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Kathleen Turner, Tommy Lee Jones, Asha Menina, Shiloh Strong, Esther Rolle ... see more see more... , Park Overall , Michael Horse , Anne Pitoniak , John Bennes , Joaquín Martínez , Nick Searcy , Mali Finn , John Henderson , Jacqueline Cassell , Craig Fuller , Rick Marshall

In Michael Lessac's lugubrious House of Cards, women's intuition beats out psychology in the battle against autism. The story begins in Mexico, where a little girl named Sally Matthews (Asha Menina) l... read more read more...ives with her parents, scientists studying ancient ruins. When her father falls to his death, Sally is comforted by a Mayan mystic that tells Sally her father has gone to the moon. When Sally, her mother Ruth (Kathleen Turner), and her brother Michael (Shiloh Strong) return home to North Carolina, Sally begins to retreat into autism. She first stares silently at the night sky. Then she shrieks when Ruth wears a baseball cap the wrong way. Finally she develops the habit of scaling the roof of the house and other tall structures. This makes Ruth realize that there is something seriously wrong, and she takes her to see Dr. Jacob Beerlander, a psychiatrist who is an expert in autism. As Sally retreats more and more into herself, Beerlander and Ruth clash over the scientific approach versus the intuition of a mother. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

3,984 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

8 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Michael Lessac

Release Date: June 1, 1992

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DVD Release Date: March 2, 1999

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Stats: 119 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (119)

  • dreamfaeries
    November 2, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Sweet film.
  • bcavros
    September 11, 2010
    bcavros
    I like this movie on a multitude of levels. Mainly I love Kathleen Turner in one of here best roles ever. She plays a talented architect and single mother tying to balance her passion for her work with her passion for her daughter and son and the loss of her husband. Her husband ... read morestudied Maya tribes in South America and had accidentally died while investigating these tribes. She has a teenage son and a 5 year daughter. Her daughter at five is exceptional. Speaks several languages and shows other signs of brilliance and traveled with her father when not in school. The daughter is the focus of the story. Kathleen internalizes here own feeling about the loss of her husband and is not able to supply the need closure and support for her daughter who takes after her late husband. Her daughter becomes increasingly distant at school and eventually enters near catatonic state. The school calls in Tommy Lee Jones the school districts Social worker/psychologist. After his initial assessment he diagnoses her as autistic and Kathleen disagrees. Jones threatens to remove her into protective custody. Its nice to see Jones as something not related to law enforcement. Anymore plot would be a spoiler, suffice to say some people take exceptionally long paths to reach the short distance and effort to bridge the distance between two hearts. Seen it ten plus times and its still good for a good cry. Sorry to the people who thought this movie had anything to do with Autism. I?ve done volunteer work with autistic children and this movie has nothing even vaguely to do with autism. In addition, it is amazing how good of a movie can be made with minimal production costs
  • iloveoz
    September 14, 2007
    iloveoz
    Very good. The kid screaming didn't do anything for me but it was a real good, feel good movie. As always, Tommy Lee Jones is incredible.
  • elmo2272
    June 3, 2007
    elmo2272
    Very interesting on house the little girl builds the house of cards and how the mother helps her as the little girl won't talk due to some tragic happenings.
  • fyrflyes
    March 18, 2007
    fyrflyes
    This movie is awesome and touches a part of you you didn't realize existed in your conscience mind - that was my experience. For me it's a truism that touches on milestones in my own life.

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Critic Reviews

Clint Morris
March 23, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Two-grand performances

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
July 12, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A stunning and compelling exploration of the power of the imaginal world--the nonverbal realm of dreams and imagery. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
April 3, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

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Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

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Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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Emanuel Levy
June 16, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Robin Clifford
November 19, 2004
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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