i hate to be the one to tell you but this film be the sort of crap that hollywood think be a film about real people ie the working class . and maybe the book and which i have not read and be about a real working class town but the film they make from it be so predictable and so covered in self congratulatory ooze about it curmudgeonly hero and so bath in hero worship for paul newman that it become a hallmark hall of fame special . and i like paul . and his performance be fine but the whimsy be leaden and the quirkiness of the character weigh you down with it lack of invention . for example represent have pruitt taylor vince take a patent out on his slobby slow sidekick who ache with human feeling . ( see heavy ) . don not get me wrong ( i be sure you will anyway ) . this be a well make hollywood product with good performance by all ( i even think melanie griffith be half way believable ) but the whole construct be make by cynical mind who want to neuter the people of this town with a treacly gloss that would have embarrass frank capra . we all want to honor the memory of paul newman but this film be a poor memorial . frankly i find it depress that so many people think this be a good film . tv have rot your brain and people . now go watch hud a penance .