Alfre Woodard Movie:

		List Price: $9.98		Label: Starz / Anchor Bay Salesrank: 73778 Released: February 19, 2002
		Our Price: $59.99
		Used Price: $57.00
		MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Cross Creek Reviews:
A writers film
2008-10-28 - I adored this film. But I must confess some personal bias here--first, because I've had a crush on Peter Coyote for most of my adult life (though his role here is definitely supporting, not major), and second, because my personal life parallels what Rawlings experienced--though I came to a mountain (with a creek) to do my writing. Rip Torn's performance as Marsh Turner is just stellar--one of the best things I've ever seen him do. And Alfre Woodard 'becomes' Gee Chee in a realistic but not over-the-top portrayal of her character. Really, really lovely film.

Cross creek
2008-10-24 - OK, so the actress playing Marjorie Rawlings is not an exact character replica, but the story line follows the book pretty closely, with some minor adjustments. Great movie!

Memories of my childhood
2008-09-02 - I have long enjoyed the story of Cross Creek, but the film provided added dimension, including the magnificant scenery of Central Florida. I have lived here (South Florida) all of my life, and it is wonderful to see the flora and fauna which were so familiar to me as a child.

Entertaining Movie
2008-06-11 - The movie isnt very accurate in terms of Rawlings' life at Cross Creek, but it's good entertainment.

BETTER THAN THE YEARLING MOVIE-WHICH IS REAL GOOD ALSO
2008-06-08 - Mary Steenburgen, playing Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, should have won her own Academy Award for her performance. She also is presented in a 17 minute featurette called Cross Creek: A Look Back with Mary Steenburgen. That is a great extra included on the DVD. Rip Torn, playing a Cross Creek swamp father of a local family, and Alfre Woodard, playing Rawling's live-in housekeeper, both were nominated for best supporting roles. The entire cast makes this a pleasant story to watch.

Rawlings (this a true story) struggles with her writing ability on a backwoods orange farm bought for the seclusion. What she discovers is a group of neighborhood people that she eventually becomes a part of. Because of the Florida bayou move and leaving her husband, the stage is set for some very remarkable stories to be written. Others have mentioned "The Yearling" (1938) which won Rawlings a Pulitzer-Prize. Besides that and Cross Creek (1942) she also wrote South Moon Under, 1933; Golden Apples, 1935; When the Whipperwill, 1940; Jacob's ladder, 1950; The Sojourner, 1953; and Secret River in 1955. Because of this movie I want so much to read "Jacob's Ladder".

Hopefully someone will discover the delights in these other stories by Rawlings and create another movie version. Cross Creek ends with delight and leaving the viewer wanting more. Mary Steenburgen makes you want to visit Florida and Cross Creek for a long vacation and interaction with the folks living there. And of course, while there, to thank Marjorie Keenan Rawlings in person for her stories. The Florida setting is great and the movie is rated PG which also could represent "Pleasantly Grandiose".

Many consider the story to have a theme of "women's independence" but I feel Rawlings shows the struggle in all, men and women, for achievement and success through inner ability and desire. Truly a story for the whole family, just like The Yearling.