Earl Pilcher Jr. runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His birth mother's sister, Aunt T., an aged and blind matriarch, takes Earl in tow and insists that the family open up to him.
Cast
Robert Duvall
Earl Pilcher Jr.
James Earl Jones
Ray Murdock
Michael Beach
Virgil
Irma P. Hall
Aunt T.
Grace Zabriskie
Ruby
Regina Taylor
Ann
David Keith
Sonny
Xander Berkeley
Sunburned Man
Jacqueline Williams
Woman at Hospital
Mary Jackson
Carrie
Paula Marshall
Karen
Phillip Edward Van Lear
Club Manager
Meg Thalken
Doctor
Richard Lexsee
Truckjacker
James N. Harrell
Earl Pilcher Sr.
Lauren Leigh Phillips
Kindra
Ashleigh Jordan
Danielle
Saundra Quarterman
Young Aunt T.
Rufus Thomas
Tommy
Reggie Hayes
Virgil's Friend
Patrice Pitman Quinn
Willa Mae
Don James
Junior Turner
Jim Sanderson
Dr. Parks
Crystal Laws Green
Maotis
Nathan Lee Lewis
Brother Conners
Katharine Mitchell
Woman in Apartment
Willo Hausman
Waitress
J. Antonio Moon
Truckjacker
Jeri Boyle
Old Lady
Tommy Bush
Old Man
Wanda Christine
Woman at City Hall
Roy Hytower
Man at Gas Station
John Mikels
Policeman
Bernard Mixon
Birthday Husband
Paulette McDaniels
Birthday Girl
Antoine Roshell
Young Man in Car
Greg Hollimon
Man #2
Andrew Love
The Nightclub Band
Tony Brown
The Nightclub Band
Theodis Rodgers
The Nightclub Band
David Spencer
The Nightclub Band
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
Green Mill Bouncer (uncredited)
Crew
Richard Pearce
Director
Billy Bob Thornton
Writer
Tom Epperson
Writer
Mark Warner
Editor
Fred Murphy
Director of Photography
Craig Huston
First Assistant Director
Aiman A. Humaideh
Second Assistant Director
Michael Hausman
Executive Producer, Unit Production Manager
Robert Duvall
Producer
Randa Haines
Producer
Todd Black
Producer
Scott Ferguson
Associate Producer
Brad Wilson
Co-Producer
Linda DeScenna
Production Design
Gerrit Dangremond
Camera Operator
John S. Robertson
Dolly Grip
Victoria Thomas
Casting
Jason White
Extras Casting Assistant
Joe I. Tompkins
Costume Design
Alphonse Blumenthal
Chief Lighting Technician
Charles Gross
Original Music Composer
Ric McElvin
Set Decoration
Rick LeFevour
Stunt Coordinator
Morgan Michael Lewis
Key Grip
James Nedza
Art Direction
