so many wonderful actress in one film serve a a practical invitation to the local movie house so i duly respond . here be some remark . vanessa redgrave be great even while lie in bed . she also look very old and i do not think this be achieve with much make up which be a good thing for the film but a sad thing for u cinema goer . i think her age get a bit harsh in recent year . claire dane continue her welcome return to the movie and exude a definite warmth . mamie gummer resemblance to her mother merly streep both in term of physical appearance and acting style be so striking that i lose my concentration to the film for a couple of minute after her entrance . she be surprisingly good while however such a resemblance have the danger of work against her favor . i agree with a previous comment represent natasha richardson definitely have some plastic job do to her face . she certainly do not look like how i remember her from previous film ( nell for example . ) both she and toni collette sadly do not make much impression partly because they do not look convince a sister . their interplay be weak . toni collette additionally be way too old for her character . glenn close and meryl streep have to have more screen time . streep performance actually be little more than a cameo . her scene on the other hand have big emotional resonance than the rest of the film . eileen atkins provide some welcome dry wit and especially in her second role a an imaginary nighttime companion to redgrave character . a for the men while hugh dancy enliven the film considerably even though he give a broad performance than need . a a matter of fact as soon a he exit the story it start to drag . it be also to his credit that he manage to create the exact necessary sense of boyish charm in the viewer . patrick wilson on the other hand be a complete void at the center of the film . he also have the misfortune that the script be insufficient in explain why three people ( one of them a man ) be so much smitten by this man . the backstory to this should have be develop more . the cinematography be excellent a expect . however the main summer house set fail to convince me . it do not look natural on the top of that rocky hill and particularly with it grass patch in the front . a bit too cardboard like . overall and the film be a classy production and but a see it all before and cry at it all before feel take over me during most of it duration and consequently it fail to make the kind of impact on me that i expect from a tearjerker . however and it still manage to make me thoughtful about the passing of time and about one expectation from life and the extent to which these be fulfil or not . worth try at least on dvd if not at the movie .