Charlie Simms is a student at a private preparatory school who comes from a poor family. To earn the money for his flight home to Gresham, Oregon for Christmas, Charlie takes a job over Thanksgiving looking after retired U.S. Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a cantankerous middle-aged man who lives with his niece and her family.
Al Pacino
as Lt. Col. Frank Slade
Chris O'Donnell
as Charlie Simms
James Rebhorn
as Mr. Trask
Gabrielle Anwar
as Donna
Philip Seymour Hoffman
as George Willis, Jr.
Richard Venture
as W.R. Slade
Bradley Whitford
as Randy
Ron Eldard
as Officer Gore
Rochelle Oliver
as Gretchen
Margaret Eginton
as Gail
Tom Riis Farrell
as Garry
Nicholas Sadler
as Harry Havemeyer
