Mighty Fine

Mighty Fine is a 2012 American feature film.^[1]

Synopsis

In the 1970s, Joe Fine, a Jewish American businessman from Brooklyn, New York, moves his wife Stella and his two daughters, Natalie and Maddie to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he has relocated his textile factory, in order to try to save it due to the decline of the textile industry.^[1] The cost of living is lower in the South and he can avoid travel, but he proceeds to live beyond his means including large extravagances. When a big investor decides to pull out of the deal,^[1] he takes a loan from the local mob. Joe has always suffered from anger management issues, but now stress is leading to depression and emotionally lashing out at his wife and daughters. He sees a psychologist upon his wife's urging, but he assures him that he is fine and his wife must be unduly concerned, because she is a Holocaust survivor. However, after he attempts to commit suicide, his wife pushes the panic button that Joe himself had installed, the police come and send him to a psychiatric hospital to deal with his anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, his younger daughter Natalie, who is the narrator of the story and suffers from a fear of public speaking, slowly learns to move on, and wins a US$500-poetry competition sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company. Eventually, she sees her father again when he has recovered from stress.

Cast

• Chazz Palminteri as Joe Fine
• Andie MacDowell as Stella Fine
• Jodelle Ferland as Natalie Fine
• Rainey Qualley as Madie Fine
• Paul Ben-Victor as Bobby
• Arthur J. Nascarella as Lennie
• Richard Kohnke as Earl
• Kent Jude Bernard as Louie
• Monica Acosta as Elvis Concert Goer
• Erin Booth as High School Student
• Beau Brasseaux as Restaurant customer (as Beau Brasso)
• Edward J. Clare as Patient
• Rebecca Collins as High school student
• Miles Doleac as Mr. Smith
• Ron Flagge as Sam
• Emily D. Haley as Auditions Member
• Lee Hardee as Southern Boy
• Cynthia LeBlanc as Hospital Patient
• Elton LeBlanc as Hospital Patient
• Ann McKenzie as Poetry Contest Judge
• Joseph Meissner as Veterinarian
• Melody Noel as High school student
• Geraldine Singer as Gracie
• Lauren Rae Sullivan as High School Student
• Brandon Teir as Buddy the Family Dog
• Stefan Terrell as Store Clerk
• Lloyd Watts as Man on Car
• Todd Williams as Boris
• John T. Wilson Jr. as Wiseguy
• Ganeane Garafalo as Narrator

Critical reception

The film received a rating of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes.^[1] The Hollywood Reporter gave a scathing review, suggesting it stood "a slim chance of carving out much of a niche from an anticipated Memorial Day weekend limited release."^[2] The Los Angeles Times published a similarly bad review, adding Andie McDowell seemed "so constricted by her awkward Polish accent and timid persona that she tends to disappear in front of us." It should be noted that Gary Goldstein (The Los Angeles times movie critic) worked with director Debbie Goodstein as a teacher at Writers Boot Camp in the early 90's, and was never able to get his own film off the ground.^[3] The New York Times gave the film a notably positive review Stephen Holden wrote "Mighty Fine is an incisive portrait of an insecure, manic-depressive tyrant that Mr. Palminteri makes entirely believable."^[4] The Film also won best in show (first place) in Toronto's female eye film festival. Kyle Smith of the New York Post also gave the film a positive review writing, "Mighty Fine" has some quiet charms."

References