krocheav This is one of those films that comes as a surprise, hardly heard of yet well reviewed by some serious critics. Seeing the name Johnathan Demme appear on the credits along with Peter Fonda had me suspecting yet another re-run of "Fighting Mad" but insightful director, writer, editor, Victor Nunez plays it more like a character study. Nunez also tends to have an affinity for working within the Florida landscape as several of his features have this exotic setting. Apart from a couple of nasty drug oriented sequences (integral to the story) and some unnecessary language, I was reminded of a couple of the better episodes from Budd Shulberg's low budget TV series from the 60s "The Everglades" (remember that terrific theme song?) Having been most impressed by Peter Fonda's own production (with the marvelous Warren Oates) "The Hired Hand" in '71 (probably his most mature work to date), I was drawn to giving 'Ulee's' a chance viewing. It has the look of a film that's always about to take a turn for the usual Hollywood gung-ho heroic's but here, the writing's far more laid back and introspective. It slowly weaves its way to a rather well thought out and tad more believable conclusion. Action fans may be disappointed but for those who enjoy a more leisurely pace, free of over done CGI, this could entertain. Acting by the principal characters is uniformly good:- Fonda, with young Jessica Biel and Penny Jackson as grandaughters, do well in bringing to life a disenfranchised family unit doing it tough. Director of Photography Virgil Morano and Music score composer Charles Engstrom add nicely to the overall atmosphere. A movie like this would have been a real surprise to the film companies in '97 who were all looking for mindless blockbuster action epics to sell to the masses - they simply would not have known what to do with it!. A little picture that's worth a look if you're in the right mood or for those who want to see Peter Fonda nearly 30 years after the more successful but somehow over-rated 'Easy Rider'.Foot note: The film also gives us a fairly detailed introduction to the art of Bee Keeping and Honey extraction in difficult locations.

evanston_dad Peter Fonda gives a quietly effective performance as a man struggling to reconnect with his troubled family in this indie drama from 1997."Ulee's Gold" is the kind of film that's composed of long takes and longer silences. Fonda is taciturn and even unlikable at times -- ditto his daughter-in-law and grandchildren, who he must care for when his son goes to prison. Fonda revealed a talent in the later half of his career that he hadn't -- "Easy Rider" aside -- let the world see before, and hasn't really let anyone see since, to tell the truth. It was enough to win him a Best Actor Academy Award nomination, but not enough to help him beat Jack Nicholson, in a year when the Academy wanted to send a message to the independents that the major studios were alive and kicking.Grade: B+

briefcase119 I agree with the above commentator that Victor Nunez has great talent, but I disagree with the criticism of the writing. I think the dialog is intentionally paced to accurately reflect the oral traditions of rural Floridians in that socio-economic milieu.I was very disappointed that this film did not win an Oscar. In my opinion, its the best acting Peter Fonda has ever done. As a native Floridian, I also recognize many of the locales in the film, shot on location in the Sunshine State.If you haven't seen this film, you have missed a treasure. By the way, its up to the viewer to decide whether the title refers to honey or Ulysses' family values.

Lee Eisenberg When "Ulee's Gold" came out, it seemed as though Peter Fonda had been off of the radar for many years. But he made a comeback here as Florida beekeeper Ulysses Jackson, having to raise his granddaughters after their father gets put in jail and their mother can't take care of them. A triumph for all involved.This movie was truly a breath of fresh air when it came out in summer, 1997. That summer saw such "scum-sucking corporate products" (to use Peter Travers's description of "Armageddon") as "The Lost World", "Speed 2", and "Batman and Robin". Once again, we see that the small indie flicks are better remembered. Thank God.