An inordinate number of peppers

I just finished watching this and I'm surprised that I liked it as much as I did. It had a fine delicacy to it. I usually find movies with writers in them to be rather patronizing. Some sage advice from the wizened eccentric to the novice. I think what took me by surprise was the emotional brutality. Of course it was always softened by some heartfelt necessity. There was something too tragic in their lives for them to be expected to act like normal people. I understand that. I even accept it. But Jeff Bridges character was an ass. I'm sure John Irving didn't intend to redeem him. In truth, I was reluctant to see this because of Jeff Bridges. Something about him always feels too heavy handed to me. As if he is playing a character other than the one in the movie. He reminded me of Jeff Daniels in The Squid and the Whale. This had also been marketed a bit as if it were a thriller. I think audiences would have been disappointed if that was what they sought. I'd say it was well acted, delicately directed. A fine script.