Always Reviews

A Little Cheesey But...

This was one of my wife's choice of films, but I watched it and was won over. Funny, sad, and moving. A story that's just a little bit different.

This remake of the 1943 film A GUY NAMED JOE stars Richard Dreyfuss as Pete Sandich, a daredevil pilot who specializes in putting out forest fires. Pete promises his girlfriend, Dorinda (Holly Hunter), that he will stop flying, but when his best friend, Al (John Goodman), gets into engine trouble while fighting a blaze, Pete attempts a daring rescue--saving his friend but killing himself. Waking up in the afterlife, Pete meets an angel, Hap (Audrey Hepburn), who sends him back to earth as a ghost no one can see or hear. When Dorinda flies into a fire to save trapped smoke jumpers, Pete telepathically talks her through the dangerous mission. Hap tells Pete he must help Dorinda overcome her grief and lead her to a new love with a novice pilot (Brad Johnson). While Pete watches the two start their romance, he battles feelings of jealousy and sadness at giving her up. Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss, while working together on JAWS in 1975, found that they shared an affinity for the 1943 film A GUY NAMED JOE. They managed to come together years later to make their own version of it in ALWAYS.

The performance by Holly Hunter is excellent, even though the focus is completely on Richard Dreyfuss and Goodman.

This is a rousing adventure story, a romantic comedy, and an affecting afterlife fantasy. See it! Now!

Slushy romantic film - bit slow in parts but nevertheless quite watchable. Bit of a predicatable story line but quite good.

A feelgood Chick Movie

Although on saying that, it is one of my favorite films and one I can watch over & over. At turns happy and sad and with a nail biting climax, this is a 'Ghost' for the over 40's.

A good story and one that you will enjoy always.

Will enduce tears in the hardest of cynics. (Even me) A romantic movie that isnt corny or irritating, with some great comic moments. Just sqeaks in with a classic rating.

Underrated Spielberg film

It seems there are three 'Spielbergs'. Two of them are loved filmmakers: the one that makes thrilling blockbusters whether genuinely great (Jaws, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park) or slightly overrated (War Of The Worlds, Minority Report, Temple Of Doom) and the one that makes epic dramas like The Color Purple, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List and Amistad.

However, there is also the forgotten Spielberg. The one that, when he brings out a film, is constantly maligned for delivering something that "doesn't feel Spielberg" or "could have been done by another director". These are often sadly underrated films like Empire Of The Sun, The Terminal, the great Catch Me If You Can and this 1980s gem, Always.

The story of a firefighting pilot, Richard Dreyfuss, who loses his life at the beginning of the film but has a chance to see how the people he left behind (love of his life Holly Hunter and best friend John Goodman) will cope without him as he helps a rookie pilot (Brad Johnson) find his own wings.

It is touching but also funny and never gets too saccerine. Dreyfuss is endlessly likeable as is Goodman while Hunter really got noticed here. Also worth the rental alone is the final screen performance of the late, great 'Audrey Hepburn' reminding us how classy and wonderful an actress she was making an impact in a small role.

Why Spielberg Why?

I am one of the biggest Steven Spielberg fans around. However, I hadn't been aware of this film he made called 'Always' but of course had to check it out immediately. However, now it is clear exactly why I had never heard about it. This is a film people are trying to forget was ever assosiated with one of the greatest directors of our generation. It is slow moving, thin on plot, utterly predictable, and non sensical. The chacters have no really motives and behave in whatever way the scene demands devoid of character. Do yourself a favour a rent E.T or Indiana Jones instead.

So wonderful

I know this is a schmaltzy Spielberg remake and my husband and brother in law don't get past the first half hour but its a wonderful weepy. Totally romantic, sad and just a great Sunday afternoon cry into a hankie film - bliss!!

This film is better than Ghost. It has more humour, more pathos and more love. A winner in all ways!

Quite a nice wee movie with a decent cast, although I think the female lead could have been cast better. Sort of a romantic comedy but not just for the girls due to some decent male humor in there too.