At Any Price (2012) User Reviews

better than IMDb rating indicates imo

[mdixon · 7/10 · 3 September 2013]

after watching I was surprised by its low IMDb rating (5.6 currently). I liked it, it held my attention, felt on its own it was entertaining and was one of those I think to myself "I'm glad I watched that". I'm not a film critic or film-making buff so don't know mechanically what makes a movie good, it's more a thing of you know it when you see it.

to be fair before writing this I read some of the less favorable reviews and can see they have their points. but in imd-land the mid-5s kinds of movies are getting into the range where a movie is clearly not well-thought of and it's hard to see how that can be true of this one. also I don't watch previews/trailers or really read much besides the brief IMDb synopsis at the top so maybe my lack of expectation helps.

I watched this because I like dennis quaid, he's one of those actors that on the screen I find easy to like and his performances are usually good. this isn't the kind of role I'm used to seeing from him (the clever/charming/gregarious kind of guy) but I thought he played it quite well.

the overarching theme seems to be there's no overarching theme. it was more or less an hour and a half of stuff involving people that happened to be in iowa, some of which happened to be farmers. it didn't seem to me it was pushing any kind of viewpoint, we just get to witness some unusual things that can make one think "what would I have done in that spot?" it almost had the dryness of a documentary in that there's no crescendos (musically or otherwise) trying to tell the audience what to feel where. to me the movie was more about what's inside the characters rather than what happens externally when they interact. from that standpoint I wasn't put off by some of the disjointedness other reviewers rightfully point out.

I did notice in hindsight once the movie was over that much of it seemed formulaic and had many of the kinds of twists every other movie has, but what struck me was being engrossed enough that as it unfolded I didn't really notice until it was over with.

bottom line for me is it was entertaining and worth the time spent watching it.

Quaid shines along with Efron...

[ClaytonDavis · 7/10 · 10 April 2013]

Writer/Director Rahim Bahrani, responsible for the indie hit, Goodbye Solo (2008) puts some of his best cinematic qualities to use in his newest film At Any Price starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron. Bahrani's take on mid-western culture is at times fascinating though has many instances of feeling like a Lifetime movie of the week. Layered with narrative vices and escalating tension, the true savior of the film is the powerhouse performance by Quaid.

Telling the story of the Whipple's, a farming family whose agriculture business is threatened by an impending investigation of their fields and the procedures they follow. In the midst of the ordeal, the relationship of a father and his rebellious son (Efron) is tested to their max. Bahrani's interpretation of modern-day Iowa and the communities that surround is an interesting examination of American values that he respectfully caresses however; he does tend to lean on the clichéd dialogue of family melodrama with short cuts and unrealistic story developments that don't do him or his characters any favors. Dennis Quaid is an interesting anomaly of an actor that hasn't made his due with the major awards. After fearlessly diving into a character that's self-centered, wretched, and downright degrading, Quaid outdoes most of his earlier works of cinema. The journey that he takes pitiful Henry down is a testament to his dedication to the craft. Magnificently portrayed and later moderately redeemed, the performance stands as one of the best turns of the Tribeca Film Festival and the first quarter of 2013.

Zac Efron is a horse of a different color. Efron has struggled in his attempts to serious acting like last year's The Paperboy (2012) and Charlie St. Cloud (2010). Efron puts forth his best effort as an actor so far as the young, rebellious Dean. He's going through an interesting transition as Efron is discovering his abilities and becoming aware of his boundaries as an actor. Dean lets loose when he needs to and still gives off a sex appeal that doesn't feel forced and very much accessible for the viewer.

Co-stars Heather Graham has seemed to have gotten stuck in the same, type-casted, underdeveloped female role that doesn't hint at any of the promises that were made in when she came into our cinematic minds in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997). Newcomer Maika Monroe shows hints of promise in her limited role but is held back by contrived conversations and confined emotional abilities. It's also great to see veteran actor Clancy Brown still delivering strong work in his later years. A brief but memorable turn that reminds us about the talents of a wonderful character actor.

Overall, the story is respectable and tolerable. Bahrani is a noble director that may be able to shine in brighter and more ambitious projects in the future. The true gem of the picture lies in the multi- dimensional performance of Dennis Quaid and the surprising effectiveness of Zac Efron. Cinematographer Michael Simmonds also manages to acquire some graceful and ravishing shots of the serene farmlands of American agriculture. A technical merit worthy of a mention. A commendable and skilled work.

