Antonio Banderas makes an accomplished directorial debut with this engaging mix of quirky comedy and civil rights drama that gives his partner, Melanie Griffith, her best role in years. While downtrodden housewife Lucille (Griffith) heads for Hollywood with her husband's head in a hatbox, her young nephew Peejoe (Lucas Black) becomes a key witness in the murder of a black protester. Screenwriter Mark Childress, adapting his own novel, strives to draw parallels between Lucille's quest for liberation and the broader issue of racial equality. While the contrasts don't ultimately stick, it's still fun to watch seasoned pros like Robert Wagner and Rod Steiger shine in supporting roles.

An abused wife heads to California to become a movie star while her nephew back in Alabama has to deal with a racially-motivated murder involving a corrupt sheriff.