Elvis and Anabelle (2007)

Elvis and Anabelle: Directed by Will Geiger. With Max Minghella, Blake Lively, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen. Dying after being crowned Miss Texas Rose, Anabelle comes alive just before Elvis embalms her. He does his ailing dad’s work. Anabelle later returns to the embalmer’s farm to get away from her mom and be happy.

“It takes a certain type of personality to enjoy this movie as much as I did. Melancholic yet hopeful, with a mystical yet romantic flair, this movie can really touch your heart especially if youu0026#39;re open and in the mood for your heart to be touched.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI recently watched Max Minghella in The Social Network and was slightly turned off by the person he portrays but his role in Elvis u0026amp; Anabelle gave me a totally different (positive) vibe. Some people might find him dark and unappealing but once knowing the goodness of his intentions and the kindness of his heart itu0026#39;s impossible not to like him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA whole separate review can be written about Blake Lively who is quite annoying in Gossip Girl but somehow likable at the same time and just one of those actors who you canu0026#39;t take your eyes off of. In fact I found Elvis u0026amp; Anabelle while I was looking for more titles with Lively in them.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe performance of Joe Mantegna and his relationship to the other main characters in this movie are sweet and endearing. Actually I think a lot of the amazing feeling I got by the end of the movie was due to his role in it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall – watch it if you havenu0026#39;t watched it, have no great expectations, and you might be pleasantly surprised and find yourself thinking about it for days afterwords.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s one of those movies about the small things in life that give you the most meaning. Itu0026#39;s one of those movies that make you want to live the simple life of the main characters and make you believe you will be completely satisfied with it. Worth mentioning is also the great cinematography – many beautiful scenes like fine art photographs taken by a talented photographer.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOther titles that left me with a similar hopeful and warm feeling: Waitress, The Good Girl, The Family Stone, Little Miss Sunshine.”