At Any Price is simply gratifying. A must-see of the Tribeca Film Festival. Check out the trailer below. The film opens in theaters on April 24th.

At Any Price — An agrarian story with tragedy

[AvidClimber · 6/10 · 21 May 2013]

At Any Price shows the nasty little ordinary things we do to get us ahead of others, and the not so ordinary or little.

The good. It's a frank view of what industrial farmers go through in regards to GMOs. You also really get into the shoes of the father.

The actors. It's was difficult for me to see Dennis Quaid, who usually plays heroic figures, if only family ones at time, give life to such a flawed character. To his credit, he did it very well.

The bad. There's a number of scenes where we don't relate very well to what's happening. The director doesn't make us feel or understand what's on the screen.

Ugly. Lack of depth in most secondary characters. The B and C stories are too thin.

honest story

[Kirpianuscus · 4 September 2020]

Not impressive. But more than good. That kind of film about family, values, expectation of father and the option of sons who seems traditional but it is real useful for remind, in simple and precise manner, elementary things. Dennis Quaid did a great job and Zac Efron sustain in nice way his Dean. But, sure, Kim Dickens , giving the fair traits to Irene Whipple is admirable.A film about competition, ambition and wisdom. And, in my case, Clancy Brown presence was a good return to the years of Carnivale. So, a honest story.

It's Efron that continues to surprise me!

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 31 May 2013]

'AT ANY PRICE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron both give outstanding performances in this tragic drama about competitive farming directed and co-written (with first time writer Hallie Elizabeth Newton) by Ramin Bahrani. I haven't seen any of Bahrani's previous films but I know he's garnered a lot of critical praise and attention. Roger Ebert, in 2009, said "Ramin Bahrani is the new great American director". He also praised this movie as "a great film" as well but it hasn't been loved by everyone and has received mixed reviews at best. I found it to be a good film (but not great). I'm not a big fan of tragedies and while this film does find 'hope in the darkness', like all good films should, it's still a little too dark and depressing for me (great performances though).

The film is about a family of farmers (the Whipples), who are desperately trying to stay successful in the increasingly competitive modern world of agriculture. They're lead by Henry Whipple (Quaid) and the film centers primarily on his relationship with his second eldest son, Dean (Efron). Having already lost his eldest son, from following in his footsteps (he left and is climbing a mountain somewhere far away), Henry desperately wants Dean to continue the family business. Dean wants to leave town as well though and dreams of becoming a race car driver. When an investigation into illegal seeding practices, by the Whipples, begins to haunt the family, and threatens to destroy their business, Dean and Henry are brought closer together (but tragedy also strikes).

The film co-stars Kim Dickens, Heather Graham, Maika Monroe, Chelcie Ross and Clancy Brown. They're all adequate in the film but it's Quaid and Efron that really shine. Some say it's Quaid's best performance ever (like Ebert had) but he's always been a good actor. It's Efron that continues to surprise me! Having started out as a prettyboy teen star I never thought he had much talent but he continues to prove me wrong (especially here). Bahrani's directing is good, the cinematography is beautiful and the story is involving and believable. Like I said it's just a little too dark and depressing for me, although there are positive moments as well. I prefer to see life as more positive than negative and this isn't a movie I'd say reinforces that notion.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_1fzjYYyuk

Meet the Wipples, dysfunction on the inside, but all business on the outside.

[face-819-933726 · 7/10 · 11 May 2014]

You will have to watch this one it is a family story. From a family perspective. But it's just not your family. You get to see how truly hollow some people are. How they are just a fine film or puff of something attached to a smile floating through a room just trying to get through another day. Dennis Quaid plays that hollow puff of a man, and he plays him well. There are so many layers to this family that you will be taken to some surprising places. I Enjoyed this movie quite a bit, though the people in it need to be smacked awake, the player playing them are all top notch, and the production is very clean, and never feels cheap, just down to earth, and from the perspective of real people. You don't need my recommendation, but you have it for this movie, and I know you will be glad you spent a couple of hours with the Whipples.

unbalanced unfocused script sinks it

[HEFILM · 5/10 · 16 April 2013]

It's a story where the characters aren't sympathetic and seem to create all their own problems. None of their problems are all that involving either. So what's to care about? The script is poorly structured taking to long to set up the situation while at the same time failing to set up some key characters that come into play in the rushed final part of the film.

