What's so great about it?

I know exactly how you feel. I just finished this movie and it is nothing special. All these years hearing about this movie and now........big let down. It was slow as hell and nothing much happened. It was almost like watching it in real time.

I like this movie, but I agree with most of your points.

I do, however, think the two bad guys were actually well played - to me - they both successfully injected a visceral meanness; a low-key, smoldering menace that kept tension where it needed to be.

"7.1 out of 10?? 4 1/2 out of 5?? Am I missing something? "

I gave it a 7 because of my sentimental attachment to Peter Fonda and I suspect that's why others did as well. But, at the same time, I thought Fonda was pretty much the worst actor on set. I don't blame viewers who don't care for Fonda's performance here; guess you could say he is "an acquired taste". For those who can overlook his acting shortfalls - I believe he brings a certain chemistry that, imo, makes up for it.

I just re-watched this movie for a second time (couple years apart) - and I still think there is a calm grace to this film that overcomes it's many shortfalls.

I used to pick movies apart and practically trash them when they didn't meet "my high standard", but now I realize that even some of the lowest rated films actually contain special value, "golden qualities" and this is one of those movies - for me; a PF fan.

I like the movie’s mundane realism and that it has the confidence to take its time to tell its story. The argument that it plays like a Lifetime movie or Hallmark flick presupposes that all theatrical movies HAVE to include constant unrealistic thrills and action, which obviously isn’t the case, particularly when it comes to a drama. Imagine how eye-rolling it would be if, say, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” threw in an explosion or action sequence every ten minutes. "Ulee's Gold" is a Southern Gothic drama, not a superhero or James Bond flick.

It's cut from the same cloth as “Ode to Billy Joe” (1976), “The Man in the Moon” (1991), “Sling Blade” (1996), “The Apostle” (1997) “Undertow” (2004), “Back Roads” (2018) and “The Devil All the Time” (2020). While it’s not as relentlessly downbeat & sordid as the last two, it certainly presents some of the most harrowing challenges of life in the modern world of which most viewers can relate. I definitely could.