OK, Josh Brolin has redeemed himself after the disaster of "Old Boy", phew...i was getting worried there as he is one of my favorite actors. this movie is totally different then what i had thought of it in my head. i thought it was gonna be a little bit like the movie " a perfect world " but it was nothing like that.

i was surprised this movie came and went without any fanfare as it really is a good movie and one of my favorites of the year. the 2 adult leads were great and the kid was also very good.

the story is about an escaped convict who gets holed up in a mentally fragile divorcée and her sons home over Labor Day and then what happens the next few days and the consequences of peoples actions even if they didn't mean anything bad by doing such acts.

loved the setting in a slow moving beautiful town atmosphere where it seems like everything moves like molasses, there seem to be a calmness to the picture but right underneath that you could feel the uneasiness and hidden angst of each of the characters in this movie.

also this is a movie about the coming of age of the boy and some of the logical and illogical choices he makes, including one biggg one that has direct consequences for Josh Brolins character.

very very solid movie, bittersweet and moving, almost, but not made me cried. Josh Brolin is back on track again, very good performance from him and everybody involved. one of the must see movies of the year.

Henry (Gattlin Griffith) lives modestly with his lonely single mom (Kate Winslet made to look dowdy). She is a prisoner in her own home. Then Frank (Josh Brolin) an escaped convict comes into their life and he sets her free for five days. Henry provides some narration and there are flashbacks to build character late in the film.

A combination sad and heart warming formulaic romance tale. Chick Flick.

Jason Reitman better known for bittersweet comedies has adapted a novel. You can tell as it has a heavy handed narration by Tobey Maguire.

Reitman has made a serious melodrama with romantic overtones. Maguire is the older Henry Wheeler. In 1987 young Henry (Gattlin Griffith) encountered an escaped convict Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin) at the supermarket and he insists on some help.

Henry's mother Adele (Kate Winslet) takes Frank to their home. Over the next few days while a manhunt is happening, Frank fixes the house, bakes, cooks and acts like a father to Henry. Also Frank and Adele fall for each other.

Adele usually hates going outside, she is nervous and has issues because of her constant miscarriages.

Labor Day is a corny film, Maguire's narration provides a warm sentimental glow. I think Reitman wanted to make s Douglas Sirk type of movie which was heavy on subtext. It is rather laboured without much tension or drama. It only works because the acting is good.