Quaid is very good, sometimes a bit mannered though he's supposed to be playing a kind of obnoxious salesman so that's part of the film can be accepted as being done on purpose. I heard the director speak after a preview screening and he mentioned the influences that kind of create the problem with the film. DEATH OF A SALESMAN meets THE LAST PICTURE SHOW with some Robert Altman thrown in. If you know either of these classic pieces of writing you might guess this isn't up to either of those standards and it's not. If you don't know those films it won't make it a better film. The film wastes too much time setting up the characters all of whom are unlikable selfish jerks for much of the film. The key dramatic incident comes too late--and won't be revealed here--and is left dangling at the films end. The one son, played with no depth, by Zac seems to be the focus of the story for too long and then is kind of pushed back and other characters take over. Aside from him there is little to fault with any of the acting.

One other key character, Quaid's Dad, appears out of nowhere in the film--you'll actually think he's been dead for years and years the way people talk about him until he suddenly shows up, and Heather Graham's character just pops up and pops out of the story with little logic aside from some kind of possible sexual interest, though there is no nudity in the film and the story doesn't go in that direction ultimately. Both of these characters need more thought on a screenplay level.

Some odd details here and there successfully touch on Robert Altman but those are just minor details of how modern farming works amid a messy script.

There is just little to hold your interest for far too long in the screenplay. Digital photography is OK but has a bit of a video edge to it and doesn't do the actors any favors in close up either. The film could use more and a better music score. The film ultimately is forgettable.

EXPAND OR DIE

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 22 July 2018]

Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) has it all, a loving family, a successful business, and a mistress (Heather Graham). He is an aggressive seed salesman and farmer. His oldest son would rather travel the world and his younger son Dean (Zac Efron) is cynical and doesn't want to be around his father. He wants to race cars and have a good time with his "feral" girlfriend (Maika Monroe).

Henry doesn't always abide by the rules. Dean has anger management issues. Things come to a head as Henry has to choose to make things right or face dire consequences.

The film is an okay drama, that perhaps plays out better in Iowa. The characters nicely evolved in the film, although they didn't grab me. Might make for a drama rental at a low price.

Parental Guidance: F-bomb, sex, porno magazine nudity of a topless woman with a male organ at her mouth. Must be the strong graphic reference mentioned on rating.

'Am I a happy man? How can I not be?'

[gradyharp · 3/10 · 30 August 2013]

Note: possible Spoiler Alert

Yes, this quote actually comes out of the mouth of one of the more irresponsible self-serving egocentric characters created for a film - one Henry Whipple. And that is only for starters. This mess of a film (written by Hallie Newton and adapted for the screen by writer/director Ramin Bahrani) is an American Midwest epic about crime down on the farm, but no one seems to notice that is the topic. It reminds us of that old Midwest saying 'He's so dumb he couldn't pour pee out of a side-laced boot with the directions written on the heel'.

Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) inherited a family corn farm and continues the long family tradition of making it a success in Iowa - even to the point of becoming involved in a criminal malfeasance that has to do with seed. He has two sons - All American athlete Grant (Patrick W. Stevens), who has wisely left this station to climb mountains in Argentina, and Dean (Zac Efron), who hates the farm and loves destruction derby car racing and glibly tells his father he will have nothing to do with the 'family farm inheritance' - and a wife (Kim Dickens) who is so passive that her only positive gesture, other than serving lemonade to the annual customer appreciation crowd, is to give Dean $15,000 to join the racing industry - a waste because Dean is unprepared to cope with his dream. Henry womanizes with Meredith (Heather Graham) - so does Dean - but that's OK. Dean robs and murders, but that's OK. And when the Whipple farm faces a possible end, Henry lies his way out of it with some wimpy reparation and more lemonade and dancing at the customer appreciation picnic. Even Dean's abused well-meaning girlfriend (Maika Monroe) is able to just smile and move on. The only character who seems to have some respect is our mountain climbing Grant who has left this weakened family. End.

It might be possible to simple label this flimsy little film as boring, but it is so meaningless and mean-spirited that it likely will cause a mix of anger and disgust in the viewer. Have we really dropped this low in the lack of decency?

Grady Harp

A small character study that doesn't lead to anything as interesting as it should

[napierslogs · 6/10 · 18 November 2013]

"At Any Price" is a small Midwestern film about a small Midwestern family in a small Midwestern town. It translates well for any farming community. It also translates well for any character study fans, but it's the thrilling elements that should have been heightened to make it a better movie overall.

