In the opening scene of A House Divided, Sam Waterston is found dead in his room. Don't worry, he's not out of the picture! During the reading of his will, his brother contests the fact that Sam has left everything to his daughter, Jennifer Beals, and moves to settle the matter in court. As the young lawyer who helped draft the will tries to help, he unearths deep-seeded family secrets.
The majority of A House Divided is told in flashbacks, but it isn't at all distracting, like some nonlinear stories are. The present and past are spliced in perfect places, letting the audience crave and learn more at exactly the right times. It's a period piece, in mid-1800s Georgia; fans of Civil War dramas are going to love this movie, even though it doesn't have anything to do with the war. As a young girl, LisaGay Hamilton is bought by Sam Waterston's family. Sam takes an inappropriate interest in her, but even in the midst of his harassments, he discovers and respects her intelligence and elevates her from a housemaid to helping his accounts of the plantation. The relationship between Sam and LisaGay is fascinating, and one of the most incredible elements of the film. He's shown as a despicable person at first, but in other scenes, he seems to appreciate, respect, and even treasure her. She hates him, but doesn't let that hatred define her, even when she suffers unspeakable tragedies. Then again, when she sees his body at the start of the film, she doesn't appear to hate him at all.
In addition to the interesting dichotomy of the characters in Paris Qualles's script, the acting in A House Divided is wonderful. While LisaGay Hamilton has been in some famous films, she isn't close to being the household name she should be. She's a very pretty woman and a fantastic actress, showing a perfect spread of emotions as her scenes call for it. You'll probably reach for your Kleenexes more than once when she's on the screen. Jennifer Beals, not normally known for her acting chops, also does a very good job, and has a flawless Southern accent.
One of the things I love about Sam Waterston is that no matter what time period he's in, from Lincoln to The Great Gatsby to Law & Order, it always feels like he belongs in that era. And while he does some terrible things in this movie, he doesn't play the character as an inarguable villain. There's so much confliction in his scenes. He and LisaGay will keep you thinking and talking long after the movie's over.
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