Noble Things (2008) Reviews

• Groan

  aimless-462010-09-04

  Brett Moses wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this film; which seems to be about a bunch of really silly people with no "acting for the camera skills", who hang out in a honky-tonk bar in Jefferson County, Texas. To his "credit", Moses soft peddles his starring role and lists Michael "Bronson" Parks, Lee Ann Womack, Ryan Hurst, and Dominique Swain ahead of him on the promotional material; despite the fact that he is in every single scene and only Womack has a substantial part in the production (although she does not sing). This is the sort of production where you can almost pick out the point where the crew finally flipped and realized it was a train wreck in the making. Then they begin secretly laughing at the writer and director, who in this case is the same poor guy. To their credit, the crew still managed to maintain their professionalism throughout the production and should get high marks for their hard work, which must have seemed like a huge waste to them. But it is one of those sow's ears to silk purse things where you just can't do much with such a hopeless script. This over-wrought melodrama has something to say but doesn't do a very good (or entertaining) job of saying it. It might have worked as a Texas style parody of a Tennessee Williams play but I think the comedy is entirely unintentional. Potential viewers would be wise to be skeptical regarding the 10 star favorable comments about the movie which seem to have been posted by people associated with the production who have commented "only" about this one film.

• Good job but not always pleasant

  vchimpanzee2014-08-12

  At the start of the movie, Jimmy Wayne Collins is writing the lyrics for the song "Noble Things" in his 1965 Ford pickup. Then we see what happened to him three years earlier. He and his brother Kyle and their friends are having too good a time riding around in a pickup truck, and when the cops start following the guys throw things at the cop car. When the guys get stopped one of the cops is a surprisingly good-looking woman and she wants to arrest them. Fortunately, Claire doesn't necessarily get her way because Pete, the sheriff and the father of Kyle and Jimmy Wayne, shows up and, after a stern lecture, seems to want to go easy on them. Back in the present Jimmy Wayne's truck finally gives out and he has to hitch a ride back to Texas. Moses, who he meets in a restaurant, is reluctant to pick up a stranger but he finally agrees to. I'm never sure just what the mentally disturbed man with Moses is there for. We keep seeing flashbacks, and Jimmy Wayne is about to become a big country star. Back in the present, though, he seems to have been a one-hit wonder, and his father is dying of cancer but continues to smoke. So does Jimmy Wayne, who doesn't seem to have learned from his father's misfortune. Claire is acting sheriff and helping take care of Pete. Jimmy Wayne steps in to help as well, and while he would like to have a good relationship with his father at the end, Pete doesn't make it easy. Meanwhile, Jimmy Wayne's ex Amber, Claire's sister, is in an abusive relationship with the father of her young son Brandon. And Kyle is in prison. It appears he shouldn't be there and Jimmy Wayne feels it is his duty to solve that problem. Jimmy Wayne's life is a country song. And there are a lot of good country songs in this movie, and some not so good. I don't want to give away anything about the ending, but it doesn't make me happy. And yet it is great. There are plenty of good acting performances. Michael Parks is one of the standout actors as Pete, while Lee Ann Womack does surprisingly well as Claire. Brett Moses is capable of carrying the movie as Jimmy Wayne. And Ron Canada is great as the truck driver. It's a worthwhile effort, just as touching and just as miserable as a country song.

• Great Movie

  ricksturgess422010-09-04

  We had a great time watching the Noble Things. I'm Lee Ann Womack fan. I thought she did a great job as the Sheriff of a small Texas Town. She was very believable. I was disappointed that she was not singing on the soundtrack but it has good songs on it all the same. The movie reminded me of where I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. It also brought feelings of watching my close relatives pass away. The actors had powerful performances. Michael Parks is great as the stubborn old man. Ryan Herst from my favorite show Sons of Anarchy is good to as the brother. Dominique Swain does a great job as the long lost girl friend. The guy playing the country singer was awesome. The fighting part is my favorite part of the movie! Oh, and the ending was a huge surprise.

• Noble Things great movie!

  ghostrider91120012008-10-24

  I saw this movie at the Austin Film Festival on Monday. This is the best movie that I have seen in years! Wonderful story, great performances, beautiful camera work, fantastic songs. Very clever flashbacks to develop the story. Must see! This movie is about how family and friends relate to each other. It is about what brothers are willing to do for each other. At times, this movie can put a tear in your eye and at other times, it is very funny. The music is fantastic! This is the kind of movie that I want to take my family to. Everyone can relate to this story line. There is an awesome fight scene that is preceded by a recitation of "The Lord's Prayer". That is indicative of a theme that runs through the entire movie. That theme is contrasts. There are very serious and sad moments followed by very hard action or funny moments. This is a very good film.

• Surprised!

  mellisainmemphis19842009-04-28

  My husband took me to see this movie in Nashville. He is a musician and had been hearing about this film for awhile. I don't like country music that much. I did not expect it to be so good. It was was very funny and very sad at times. Myhusband thinks he's tough guy but I even saw him tearing up at the scenes with the brother and dad. I remember the brother from Remember the titans. He is really good as the protective older brother. The part were all the guys take off their shirts and fight was good to! Leeann Womack is great. I wish we went to the showing on Saturday night. I heard she was there. any body know when it's coming out?