A Little Prayer

Bill (David Strathairn) is a community leader in his southern town as a proud veteran and the owner of B & B Sheet Metal, a business he's brought his son David (Will Pullen, "Causeway") into. But when Bill witnesses David engaging in what looks like an affair with their admin Narcedalia (Dascha Polanco, "In the Heights"), he is thrown, David's wife Tammy (Jane Levy, "Don't Breathe," TV's 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist') a beloved member of he and his wife Venida's (Celia Weston) modest household. Tammy is also the only other family member who appreciates the unknown voice which raises in a gospel hymn in the early morning hours in "A Little Prayer."

Laura's Review: A-

Back in 2005, an independent gem of a movie called "Junebug" introduced us to Amy Adams. Its director, Phil Morrison, now largely a producer, followed that up with "All Is Bright" in 2013, a nice enough movie, but one that failed to live up to his prior film's promise. Now "Junebug's" writer, Angus MacLachlan, writes and directs a new feature which, while not quite on "Junebug's" level, is on the same wavelength with its southern family, a beloved daughter-in-law and uncomfortable revelations with music and art as supporting players. Celia Weston even returns as the family matriarch.

But this film is centered on Bill (David Strathairn), the patriarch who is forced to look at his son anew while witnessing his daughter, Patti (Anna Camp, "Pitch Perfect"), making the same mistakes as her young daughter Hadley (Billie Roy) acts out. It is also about his relationship with Tammy, who will define them in the film's moving closing moments as 'kindred spirits.'

The film opens on Tammy, her blonde head resting on a pillow next to her husband's. They look beautiful and blissful until the camera pulls back and we realize David isn't in bed, but on top of it fully dressed, the first indication that something isn't quite right with this marriage. The fresh faced young woman bustles in the kitchen, preparing coffee and bagged lunches, going out for a jog with Bill. Both try to locate the singer and speculate about her identity (Venida wants to call the police, calling it a public disturbance). Bill amazes Tammy by singing 'Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle,' a French Christmas carol. We can feel the comfort these two enjoy together. The same cannot be said for Bill and David, who keeps eluding Bill's efforts to talk.

Patti's surprise arrival on a Sunday throws the house into turmoil, Anna Camp giving the character an air of constant chaos. Her mother wonders why in heck she's in the yard with her metal detector, rapping on the window for Hadley to stop whacking at trees while she and Tammy prepare dinner. Patti's foul language clearly grates on her parents' ears, but they say nothing. Tammy tries to give Hadley attention. 'Am I a bad father?' a stunned and demoralized Bill asks his wife as they prepare for bed, only to get a rote answer. Bill is a deep thinker married to a woman who is not, their bond more one of longevity and companionship.

Bill will be shaken to his core over revelations about his son, leading him to issue some advice he is stunned to hear himself giving. Strathairn has created a decent and loving man who suddenly realizes these traits haven't been passed along to a troubled son and irresponsible daughter. Levy's Tammy is luminous, the backwoods innocent full of nothing but love just like Amy Adams' Ashley (if less naive). She has one long, moving soliloquy where the camera circles around her, editor Tricia Holmes only cutting away to her audience twice. Weston, who always just lives in her characters (and never seems to age!), makes Venida the type of woman who just goes along day to day without being particularly troubled about anything other than minor annoyances. Pullen is more plot device than actual character, his main contribution rejecting Bill's attempts at parenting. Polanco shares a taut scene with Strathairn, later coming more into focus with her own thematic revelation. As her 'BFF' Bethany, Ashley Shelton is notable as a drunken source of information.

MacLachlan set his film in his hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, giving it a small time feel with modest ranch homes, VFW halls and family businesses. Cinematographer Scott Miller and production designer Diana Rice ("Columbus") lend the film a soft palette, powdery baby blues predominant, the perfect shade to set off Tammy. Composer Greg Danner weds a soulful violin with a more playful piano, shades of dark leavened with light, matching the film's tone.

"A Little Prayer" is a minor miracle, a family drama that takes an important stand for women's rights.

Robin's Review: C+

David {Will Pullen) and his wife, Tammy (Jane Levy), share a home with his parents, Bill (David Strathairn) and Venida (Celia Weston). Bill suspects his son is cheating on his new wife but is at odds on how to confront his son in “A Little Prayer.”

I have a feeling that I am going to be at odds with others about “A Little Prayer.” It seems to be viewed positively and that is not what I think.

Bill owns a thriving sheet-metal business with his partner-son and every Wednesday attend the dance at the local VFW with the company employees. It becomes apparent that David has more than a casual relationship with the company receptionist, Narcedalia (Dascha Polanco). Bill, though, has a hard time with confrontation and is told “not to worry.”

Meanwhile, daughter Patti (Anna Camp) shows up at their door with young daughter Hadley (Billie Roy) in tow after leaving her meth-cooking husband. Patti is not a good person or parent and, as the story unfolds, it becomes obvious why – very bad parenting by Bill and Venida. This becomes obvious when Bill, watching his children behave very badly, asks his wife, “Am I a bad father?” I had to keep myself from shouting “Yes, you are!”

So, we have a father who is both clueless about his family’s doings and, even when he figures it out, does not know how to deal with a wife who has abdicated any responsibility for her family and two children who were raised, apparently, as selfish little prigs used to getting their way. The only saving grace to this dysfunctional family story is the outsider, daughter-in-law Terry, who is a good and kind person.

This is a slice of life story about a very dysfunctional life at its heart. It is telling that all of the players, but one, are reprehensible or, at least, totally self-absorbed. Strathairn, a fine actor, gives a solid performance as a man who thought all was well in his life, but it is not. His children are selfish and his wife has appeared to have given up caring for family. I hoped that Terry would help change things but that would be well beyond what she could possibly do.

I wonder what writer-director Angus MacLachlan was thinking in his story of family that never was really a “family.” I guess I feel bad for Bill, but not too.

Music Box Films released "A Little Prayer" in select theaters on 8/29/25.  It will be available to watch at home on 10/07/25.