Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!

Diagonaldi Very well executed

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

photoann I love well-executed films of personal transformation and this is one of the best I have ever seen. The filmmaker did an incredible job of casting, dialog, site selection, physical transformation of the two characters, story development, cinematography... I discovered the movie on IFC while working out today and I ended up working out an extra two hours, just so I would not miss any of the film. I was intrigued by the young character, unable to place him, having recently seen him on stage in NYC and as the film unfolded, the character lost the facial hair, and I recognized Liev -- who I believe to be one of today's greatest contemporary actors. Having lived in Ridgefield, CT for ten years, the references were near to my heart, and a wonderful surprise. I absolutely loved this movie.

BrigMCA I was very impressed. Excellent acting. Excellent writing. A very moving and inspirational piece. For me, this is what a true film should be- just a great message with a fantastic delivery! No special effects needed! No Hollywood hoopla!! Just an honest story with a good message. 'One of misery, frustration, honest love and hope. A very fine film. I would have liked to see a little more detail on the relationship to develop with Liev's pet dog and his new girlfriend. But it was fine without it too. I especially liked the scene in the woods at the beginning of the film where Liev was going to quit his new job after only 3 hours...... due to his anger and his inability to express himself appropriately. When he broke down and wept beside the tree with Ned Beatty....... that was too real. I really felt his anguish, his misery. I could actually feel his hot tears run down my cheeks too. I have felt like that before........... a real masterpiece of acting and directing.

george.schmidt SPRING FORWARD (2000) ***1/2 Ned Beatty, Leiv Schreiber, Campbell Scott, Peri Gilpin, Ian Hart, Bill Raymond, Catherine Kellner. Excellent acting displayed by Beatty and Schreiber as parks department co-workers who bond together in a father/son capacity during the course of one life-changing year with fine turns by both an accomplished veteran character actor and a younger, promising one, respectively. Has the soul of a short story come to life that takes its sweet time to unfurl with more-than-meets-the eye shadings of its subjects. A real sleeper gem of independent filmmaking by first time writer/director Tom Gilroy.

kipconlon This movie I guess has its heart in the right place but it's not well written, and the actors enjoy acting in it too much. The performances are pretty self-conscious, but then the writing's so self-conscious. No scene is of any especial consequence, and some of them--the penultimate scene, for instance--are downright ridiculous, a frantic attempt at some last minute payoff. On the up side Ned Beatty has a lot of energy and seemed to do the role as best as it could be done. I guess it's my own fault for watching past the first scene, which loudly hints that the movie will be a road to nowhere. Even if it does have good intentions, it's pretty manipulative, and not even all that successfully.