jlthornb51 An exquisite little film from director Bruce Beresford, from Josephine Humphrey's wonderful novel. An ensemble cast does terrific work with Albert Finney and Jill Clayburg outstanding in their roles. The true gem of a performance comes from Kathryn Erbe in a part she gives depth and beauty. As the young high school girl coming-of-age, she is nothing less than superb. Once she steps before the camera, she is mesmerizing in her loveliness and her gifts as an actor are electric on screen. It is certainly a performance deserving of an Oscar nomination and I expected such after I saw this in the theater. By all rights, this should have been a star making role for Erbe and though she has done very well in her distinguished career, for some reason Hollywood powers did not take note of the stunning talent she displayed in this movie. She is worthy of far more recognition than she has received if only an Emmy for her wonderful portrayal of Detective Alex Eames in Law and Order: Criminal Intent. She gave that understated character complexity, sensitivity, and humanity while too often in the shadow of her co-star. She held her own, however, and Eames is some of her finest work. Perhaps the casting couch was simply not worth it to Erbe and she chose to act without compromising her honor. Whatever the reason, one can only watch this film and wonder why she isn't given roles played by much less talented actresses today. The script is also well written, intelligent, and often moving. One of the most touching films about the South, youth awakening to the real world, and life itself. A beautiful film with some outstanding acting that some how slipped under the radar and never was as acclaimed as it should have been.

SnoopyStyle Lucille Odom (Kathryn Erbe) is about to graduate from high school. One day she returns home to find her mother Helen (Jill Clayburgh) had run off. Her father Warren (Albert Finney) is a stubborn southern patriarch who can't accept it. Ethan Hawke plays Lucille's best friend who hopes to be more. Rae (Suzy Amis) returns with her new husband Billy McQueen (Kyle MacLachlan).It's a meandering low simmering family drama. There isn't much style in the directing. It has a lazy southern living feel in this slice of life. Albert Finney isn't playing a likable character. Kathryn Erbe is just too old for the role. It's really noticeable when she's paired up with Ethan Hawke. Overall there is some good actors doing material that wants to be better.

jcappy5 `Rich in Love' is one of those unfortunate middling films. If not for Kathryn Erbe, there would be little worth writing about--unless of course one loves to see the south in film. Perhaps an expansion and toughening up of Erbe's role and that of Jill Clayburgh's would make this a much better film. As it is there is too much stereotype in every character, and too much soap to support it. It's the plot's very few dark moments that most awaken the viewer. As does, of course, the very original, likeable and snappy acting of Kathryn Erbe. It is a flaw in the film, I think, that her independent life can be questioned, with effect, by the packaged entities around her. Her conforming to them makes her role less convincing--and takes something away from her superior acting.

Doctor_Bombay As her family begins to unravel, young Lucille Odom (Kathryn Erbe) enburdens herself with the job of holding the whole deal together, including a casual father (Albert Finney) and a wild older sister (Suzi Amis).Erbe, a Chicagoan who does far too much work on stage and too little on film (What About Bob?), is wonderful, Finney, brilliant. The story does tend to wander, and each of the new characters that crosses our path (including Piper Laurie and Alfre Woodard) tend to show us as many weaknesses as strengths. Such is the honesty of the tale.The Southern (Charleston?) setting is wonderfully comfortable-we ride the visual images as much as the heartfelt characters. The whole thing has a Hallmark Hall of Fame feeling---with not the perfunctory payoff in the endI like this film very much.