Mary McDonnell will never be better-she is brilliant, than in her portrayal of May-Alice Culhane (for which she was Oscar-nominated), the once-on-top Soap Opera star to whom tragedy has taken the use of her legs, and forced a re-evaluation of her life.
Alfre Woodard, as the hired home-care worker/nurse Chantelle provides the perfect complement as both these women find more of themselves through each other, then they might ever have found otherwise. Again, Ms. Woodard has rarely disappointed.
The early montage of health-care applicants is clever and funny. And John Sayles always is able to find brilliance in his supporting cast: notably Vondie Curtis-Hall, Leo Burmester, and David Strathairn, as well as a small role early in the career of Angela Bassett.
Sayles' script was also nominated for an Academy Award.
It still amazes me that so much attention was lavished on "Lone Star" when every other John Sayles movie is worthy of mention.
Disregard any review which proclaims this to be Thelma and Louise meets... this is not what the film is about. An intelligent, well scripted, well-acted film, Passion Fish just happens to focus more on female characters and especially the friendship that develops between two women. Another fine film from John Sayles. I hope that there will be plenty more of his films released on DVD (City of Hope being one particular fave).
The DVD transfer is generally good, with only minute occasional bouts of artefacting. The picture quality is excellent and the sound is very good. On the negative side there is nothing else on the DVD - no trailer, no biographies.
