Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Mischa Redfern I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Furuya Shiro I like movies that have lasting effect in my mind, and that make me think about the meaning of some scenes over and over. This movie is that kind. There may be many similar movies but this one is different from any of those.A young woman gets off a bus in a small excluded town Gilead in Mane, US. In this town, three women who have different kinds of psychological trauma as a mother work together in a restaurant "The Spitfire Grill".The protagonist is Percy (Alison Elliot). There are mysteries in her words and behavior. But as the story goes, the deep scar in her mind hidden behind the mystery is gradually revealed. The second woman is Hannah (Ellen Burstyn). She runs a restaurant "Spitfire Grill". She has her own, deep scar in her mind. The third is Shelby (Marcia Gay Harden). Though she is very warmhearted, her husband always insults her. Maybe she is the one you can easily empathize.Perhaps, there is a meaning in the name of the town, Gilead. At the near end of the movie, we hear a black spiritual song "There is a balm in Gilead". The name Gilead comes from biblical world, which produces frankincense that was much-prized as medicine. The first stanza of the song is as follows: There is a balm in Gilead / To make the wounded whole; / There is a balm in Gilead / To heal the sin sick soul. The key to understand the heart of the movie may be in the lyrics.

moonspinner55 Pure corn. A female ex-con in a small community in Maine gets waitressing job at the local diner, enlightening everyone there with her presence. Resolutely old-fashioned hokum is replete with pseudo-meaningful platitudes and female bonding (with divergent accents). Acquired at the Sundance Film Festival for what was reported to be a princely sum, Castle Rock barely distributed this after the reviews came in (they were probably hoping for another "Fried Green Tomatoes" but got rotten tomatoes instead). Trifling nonsense tries for a prestigious look, but even this fails as the moody ambiance resembles nothing more than encroaching mold. It at least gave work to Ellen Burstyn, whose professionalism and mere presence saves this from oblivion. Otherwise, a prime candidate for Lifetime's four a.m. movie. * from ****

MikeSmash The inspiring story of Percy Talbot(Allison Elliot), recently released from prison & looking to start over, finds her way to the New England small town of Gilead. Percy meets & works for cantankerous grill owner Hannah Ferguson(Ellen Burstyn) who takes no mess, relies on no one, & shows little compassion. Hannah's nephew Nahum Goddard(Will Patton), ever cynical & mistrusting, warns his aunt of Percy's past & intentions. Tough & determined, Percy works hard and stays out of trouble. When Hannah takes a fall(breaks her leg), she must lean on Percy to run the grillwhile bedridden. Lack of cooking skills make Percy's debut a total disaster. Luckily for Percy, Hannah calls in Nahum's wife Shannon(Marcia Gay Harden) to help with the cooking. Percy & Shannon work side by side building a quick friendship & mutual respect for one another. Percy soon meets Joe Sperling(Kieran Mulroney, a handsome young local man, who takes a liking to Percy & wants more than just a friendship. Percy guards herself & her feelings so much that she pushes Joe away. Joe finds himself falling in love with Percy & is crushed by her refusal to marry him.Hannah, showing some trust, asks Percy to put a sack of canned goods on a stump in the back for someone to pick up before turning in for the night. Percy obliges but is very curious of the stranger who comes to get the sack. Percy waits up for the stranger who she labels "Johnnie B." & follows him into the woods. Losing the stranger, Percy returns to the Grille to an angry Hannah. Hannah tells Percy to mind her own affairs & that the only hope of getting to the stranger was ruined. Percy goes for a quiet walk in the meadow & is quietly approached & touched by the "Johnnie B." Hannah, tired & overworked, looks to sell the Grille & retire. Percy comes up with an idea to hold a writing contest with the best essay winning the Spitfire Grille as the grand prize. Each contestant must write an essay on why they deserve the Grille & send in a fee. Hannnah agrees & along with Percy & Shannon, the three read the essays to decide a winner.Hannah puts all the fee money into her safe until the contest is over. Nahum, up to no good, takes the money out of Hannah's safe & blames Percy & her "accomplice in the woods" for robbing her. Nahum gets the Sheriff & angry locals to form a posse & apprehend Percy & the stranger. Percy hides in the church for sanctuary & is found by Shannon. Percy tells Shannon of why she was in prison & about the child she lost to family services. A sympathetic Shannon tells Percy that Nahum & the posse are closing in on her & her partner in crime. Percy realizes that the posse will find "Johnnie B." & that she must find him before they do. Percy chases after "Johnnie B." & accidentally is swept into a strong river undertow. "Johnnie B." finds Percy downriver, soaked & dead. Nahum, shocked & bewildered, sees "Johnnie B." or Eli, Hannah's long lost son who disappeared after serving in Vietnam. The town holds Percy's funeral with which Nahum tells the truth about his misdeed. Now that the truth is out, Hannah must still decide on the essay contest winner. A winner is chosen & Hannah prepares for the arrival. Walking down the road, the winner stops in Gilead Park to meet everyone for the first time. It is young woman with a baby boy in tow, nervous & excited to begin a new life & opportunity for her son in Gilead. The following day, Hannah is awakened to find a stranger sitting in a booth. To her surprise & delight, Hannah is seated across the table from her long lost son Eli Ferguson. Hannah holds his hands warmly as tears run down her face. Hannah is whole again & her heart beats with love.A wonderfully acted film with a great cast in Elliot, Burstyn, Patton, & Gay Harden. This was a terrific performance by Marcia Gay Harden, who got critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. A movie worth a good long look. Don't miss this one, ya hear!!!

caspian1978 Spitfire Grill does a wonderful job capturing the small town New England landscape. The setting for the movie is important as its characters. Both begin to blend from the start of the story. Alison Elliott is by far terrific. At times, Alison Elliott resembles a young Jodie Foster as she plays this innocent, yet troubled youngster as she tries to start fresh with a new life in a new town. At times, the story takes on a biblical tale of forgiveness and loving thy neighbor. A perfect movie about respect and acceptance, The Spitfire Grill takes on a life of its own as the story builds and builds with more secrets. A nice ending that brings everything together and answers all the questions. Alison Elliott is great.