Dennis Quaid stars as Henry Whipple a determined business man failing in the farming business and Zac Efron as Dean Whipple who wants to be doing anything other than following in his father's footsteps. He's also the son who stayed who gets to watch his parents dote after the possible arrival of his older brother who went to find himself on a whirlwind adventure around the world. Dean is stuck in Iowa trying to find himself while being groomed for the family farm but wanting to race a car around a track in circles.

As a character study, it had the perfect set-up with both Quaid and Efron playing the troubled Whipple men with half-assed smiles on their faces and fear in their eyes. But "At Any Price" isn't a character study; it's a thriller. The mysterious score starts early on and keeps you guessing when something dark or sinister is going to occur. Sub- plots are introduced with Dean's attention-starving girlfriend and Henry's illegal activities. And while they do eventually lead to something interesting, they're hardly interesting themselves and could have been tightened up significantly.

And then comes the thriller climax and the character study climax when father and son finally have something to connect with. But as the thriller climax, it just kind of happened with no additional build-up or intrigue and it made everything that came before it a little less interesting then it was before. A decent movie about the flailing Whipple men just went out with a whimper. "At Any Price" is decent as a small indie film but it needed to be tightened up with more significance to the on-going events to be a good movie.

Dopey melodrama in Big Film Art clothing

[buff-29 · 4/10 · 29 April 2013]

I nearly wept at the end of this movie, over all the acting talent gone totally to waste on this dumb little story. It is more than dumb; it doesn't make any sense. I think that one scene sums up the problems this film creates for itself and then fails to solve. One of the characters (it doesn't even matter which one) breaks into a store by shooting a handgun through the window. When the window conveniently falls into a billion pieces, the character leaps through the open space and steals some stuff. Then he and his pal and girlfriend roar off, tires squealing. The event is presaged by nothing and leads to nothing. One is left only with a sense of mystification that anyone (even a film director) would think that a logical way to commit a burglary would be to shoot out the front window of a store with a gun. The rest of film is like that. One silly contrivance piled on another to create a nonsensical melodrama.

So you wanna make a deal?

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 27 August 2013]

Sometimes, a movie character's stress is so all-encompassing and so consuming in his or her world that you begin to feel it in your own world, regardless of whether or not you've experience what they're going through. Director Ramin Bahrani, if nothing else, articulates internal conflicts and mental pressure beautifully in his latest offering At Any Price, a landmark in his film career as it is the most mainstream release a film of his has gotten and I'm sure numerous people still haven't heard about it.

This is my introduction to Bahrani's work as a feature film director. His short film, simply titled "Paper Bag," was, hear me out, a twenty minute long film focusing on a listless paper bag that would travel by the way of the wind and would encounter numerous animals and obstacles along the way. The short was narrated by iconic actor and director Werner Herzog and possessed such an absurdist beauty about it that was equal parts whimsical and heartwarming. I couldn't recommend it enough.

The film stars Dennis Quaid as Henry Whipple, owner of more than 3,000 acres of farmland in Iowa and the proud inheritor of Liberty Seeds, a company that sells and utilizes genetically-modified seeds. Henry hopes one day he'll be able to pass on the farm to his young son, like his dad did to him. However, his son Dean (Zac Efron) shows no interest in inheriting the farm, and sets his sights on being a race-car driver, competing in local events statewide in order to obtain money to perhaps make it that far. He is given encouragement by Cadence (Maika Monroe), his sort-of girlfriend, even though he begins to write her off as his aspirations begin to seemingly evolve into something. In need of help, with competition in the contemporary agriculture world increasing and the possibility of a scandal on Liberty Seeds becoming others' knowledge, Henry takes Cadence underneath his wing as an intern and introduces her to the world, while simultaneously trying to combat it.

It's clear that Bahrani didn't just want to use Iowa farmlands as a backdrop for his story. Him and co-writer Hallie Elizabeth Newton admirably immerse themselves into the culture of competitive agriculture, and show audiences through board-meetings, shady deals, and family dialog just how stressful of an environment this is. But what At Any Price's ultimate goal is lies on how it portrays the search for values and morality when money and company-placement is what it all boils down to. This isn't a tiresome trudge through morality in terms of how each right and wrong is rewarded, but rather it's about the choices we make and how we want to be seen by others. Henry seems like he once started out as an honest, moral man of his word, but now, he possesses the transparency, the attitude, and the fake smile akin to that of a politician. His son Dean is lost in the idea of trying to find himself when his father is not showing the characteristics of a role model or a caring member of his family. He worries about position and what the public thinks they know about him. This leads Dean to do things in the film he will later regret, if he chooses to reconnect with the path of kinder humanism.

