neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Tuck Everlasting
	Jay Russell Alexis Bledel, Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek, Jonathan Jackson, William Hurt, Amy Irving, Victor Garber, Scott Bairstow 2002		It's been a banner year for quality family films from Disney, if only on the basis of the animated feature "Lilo & Stitch" and the uplifting, unsentimental, live-action sports drama "The Rookie." Now, the Mouse House scores again with the delicate fable "Tuck Everlasting," based on the popular book of the same name and starring three Oscar-winning actors — Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek and William Hurt — in pivotal roles. It's not overwhelming; it's simply right, in all facets — script, cinematography, art direction, performance and tone. The era is turn-of-the-previous-century, and innocent small-town girl Winnie (Alexis Bledel of TV's "Gilmore Girls") is feeling smothered by her wealthy, overprotective parents. Against her mother's wishes, Winnie wanders away from home to explore the nearby woods, encounters a handsome boy (Jonathan Jackson) and is smitten. The young swain, his brother (Scott Bairstow), Mom (Spacek) and Dad (Hurt) live in a nearby forest glade and harbor an amazing secret that endangers them and Winnie when a mysterious stranger (Kingsley) comes to town.