The Hawk is Dying

Paul Giamatti stars as an emotionally bottled-up man who channels his guilt and grief into falconry in this American indie drama from Julian Goldberger ("Trans"), adapted from the novel by Harry Crews. The lonely and withdrawn auto upholsterer lives with his garrulous sister (Rusty Schwimmer) and serves as a father figure to his mentally challenged nephew (Michael Pitt), until a tragic accident drives him even more obsessively into a battle of wills with a wild, red-tailed hawk he's determined to tame and train. Michelle Williams plays a college stoner and passive sort-of girlfriend; Robert Wisdom and Ann Wedgeworth also co-star. The DVD features commentary by Goldberger and Giamatti, deleted scenes, an interview with author Harry Crews and featurettes.