The Trip To Bountiful (2014)

Set in the 1950s, an elderly woman (Cicely Tyson) resents living under the thumb of her daughter in law (Vanessa Williams) and longs to return to her childhood home, the gulf town of Bountiful. With only her pension check in her purse, she impulsively hops on a bus and the long trek that will take her home. But sometimes, you can't go home again. Horton Foote's play first appeared on television in early 1953 with Lillian Gish and debuted on Broadway later the same year with Gish recreating the role of Carrie Watts. Geraldine Page won her Oscar for the 1985 film version, Lois Smith won several awards when she did the play off-Broadway in 2005 and Cicely Tyson won the Tony award for Carrie when she did it on Broadway in 2013. This film is an adaptation of that production with Tyson and Williams recreating their roles. It's a faithful representation of Foote's play, so much so that he's given sole screenplay credit. But as good as she is (and she's impeccable), Tyson can't quite inhabit the role effortlessly. You can see her acting "old" and you're always cognizant she's acting right down to her little old lady shuffle. The best performance comes from Blair Underwood as her son. He's terrific, you can see the frustration and unhappiness barely buried under the surface as he tries to please both wife and mother. Directed by Michael Wilson. With Keke Palmer (adorable) and Clancy Brown.