Movie Review #1

I’m not going to apologize for yesterday’s blog.  I realize, upon further review, that it was filled with much bitterness and had an odor of crankiness to it, but hey, it was about this winter.

Today’s blog will be the first of many about movies.  In particular, movies I have seen and can review for you, in the event you haven’t already seen them.

As with today’s review, these will seldom be newer movies, as they put out about only 3 or 4 decent films a year, where there aren’t 100 explosions or mutilations.  If you’re under 40, chances are you might be better served shutting off your TV and hitting up “You Tube” for the latest videos of dogs with three legs who befriend cats with two legs.

So, feeling like I did yesterday, battling the flu, when work was over I pulled out a blanket, made a cup of hot chocolate and sat for two hours uninterrupted to give myself a boost.

“Nobody’s Fool” opened in 1994, starring the late, great Paul Newman, who was nominated for Best Actor, along with Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith and Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Along with them a company of supporting players all of whom fit like a pair of old shoes into this adaptation of the novel by author Richard Russo. 

Taking place in upstate New York, Newman’s Donald “Sully” Sullivan, sixty and nearly broke, is thrust back into a relationship with his adult son and young grandson, neither of whom he has seen in many years.  Newman’s performance is subtle and real.  A genuine movie star playing an everyday man, the type we have in every small town across the country.  He displays wit, sarcasm and humility.  When his landlady, played by Tandy, urges him to, “Hurry up”, in a situation of crisis, Newman responds with, “I am hurrying…it just looks like slow motion”.

This is one of my, “go to” movies, whenever life is beating the crap out of me.  Whether it becomes one of your favorites or not, here is one guarantee.  When the two hours are over, you’ll feel a hell of a lot better than when the movie started.  And if you don’t, you may be beyond all hope.

I hate to seem to be constantly dumping on today’s youth, but in the era of immediate news, pop ups and the like, the story simply might be too slow for you.  It is about humor, it is about dialogue, it is about relationships, good and bad.  It is touching, funny and very human.

If you’ve already seen it, watch it again, and it you’ve never seen it, give it a try.  And let me know your thoughts afterwards.  Try your best to watch it away from your phone or your computer if at all possible.

As previously mentioned, the movie is based on a novel by author Richard Russo.  Just a couple of years ago Russo penned a sequel, “Everybody’s Fool”, bringing back many of the original characters.  It is unfortunate that so many of these accomplished actors are no longer with us, but when you read the new book, you can envision Newman, speaking the line, still in character.  A tremendous bonus.

Russo also wrote, “Empire Falls”, a two part mini-series on HBO, that came out a few years back, in which Newman had a supporting role and for which he won an Emmy, starring Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and Joanne Woodward, Newman’s wife.  Hoffman was also in this one, in a much more sympathetic role.  If you like, “Nobody’s Fool”, you’ll love that.  Happy viewing.