A Family Thing

1996 "With family, everything is relative."
7.1| 1h49m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 29 March 1996 Released
Producted By: United Artists
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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Earl Pilcher Jr. runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His birth mother's sister, Aunt T., an aged and blind matriarch, takes Earl in tow and insists that the family open up to him.

Genre

Drama, Comedy

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Director

Richard Pearce

Production Companies

United Artists

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A Family Thing Audience Reviews

Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Beanbioca As Good As It Gets
BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
jeremy3 I would like to give this movie a higher rating, but there is something that detracts from it's quality. Duvall is a brilliant actor, but perhaps the whitest guy in Hollywood. His complex is pale, and he doesn't have any curls to his hair. Now, it is hard to believe that Nicole Ritchie is half-black, but you can see she has a darker complexion. Therefore, it is impossible to believe that Duvall's character is half-black.If Duvall's character grew up in this very white small town, people probably would have suspected he had American Indian, Italian, or Hispanic blood. Duvall's character may have been aware that he was not totally Scotch-Irish. If he were in the Bayou, perhaps it wouldn't be as big a deal. But in farm country of the South, highly unlikely that he wouldn't be aware of something.I didn't like the fact that Duvall's character goes to the big city and all of a sudden he is being considered half-black. It would be more of an adjustment than the movie portrays. In addition, his nephew probably would have resented him giving advice to him. Why wouldn't James Earl Jones' character be the one to give him advice.The movie was interesting, but this point severally detracts from it's credibility. I have a better idea. Why not make Duvall's character 100% white, and have the Father having an extramarital affair that produced Jones' character. Jones' is definitely light to medium brown complexion. He could be a believable mulatto.The Father could be the one dying. On his deathbed he can confess that he had an extramarital affair, and that there was a half-brother to Duvall's character. The Father could leave out the fact that his brother is half-black. Then Duvall's character shows up, and is completely shocked.This would have been a better idea. Duvall could have been conflicted, because he was so white, but now he had to accept that his brother was half-black. In addition, Jones' family would deal with their own fears and reluctance in accepting Duvall's character. This would have been a more meaningful scenario. It would have forced both races to accept that they have a father in common.
edcjke-1 This movie is one of my all time favorites. It felt so real. My family has a story like this. The acting by all the cast members were awesome. It feels so real when you are watching the flick. I would love to see it come to Broadway as a show something like that or as a play or whatever. Aunt Tiara, Aunt T was great!!!!!Love her. "Now don't go forgetting about your old Aunt T"!!!!!!!!!She rocks.......James Earl Jones, who by the way is one of the best actors ever; was interviewed on the Diane Rimms radio show ca. 2006 and he said it was one of his favorites also! ....... Now then ..........the birthing scene WOW it was one of my best parts-- so real powerful and sad. I cried like a baby. Loved the soundtrack also, great music these songs where just perfect! Robert Duval was perfect, love him also....JKE Brooklyn, NY 2/1/2007
alli_katz Robert Duvall is great as the Southern man who is in for a surprise when his daddy dies. James Earl Jones matches him ever step of the way in magnificent interaction. But Irma P. Hall as the mother, really steals the film. If you haven't seen this, rent it. If it doesn't make you cry and laugh, you have no emotions.
flanner Another delightful collaboration of Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton. How refreshing it is to be treated to non-Hollywood type characters that the viewer can identify with. Jones and Duvall are splendid, but like another reviewer says, the show stealer is Irma P. Hall.