A Home at the End of the World (2004)

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Colin Farrell stars as a free-spirited young man who enters into a romantic triangle with a woman (Robin Wright) and his boyhood friend (Dallas Roberts). A Home at the End of the World, based on the novel by Michael Cunningham (The Hours), takes us through three decades in these characters’ lives. The first quarter of the movie shows us how Farrell’s character was shaped by his open-minded older brother and multiple tragedies that leave him an orphan. He’s adopted by his best friend’s family, with Sissy Spacek playing his adoptive mother. The film then takes us to New York City where the two boys meet Wright’s character and the triangle is formed. After she becomes pregnant, they buy a house in Woodstock and open a cafe, trying their best to make their unconventional family work.

I’m normally ambivalent about Colin Farrell, but this may be his best performance to date. He’s sympathetic and charming, making it easy to see how anyone — man or woman — would fall under his spell. While Roberts and Wright do well in their roles, their characters are more aloof and harder to figure out. While I adore the idea of people forging unconventional relationships and families, this particular threesome is a little lopsided. The two men’s relationship has the benefit of backstory, whereas their relationship with Wright’s character gets the short-shrift. Their grand experiment also suffers from intervening forces beyond their control. The third act is the least satisfying, but that doesn’t mean A Home at the End of the World won’t have an impact on you. It left me in tears.

Sissy Spacek is memorable as a housewife who is in some ways liberated by Farrell’s presence — beginning when she smokes a doobie with him and her son. Young actors Erik Smith and Harris Alan also deserve credit for playing Farrell’s and Roberts’ parts as teenagers. With Ryan Donowho and Matt Frewer. Directed by Michael Mayer.