No Looking Back (1998)

Overrated and overhyped

Memorable, crazy movie

Great Film overall

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The main feeling I had towards the girl's central problem here was... one of total indifference. You see, she has to pick between between two specimens of manhood: The 'Mr Reliable But Boring' who she's been shacked up with for a few years... or her ex, 'The Rebel' who let her down badly once, but has just come roaring back into town. All of these thinly-written protagonists failed to hold my attention for very long, and by the time the oh-so-clichéd ending arrived, I was already preparing supper.Lauren Holly, last seen by me showing off her butt in Dumb & Dumber is a babe... but an utterly bland lead who's choices were as inconsistent as she is dull. As for her potential love interests, one is a rock star in real life (I wouldn't be too pleased as a fan to find out Bon Jovi's latest album was delayed because of THIS) and the other is Edward Burns... the director/writer of this feature. He perfectly masters the art of mediocrity is all his various assignments. Well done, that man.I literally have nothing else to say. Bye for now. 5/10

Overall, a very worthwhile film. Exciting,,no. It was a dialogue-based character study or writer-driven movie with a good deal of realism.If you like to watch real people live their lives with a relevant soundtrack in the background and a problem, conflict, and resolution all wrapped up within a couple of hours, then you will enjoy this film.Ed Burns, a small town drifter returns to his hometown, consequently jars the lives of the people he left behind and his own, conflicts and reflection ensue, catharsis sets in, and resolution concludes.Lauren Holly gives an Oscar-worthy performance in this small film. From the beginning and throughout, we feel her angst, her joys, her fears as if they were our own. No small feat for any actor.It could have been much more effective however if burns had written in some scenes where characters would give some meaty speeches about the morality of their decisions and lifestyles. Clearly the Burns character was bordering on amoral, so other characters should have schooled him with some passionate sense of justice. This was implied several times, but never really made an impact.Of course the types of people who live in sleepy blue collar towns don't necessarily make a practice of giving impassioned morality speeches, but presumably someone in town was a churchgoer.

I was surprised at Jon Bon Jovi performance in this movie, apparently (and this is mean) he plays second roles better than leading parts. I liked him much better in the little appearances he has on this movie, specially the breakup scene, than for e.g., all of his performance in Vampires (altough the movie was OK for a Sunday afternoon, you won't remember it afterwards). A friend of mine even said "Michael" didn't seem like a romantic man (!?). The best thing in the entire movie is of course the girl. I liked the way she could play out the inner doubts the character was going through. The nerdo she was supposed to run away with was very good at being annoying.

I liked this movie, I really did. It is one of the only roles I have ever like Lauren Holly in. She looks fresh and young in a movie where everything else looks barren and destitute. Take for instance the smoking mother. She looks like death warmed over. Okay, and why must they make Edward Burns go this entire movie without washing his hair? I know that he is supposed to act like a slime ball, but must he LOOK like one? Nevertheless, I still found myself liking him. You just can't help but love that New York attitude and indifference that he exudes so gorgeously. And Jon Bon Jovi! I am glad that Hollywood is giving him a fair shake at acting instead of criticizing his cross over like every other musician/actor. Without a doubt, Jon has a gift for acting. I have seen him in other movies that have further supported my opinion on this. My recommendation, own this movie, just don't watch it with someone you don't really love or it may make you realize just how much you want to get in the car and drive, too. Vaya con dios.