A story like this is only levied by performances, and thankfully the likes of Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron offer remarkably maturing ones. Quaid is an actor somewhat like Nicolas Cage and Robert De Niro in the way he chooses sometimes completely asinine film roles that clearly do not challenge him in ways we love to seem him challenged. But every so often, Quaid - like Cage and De Niro - will choose an offbeat film role and knock it out of the park. Scarcely has stress on a film character been so evident and relatable and this is thanks to a performance of remarkable quality by Quaid. Efron, as well, after hanging in the teen-girl crowd for a bit too long with films like High School Musical, 17 Again, and Charlie St. Cloud that, while maybe fun on an escapist level, do not give him the appropriate amount of human leverage he deserves. In At Any Price, he evokes a much more mature persona than we've seen him, and if he can't tolerate the lack of limelight and publicity a film like this brings, I see no reason why he wouldn't continue to do films like these.

This is one the heaviest character-pieces I've come across this year. Not a lot happens in the film, but what does is subtle and strong in terms of furthering an encompassing theme. The film could be mistaken for sending mixed signals due to its unfocused nature, be a bit impulsive with some plot-strands not developing enough, and be criticized as too methodical because of several scenes relying on time passing and location. I agree with all of these points on some level, but feel the large majority of criticism has missed the mark because it doesn't give the film credit for attempting to articulate something that is greatly becoming grayer and grayer and that is what we, as humans, value in life. We like to think of ourselves as kind, gentle people, but when several outlets bombard us with dehumanizing stereotypes, images of pure cruelty, and the degradation of a moral compass and an increase in narcissistic, arrogant importance - especially in American culture - it's becoming a bit disconcerting in how nihilistic and careless we have become as a whole. At Any Price tries to magnify this concern, but on a much smaller scale, and remarkably succeeds in some very difficult aspects - especially considering it features a story that can easily be written off as noneventful.

Tighten Up

[valis1949 · 6/10 · 8 October 2013]

AT ANY PRICE (dir. Ramin Bahrani) If the film had just developed a single tangent, such as the troubled relationship between a father and son without all the other thematic distractions, it might have worked. Dennis Quaid turns in an exceptional performance as a GMO mega-farmer whose family has owned the land for four generations, yet no one in his family seems the slightest bit interested in continuing in the business of farming. However, because so many story angles are opened up and explored, the film loses focus. There's the story of the two sons- one is off climbing mountains in South America while the other aspires to excel on the NASCAR circuit, and then there is the sub-plot of the father's questionable dealings with genetically modified crop seeds, his sexual infidelity with one of his old high school cheerleader pals (by the way, they don't appear to have attended high school within two decades of each other), and the 'professional' relationship with his youngest son's teen-aged girlfriend (possibly the brightest point of the film). And finally there's that unfortunate second degree homicide that pops up out of the blue. It seems that the intent was to produce a film where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, but AT ANY PRICE flounders and struggles with a handful of disparate elements that don't add up to much of anything except a credible performance by Dennis Quaid. As Archie Bell and The Drells used to say, 'Do The Tighten Up!'

Don't bother.

[alicelouiseclements · 1/10 · 2 August 2013]

I struggle to find words for this film aside from awful. The acting was good.pro. However all the events in the film went towards nothing. The film is so random, its like the film was made up of different scenes from different movies. There's no climax just a load of dilemmas didn't really understand the role of 'Dean'(Zack Efron) and I didn't understand what happened with him at all, it was just so random. What happened with that blonde woman? what was her purpose? why was she there? I was expecting a twist at the end that explained everything, but no, awful. I actually found a part of the movie slightly disturbing, you'll know which part when you watch it, I had to look away because I was not expecting that at all because it didn't fit in with the film but yes that disturbed me and there was not point of this certain event. So, to conclude, this film is full of nonsense that has no meaning, its like the director was drunk and just shouted out new events they could throw in to make the story interesting. guess what. it didn't work. This movie is half of a story and I did not enjoy it.

