Jodelle Ferland and Sissy Spacek in "Pictures of Hollis Woods"
courtesy of Hallmark Hall of Fame
"Pictures of Hollis Woods" (Hallmark Hall of Fame)

When you watch a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation you know you are (1) going to see excellent acting (2) get involved in an uplifting story (3) feel better after having watched it. Sometimes you get movies that are better than average and sometimes you get movies that are just average, but you always get those listed elements.

"Pictures of Hollis Woods" has strong acting by Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard and Judith Ivey. It also has a story based on the novel of the same name by Patricia Reilly Giff. And in its tale of an orphaned girl looking for a family all her own you will find inspiration. But it still is only average rather than above the norm.

Hollis Woods (Jodelle Ferland) is an orphan girl who just can't seem to fit in with the right family. Finally Edna Reilly (Woodard), the social worker assigned to her case, takes her to live with Josie Cahill (Spacek), a retired schoolteacher. Hollis soon becomes comfortable with Josie and Josie's cousin Bea (Ivey).

While living with Josie, Hollis reflects back on her summer spent with the Regan family. She sorts through it and begins to understand how it all went wrong. At this time things also begin to go wrong with her staying at Josie's. What should be the perfect place becomes a place that is unsuitable for her.

Any production that features Sissy Spacek is worth watching. She is one of the greats of the entertainment world. However even she can not rescue this movie from its maudlin premise and sugar coated message of love and forgiveness. It is all just too sweet and too perfect to be enjoyable.

The other flaw is Ferland. She brings nothing special to the role of Hollis. Maybe Dakota Fanning could have made it something special but Ferland can't. You see nothing spunky in Hollis' actions. She is as bland as can be.

"Pictures of Hollis Woods" is not a complete waste of time since Spacek, Woodard and Ivey are so good. But it isn't the best that "Hallmark Hall of Fame" has ever presented. Not even close!

"Pictures of Hollis Woods" airs on CBS, Sunday, December 2 from 9 - 11PM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!