'Montana Sky'
(Ashley Williams, Charlotte Ross, John Corbett, et al / DVD / NR / 2007 / Sony Pictures)
Overview: When wealthy cattleman Jack Mercy dies, he leaves his large Montana ranch to his there daughters - all half-sister and complete strangers to one another. But it turns out this mulitimillionaire has one post mortem catch before his fortune can be doled out. According to his will, the three women will only receive their inheritence under one condition: they must live together at the ranch for a full year!
DVD Verdict: Actually filmed in Calgary, this Lifetime movie adaptation of Nora Roberts' best-selling #1 book of the same name sure has some beautiful scenery behind it where it was being shot. Her Mercy Ranch was literally ringed by the magestic, snow-laced Rockies, those mountains standking strong and proud against a pure blue sky, as if they'd been etched on them.
Besides the scenery, which was impressive enough, the film tells the story of Jack Mercy, owner of the 25,000-acre Mercy Ranch, who had along the years garnered more enemies than friends. His death promises to do the same, since his will forces his three grown daughters, half-sisters and virtual strangers to one another, to live together at the Montana ranch for a year or forfeit his estate, worth up to $20 million. If any die during the year, the survivor(s) will inherit the fortune, assuming they last the 12 months.
Giving it a go are bossy Willa, part Blackfoot Indian, the only sister who lived on the ranch and is capable of running it; Tess, a sassy Hollywood scriptwriter who wants money but balks at a family reunion; and meek, divorced Lily, grateful for refuge. As the siblings settle in, someone begins committing barbaric acts against animals and then humans: Are these the random crimes of a psychopath? Or are they a devious distraction in a sinister game plan?
Roberts balances the tension and sometimes gruesome action with three romances, crackling dialogue and a snappy infusion of humor. But its truly the acting flair of such people as John Corbett, Charlotte Ross ('NYPD Blue') and Ashley Williams ('Good Morning, Miami') that make this film what it truly aspires to be. This is an unforgettable family tale of fortune, love, mystery and murder! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
Subtitles in both English and French
Language in English 5.1 (Dolby Digital)
www.SonyPictures.com