ready for anything until Duncan happens to come along. Luise Fletcher and Steven Pasquale give also appealing performances.The musical score by Michael Danna and the winter landscape of Minneapolis of Alan Kivilo contribute to add another layer in this film. Ultimately, James Burke ought to be congratulated for bringing all the elements together into this wonderful slice of life of a film.

I saw a screening of this movie last night and absolutely loved it. I went in with little to no expectations, and the film definitely delivered. The performances were subtle yet perfectly spot on, with the standouts being Joshua Jackson and Donald Sutherland. This is a true leading man role for Jackson, and takes him beyond just being "Pacey" into being a great, adult actor. Donald Sutherland is also a revelation, and their acting chemistry is fantastic.The film isn't manipulative or preachy, it just tells a story and tells it well and manages to make you care about every single character, which is quite an accomplishment. This is James Burke's first film, and I hope he makes many more because he is a talent. He has quite a way with actors (he got a great performance out of everyone, even the smallest characters) and a great sense of tone and control. He also was able to balance the humor of the script with the pathos, and never make it feel forced.If you like films about real characters and real emotions, you should see this movie -- you won't be disappointed.

While at the Tri Be Ca Film Festival last week, I luckily happened into a screening of "Aurora Borealis" and left the theatre in tears and awe by the sheer range of humanity expressed in this film. When the movie ended I was upset because I wanted to keep following the life of Duncan. His character had captivated me with his honesty, innocence and good hearted approach to the world. The main character could be any one of us, lost in this world, looking for some meaning in our lives. A good soul, but without direction since his dad died mysteriously ten years earlier and no mother in the picture, Josh Jackson plays a young man trying to find himself as he floats from job to job until finds work in his grandparents' apartment building as an assistant to the super. There he befriends the residents of this "retirement" home and finds himself deeply entwined with the life struggle of his ailing, Alzheimer's afflicted grandfather, played brilliantly by Donald Sutherland. Louise Fletcher is perfect as the physically healthy, level headed, yet frustrated spouse to Sutherland's ornery and belligerent senior citizen. Every scene with Sutherland is exquisite and sad, yet beautiful, as he forces us to face our own mortality and that of our aging parents and grandparents. Jackson's character is seen as a failure by his financially successful, but fidelity-challenged brother and by his boyhood buddies with the usual jobs of twenty-somethings. Duncan shines, however, as he reluctantly, yet dutifully and lovingly cares for his needy grandfather all the while falling for his grandfather's nurse, played sweetly by Juliet Lewis. The direction and photography are beautiful with wonderful shots of Minneapolis/St. Paul and the film moves with a perfect pace. The score is incredible throughout, but the opening Bob Dylan song was amazing and is still playing in my head as an accompaniment in my life.

i caught this at Tribeca 2005 and i was not expecting what i got - a realistic portrayal of a family in a drama film which wasn't melodramatic or preachy. instead of distilling the personalities down to identifiable quirks, the cast and crew of aurora tackled the near impossible task of fully fleshing out the majority of the film's characters. the result was a window into the life of a family that was fascinating to watch. this is also one of the few films I've ever seen which portrayed strong elderly characters. catch this when it hits theaters and video.