Bonneville
A superb cast can be seen in Bonneville, a story about three friends, played by Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen, who take a road trip that binds them together more closely than ever. Arvilla, played by Academy Award winner Lange) has recently lost her husband Joe after twenty years of marriage. Joe has been cremated, his ashes stored in a special urn, awaiting his wish that his ashes be scattered to the wind so he can be free. However, his wealthy daughter, Arvilla’s stepdaughter Francine (Christine Baranski) from Montecito, CA, visits Arvilla in her home that she shared with Joe in Pocatello, Idaho. She informs Arvilla that the house has been left to her and that she wants her father to “come home” for a memorial service and have his ashes buried next to her mother. When Arvilla refuses the request, Francine offers to give her the house if she will acquiesce to her wishes. At first she refuses and
Francine returns home. Arvilla is torn because she promised Joe that she would do as he wished. But realizing she has no choice, she calls Francine to tell her she will go to California with Joe’s ashes and attend the service. Her friends, Margene (Kathy Bates) and Carol (Joan Allen) offer to go with her. To their surprise, Arvilla picks them up in Joe’s vintage 1966 Bonneville convertible, drives right past the airport and tells them they are going on a road trip instead. As they detour to beautiful areas of the Southwest, they enjoy great adventures, meet exceptional people, form closer-knit friendships with each other and even discover love for Margene (Emmett played by Tom Skerritt). And of course, they end up in Santa Barbara in time for the memorial service, but not as successful a service as expected. One of the great rewards of the film is seeing the beautiful scenery as they make their way through the Southwest.