Fine Performances but the Story Just Doesn't Work

[Michael_Elliott · 23 May 2013]

At Any Price (2012)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Ramin Bahrani's latest deals with farmer Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) who sees himself in trouble over the family business but he also finds his relationship with his youngest son (Zac Efron) slipping away. Both men appear to be wanting something they can't have and after a tragic accident their love for one another is tested. AT ANY PRICE certainly contains some good performances and it's heart is certainly in the right place but if you take away the profanity you're actually left with something that probably wouldn't be workable as a TV movie. Director Bahrani clearly wanted to make a simple film about simple people in a bad situation due to greed and there's no question that he wanted to give out a message but sadly his screenplay is just too simple for its own good. If you've ever seen a family drama in your life then I think it's going to be pretty easy to see every twist and turn in the story coming a mile away. You know that the father is eventually going to realize that he isn't a great father. You know that the son is going to hurt those around him. You know the two are going to have to have something happen that brings them together. Even the supporting characters are all rather predictable and especially the entire subplot dealing with someone turning Whipple in for illegal activities. Again, there's no question that the director had his heart in the right place but sadly there's just not enough here to keep the viewer entertained or at least caught up in everything going on. Quaid turns in one of his best performances in years as he does a very good job and especially during the scenes where he's trying to sell his skill. The character is certainly a flawed human and Quaid does a very good job at showing his good side as well as his bad. Efron continues to impress with these independent films and he too is good in his part. Clancy Brown, Kim Dickens, Red West and Heather Graham are all good in their supporting roles but it's Maika Monroe who easily steals the film in her part. AT ANY PRICE still contains some mild appeal to make it worth viewing if you're a fan of the cast members but there's no question that it needed a richer screenplay to make everything work.

Chix Chat on Film Review: Father and son bond.

[EmmaDinkins · 6/10 · 18 March 2013]

At Any Price is the type of film that causes the audience to seriously consider the lengths at which a father will go to protect his son. Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) is a large scale Iowa farmer who is working to pass the family business down to one of his sons. He has two sons and the eldest who originally went off to college is now exploring the world, which leaves the reins to be passed to the younger son Dean Whipple (Zac Efron) who has very little interest in carrying on the farming legacy. Dean is building a name for himself as a racer and has his sights set on a career in Nascar. This was the second film in the fest that I had viewed that touched on sibling rivalry between brothers, and this one was not much more rewarding than the other, Awful Nice. This story is entirely character driven, which is a bit ironic since the primary male characters are not particularly likable. The bright spot in the story is Dean's girlfriend Cadence (Maika Monroe), who knew how to ingratiate herself with people and was obviously a very smart girl. She made all the drama a bit more palatable as we traverse through cold and calculated purchase and sales tactics, with all the manipulation and deception, who knew that farming could be so devious. This story took my knowledge of farming to a whole new level, I would have thought that a farming story would be about who can grow the largest squash for the county fair, but this was morel about acquiring more land and building a customer base for seed sales. The theme that overshadowed the entire film was competition, brothers competing for their father's attention. Some of the story seemed a bit disjointed and served little purpose other than to emphasize how strained the father and son relationship was. The scenes with Dean and Henry were the most poignant, although Dean just came across as a spoiled entitled brat, Henry seemed to genuinely care about his son and was failing miserably at trying to figure out how to relate to him. I would love to say that this was a feel good story of a father and son who bond over circumstances that ultimately make them stronger as a family, but that is not the case since the feel good part of the story just never materialized.

A farming drama nicely shot in the Iowa farmscapes

[vampire_hounddog · 6/10 · 27 August 2020]

In rural Iowa, Henry Whipple is a seed farmer (Dennis Quaid) who runs a large area of land wants to pass the farm business on to his eldest son who is away travelling, while his youngest son (Zac Efron) pursues his career as a NASCAR driver. Henry is married to Irene (Kim Dickens), but is having an affair with a younger woman (Heather Graham) and is in bitter competition with neighbouring farmers and is under investigation for unethical practice.

In many ways this is a flawed family drama, but is also an interesting and rewarding one that is worth viewing. Directed by Ramin Bahrani, a director with a good deal of talent for interesting dramas, it was not released until 2016 and although some of the drama does end up being something of a damp squib, other aspects work well such as the way Henry gets himself deeper into trouble yet still tries to keep his composure together as he believes he's doing the right thing.

worest movie ever

[feras_shabib · 1/10 · 26 May 2013]

my fiancée recommended this movie, so we went to the cinema to watch it and it was soooo awful, maybe the worst movie i ever saw. also why he was racing? its sooo irrelative. and i guess Dennis Quaid he is so lame, you don't feel like he is living the movie, its so obvious that he is acting and acting badly. and for Heather Graham what she was doing???? is she a part of the movie? she was in a different movie. what i mean if she wasn'the in the movie no one will notice. in the end i've wasted my time watching such an awful movie it was so bad and i hope if i can delete it from my memory THE MOVIE WAS A GREAT WASTE OF TIME

Genetically modified

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 26 May 2019]

There is something cloyingly derivative about Ramin Bahrani's At Any Price. It should not work but sincere performances from Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid push it over the line.

The film is set in farming country, the heartland of Iowa. Quaid plays Henry Whipple a farmer and GM seed salesman. The farm has been in the family for generations. However his eldest son has left home to travel and climb mountains. He might be running away from his father.

The rebellious youngest son Dean played by Efron wants to be a race driver. His way of getting away from his father.

Henry has problems as well. He is having an affair that his wife is aware of and he has not connected with his children. He constantly needs to expand his farm to stay ahead of the competition. He is losing customers for his seeds to a rival.

Quaid starts off Henry as shallow and insincere. As the film progresses his character realises the error of his ways and grows up fast.

Bahrani has likened the film to Death of a Salesman. Henry is a man always in a race to stay ahead.

Shitty movie!

[wdia1948 · 1/10 · 26 October 2013]

Holy corn-waste. What a depressing movie. Seriously, staring at corn grow for 2 hours would have been more entertaining. If you value your time, and aren't looking for inspirational material for suicide, go somewhere else. Seriously, the only thing this movie inspired me to do is write this review, maybe it will save a life. Spoiler alert, in the end everybody loses, nobody gets what they want, they're all miserable, nobody learned a lesson, a killer gets to walk free and the only person that has any value is that kid that we saw for 5 seconds in the exposition whose main achievement was never coming back home to miserable Iowa.

Sons of the Soil.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 24 March 2015]

Finally, an adult story about family conflicts and business. Sounds dull, doesn't it. But this is dull in the way "All My Sons" was dull, which is to say not so dull at all if you don't mind the absence of gore.

Dennis Quaid is a farmer and popular seed salesman in Iowa's corn country. He has a lovely, understanding wife (Dickens), a rebellious son (Efron)given to stock car racing, and an errant son given to climbing high mountains somewhere in South America.

The kids evidently don't want any part of farming, which is a constant source of sadness for Quaid. Everything for the family, you know, and his family has been tilling the same soil for four generations.

Efron seems to be a winner on the stock car circuit and Quaid applauds him but one day, on the verge of greater success, Efron takes his foot off the pedal and rolls slowly along the track. He loses his franchise or whatever it is you lose when your sponsor withdraws support.

And here the story is derailed. Efron is a handsome kid, I guess, because he looks a bit like Rob Lowe who is, I'm told, handsome. That he can't act is something of a hindrance but he doesn't really have that many lines. His main job is to stare intensely and he carries it off with aplomb.

But after losing that important race, when Quaid tries to cheer Efron up -- "You ran a great race, son" -- Efron glowers and explains, "I was only in those cars to get away from you." I think we can all understand that. In fact, we could have understood it without its having been said, but let it pass. What goes wrong is that Efron switches from abjuring his father and everything his father stands for, to being even more zealous about the farm and its prospering than Quaid himself ever was. Efron kills the son of a rival seed peddler.

Quaid is complicit. Instead of calling the police, he and Efron get rid of the body. A good scene follows the symbolic funeral for the boy who has disappeared, in which a guilt-ridden Quaid offers part of his farm to the dead boy's father. Condolence is one thing, but "this is business" replies Clancy Brown, doing a good job as Quaid's rival. That aspect of the tale had potential. There are echoes of "Crime and Punishment" and "The Informer." But it's not followed up.

Others have commented that Quaid gives the best performance of his career but I've always thought he brings something original to almost all the roles he's given. Dickens is quietly effective too. So is Maika Monroe, who sounds like a valley girl and looks like Chloe Sevigny. Efron should find a rewarding career in some TV series.

The direction is unusual in that there is a near absence of instantaneous cutting, of electronic percussion, and of reveling in violence. Bahrani doesn't seem to like drawn-out transitions between scenes. No sooner does a character say, "Why don't we go to --", than, BANG, they're speeding to the goal along Iowa's desperately lonely cornscape.

It's a decent movie, overall, made for adults.

Hollywood misses the heartland again

[BigJohnPilgrim · 1/10 · 7 October 2014]

Hollywood has never been able to get the heartland right. Every time they try, it's an unnatural mating. The script is unrealistic, the acting is forced, they just don't know real America well enough to even fake it halfway realistically.

