moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (12/03/84)
Well, after the barren viewing experiences offered by STARMAN and AMADEUS,
this film was refreshing. Mind you, it is not a great film, and while Sally
Field's performance is excellent, the movie is probably not quite up to an
Academy Award for best picture; but its bare patches, as opposed to the the
former two films mentioned, are interesting enough to keep your attention.
If you've heard reviews of this film before, you've heard of "the Ed Harris
subplot" (discussed in the same way one describes an athletic pratfall); it
IS something that seems unnecessary in this film; but the way Benson films
it, you still pay attention, even though you proabably are wondering why.
This is because Benson understands, I think, American Imagery very well;
during the first five minutes (and the last) I noticed myself misting up --
however, the only thing appearing on the screen were images of small town
life. These images, however, were perfect for unlocking the store of
memories most Americans have of the rural U.S. -- anyone travelling through
a small town, from Alabama to Iowa to Colorado will recognize something
familiar in these pictures. And Benson uses these throughout the picture;
even the maritial chasam of the Ed Harris character (which seems trivial
compared to the events of the Sally Field character -- one wonders if Benson
felt he hadn't gotten the point across in KRAMER VS. KRAMER, and was
continuing it) has those little touches which keep one fixed upon the screen.
The ending, while not a huge culmination, was one of the most quiet, FITTING
endings I've seen in a film this year; it matches my own views of
Christianity closely, as it has the same gentle quality of mercy which I've
always felt it should. It rather reminds you of Duval's TENDER MERCIES;
understated, unflamboyant, and totally fitting. Perhaps not in the top five
of the year, but perhaps the top 10 -- certainly the top 20. If you can see
it for a bargain matinee, I would suggest it... this is a $3.00 movie you
will feel you found a bargain in.
"The voters have spoken, the bastards..."
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsrgv}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA