both robert duvall and glenn close play their role with such believability and i simply cry . glenn close role a ruth and show her wanting to deal with the situation and but she be under the domination of her husband . let him think about what he do and robert duvall character and joe and say staunchly . the story depict a rural family deal with an accidental death of a son by his brother and call the stone boy and meaning he be so distraught and overwhelm by what he do and he become emotionally paralyze . then towards the end when jason presson character and arnold and let it all out to a stranger and i be so broken hearted for him and that i actually think of some of the terrible thing that i do in my life . i personalized and identify with his character . frederick forrest and gail young role and do not add not much to the film . i thought of frederick forrest and who play ruth antagonistic and womanize brother and andy and a a jerk who do nothing to try to help the situation . his wife and lou and play by gail young and act like a crazy lady smack arnold around out of frustration with her own problem without pity and blame him for her trouble . i could not really feel sorry for these two . though lou try to keep her marriage together and she be unsuccessful . both do not deal with their problem effectively . they really do nothing for the film and be totally ridiculous . wilfred brimley minor role a the grandfather be and touch for he be the only character that show arnold any attention . i felt his role should have be elaborate . the player be just do what they felt be adequate and sufficient . however and i really like the end so much and i actually smile and cried tear of joy . i felt good . the hillermans be a family again . i actually want to be a part of this family . they be so realistic .