This film has every cringe-worthy moment - a father whose character overacts in a way that nobody acts in real life and who talks about mechanical stuff like he doesn't know his way around a wrench even though he runs a farm; a son who hates his dad for unknown reasons supposedly because his dad wants the son to continue the family farm (why be angry about it?); simulated sex in a grain silo that feels more like something nasty on a Hollywood back street than a Midwestern farm, a girl who hangs out at the farm supposedly because she likes the son but hangs out with the dad more than the son. Nothing makes sense and the script is out of whack and the acting is awful. Big fat zero.

Intense Drama by Bahrani

[larrys3 · 8/10 · 28 August 2013]

Let me begin by saying that I'm a huge fan of the director Ramin Bahrani, who also co-wrote this film with Hallie Elizabeth Newton. I thought 3 of his previous films were brilliant-"Goodbye Solo", "Chop Shop", and "Man Push Cart". In this latest movie, he presents an intense drama played out in the farm heartland of America.

Dennis Quaid is superb as Henry Whipple, a rather smarmy, passive- aggressive owner of a huge and prosperous farm in Churdan, Iowa. He's extremely proud to be the latest in his family to run the farm passed down through four generations. He wants to pass it along to either of his two sons, preferably to Grant, the eldest, or to Dean the youngest. However, they have little interest in the farm, with Grant climbing mountains in Argentina while Dean, ably portrayed by Zac Efron, wants to be a NASCAR driver, after some success at local dirt tracks.

Henry is under a lot of pressure to maintain his status. His father Cliif (Red West), despite being retired, is quite controlling and always pushing Henry to make sure nothing goes wrong with the family business and their heritage. Also, a rival grain salesman Jim Johnson, well portrayed by Clancy Brown, is having success "turning" Henry's customers to his side. Finally, a whistleblower has alerted investigators that Henry may be involved in illegal activities, by cleaning and re-selling GMO's (genetically modified seeds).

All of this pressure will bring great strain on Henry's family, eventually leading to dramatic and tragic consequences for all concerned.

There's lots of strong performances in supporting roles. Maika Monroe, as Cadence Farrow, Dean's sweet and sharp witted girlfriend, has excellent screen charisma and could be a young star in the making. Kim Dickens is also solid in her performance as Irene Whipple, Henry's perhaps too patient and loving wife. Finally , Heather Graham adds to the mix as Meredith Crown, Henry's long time mistress.

I thought Bahrani captured the feel of the Iowan farm community quite well in the movie. I believe the film received lukewarm reviews, but, as mentioned, I found it to be an engrossing intense drama. I also thought the ending was true to the nature of the film and not a cop out, although I could see how others may not take it that way.

No comeuppance for the Whipples

[Little_Tyke · 6/10 · 20 October 2021]

This film left me with a sour taste as we watch a family of shysters get away with conning their fellow local farmers and a huge chemical company. The younger son is willing to break the rules, even the law, as is the father and the mother in due course, who help to cover up the manslaughter of a local farmer's son. The only member of this godforsaken family who ends up with a relatively clean slate is the elder son, who spends almost the entire movie off camera as he climbs mountains in Argentina. Nevertheless, even he must have known that his father had been a snakeoil salesman all his life. Perhaps he left not just to climb mountains far, far away, but to be rid of the crokked taint of his family and the temptations to join in if he had stayed. The movie ends with no punitive outcome for the family whatsoever as they celebrate another annual Whipple neighbourly get-together with food and dancing.

I've given the movie 6/10, because the cinematography is superb. You can practically feel the wind on your cheeks as you stand metaphorically at the edge of a huge field of growing corn. Oh, and also for the delectable young missy played by the very cute Maika Monroe.

Worst movie I have EVER seen

[pcpersons2 · 1/10 · 8 October 2013]

I didn't have anything to watch so I went to Video on Demand, that was the worst mistake I have ever made. First of all, the trailers show the whole movie that had any good parts. I was completely grossed out by Dennis Quaid getting it on with a girl more than half his age. The noises...OMG it took about 3 weeks to get that thought out of my head. Then it was so unbelievable when Zac Efron's character killed someone and they just buried the body and went on with their lives. For real? It reminded me of 'Unfaithful' where Richard Gere's character hits the guy and he is dead and he hides his body. The same concept. It was short, but that was probably the best thing about it. The way it ended was just plain stupid. No one came clean about the death, they just brushed it off. Stupid movie.