The story, for the most part, is an interesting modernization of the bard's tale, replete with the difficulty of coping with an aging parent, and lust for a neighboring beau. The film even imports the spectacular scene where the father fights with his daughters then hurls himself into the ravages of an angry night storm. Action, passion and drama are not lacking in A Thousand Acres. What is sadly missing, however, is a powerful moral. There is no uplifting message behind the film. The audience comes way oppressed by the sadness of the events portrayed in the film, without a discernable reason as to why they have endured it.

Indeed, the film might be dismissed in a few words, as "a drawn out tear jerker." The very fabric of the film is weighed down by the tragedy that unfolds, but the process is laborious.

I do not recommend this film for its entertainment value. Although Michelle Pfeiffer and Jessica Lange are very fine as Rose and Ginny, their powerful renditions of the abused older sisters do little to ignite this film. All said, A Thousand Acres should be tossed in the "women's picture" picture basket, with all the negative connotations such a name suggests. The film is tedious and emotionally manipulative.

Which is all a very great shame, really, because the idea of the film is excellent. Everytime I read King Lear I long to hear more from the older daughters, Goneril and Regan. They are often cast aside by harsh critics as "callous, adolescent, and nasty." We never hear the story told from their side of the coin. A Thousand Acres tries to mend that ommission. The narrator of the story is the oldest daughter, Ginny, as played by jessica Lange. She tells the tale from the point of view of herself and her sister, Rose. Rather than portraying powerful and strong Iowa women, however, the film plays the victim card, and tries to explain away all the problems of the father and the family through abuse.

A Thousand Acres is worth a look as an adaptation of King Lear, and as a springboard to explore even better adaptations of Shakespeare's tragedy. Through Lear, Shakespeare urges his audience to ponder the human condition. A Thousand Acres attains no such lofty goal.