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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Following his 2008 Oscar-nominated supporting role in Into the Wild, 84-year-old Hal Holbrook delivers a powerful lead performance in That Evening Sun as a Tennessee farmer who refuses to give up his land, even after his son has rented it to someone else.

In the kind of summer heat that never lets up, Abner Meecham (Holbrook) walks away from the retirement home where his son, Paul (Walton Goggins, The Shield), placed him and goes back to the farm he worked all his life to build with a wife he still dreams about.

Abner is angry and confused to find that the family of Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon, The Blind Side) has moved in, thanks to a rental agreement they reached with Paul. Bad blood was spilled a long time ago between Abner and Lonzo, whom Abner regards as "white trash." It's no surprise then that Lonzo relishes the fact that he now has what Abner holds so dear. However, Abner refuses to leave and moves into a nearby shack that was once used by slaves.

While Lonzo's sympathetic wife, Ludie (Carrie Preston, Duplicity, Doubt), and 16-year-old daughter, Pamela (Mia Wasikowska, who is the lead in Tim Burton's upcoming Alice In Wonderland), attempt to be friendly with Abner, it does nothing to diffuse the increasingly hostile atmosphere, which is made worse by a .38 revolver, a barking dog, and Lonzo's drunken temper.

That Evening Sun is about the eternal struggle of opposing generations. There is Abner's Great Depression generation who has unwavering belief in hard work, pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps and, as Abner says, a belief in following through with what you start. Contrarily, Lonzo represents a belief that the government should help you when you fall down and if something goes missing, you replace it.

There's nothing totally wrong or right about either viewpoint, but the diametrical ways of looking at life that these two principal characters possess provides the traction for their conflict. Their dispute over who owns what is merely the catalyst for a conflict that goes from disparaging comments to violent confrontation to desperation. Both are pitiable men in their own way; however, Abner is bitter to the point of being toxic and Lonzo is a violent, lazy drunk.

That Evening Sun is a tense, superbly written drama with a performance by Holbrook that shows he is still on top of his game. Its tragic characters and genuine Southern feel would make Tennessee Williams proud.

On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, That Evening Sun receives a B+.

That Evening Sun is rated R and has a running time of 112 minutes.

Now showing through February 19 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for show times.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.