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That Evening Sun Stars: Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon, Walton Goggins, Mia Wasikowska, Carrie Preston, Barry Corbin and Dixie Carter Director/Scriptwriter: Scott Teems (based on William Gay’s play “I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down”) Composer: Michael Penn Cinematographer: Rodney Taylor Dogwood Entertainment Rating: PG 13 for themed material and violence Running Length: 108 minutes Just lay it on the table right away. That Evening Sun is a tour de force for 80-plus actor Hal Holbrook. Plus, the scenes with Holbrook and his real-life wife, Dixie Carter (who plays his deceased wife in the film) are full of intensity and warmth. That is the most warmth you get from Holbrook’s character, Abner, who is a crusty, elderly man and absolutely won’t give up or give in. Here is the aging process shown in a final fight for the term "last man standing." This is one of those scripts that has few words, so the actors let body language work for them, plus the cinematography by Rodney Taylor is almost another actor in the film. The story begins with Abner getting out of a taxi by a farm home. He has signed himself out of a retirement home and gone back to his farm. Although, it isn’t really his anymore, as it has been rented to a family of three, and they are people Abner just plain doesn’t like. Actually, there are few people he does like, anyway. Abner manipulates the situation so he has to stay the night (no phone to call for another cab), and bunks down in a tenant shack at the edge of the property. Through the days and weeks that follow, Abner continues to live there as he harasses the tenant, Lonzo (Ray McKinnon) and the escalation builds toward a confrontation. Abner doesn’t have a car, but can walk to the next farm where his friend (Barry Corbin) listens to his complaints and loans him a truck. Lonzo, when drinking, has a tendency to try to beat up and wife and daughter. Abner steps in and a civil war is beginning, with each side having their tactics. Caught in the middle are the wife who tries to keep the peace and the daughter who begins to see there is another life away from this farm. At night, in his little shack, Abner dreams of his late wife and the life he used to have. Walton Goggins (The Shield) plays Abner’s son from whom he is estranged. Lonzo keeps waiting for Abner to just plain have a heart attack and die while Abner just won’t let that happen. That Evening Sun is beautifully photographed and makes the countryside look pleasant on a summer day. Underneath the pleasantness, though, is an undercurrent of regret, on both sides of the Abner/Lonzo issue, and it is bitterness and mourning for lives that could have gone different ways. Both men are afraid to let their emotions go for fear of getting into trouble. Abner resorts to solitude and Lonzo to alcohol. When the confrontations come (and there are more than one), the results are surprising. Hal Holbrook, who will be remembered as Mark Twain, is quietly effective here. The two actors, Holbrook and McKinnon, hold their own against each other. Walton Goggins may not be recognizable for fans of The Shield, as here he is a quiet attorney, the opposite of his father. I found That Evening Sun to be a well-put together film. The advice given to the two opponents, Abner (from his friend, Barry Corbin) and Lonzo (from his wife) help to move the story along and temper particular occasions. Each person has their story and you can figure them out, not by excessive dialogue, but by simple phrases and body language. Director Scott Teems succeeds well with this cast. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner 
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