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DVD Nobody's Fool
"Worn to perfection" is the tag line promoting this crafted character study. It describes Paul Newman, the resourceful 70-year-old lead actor, but not his character, Sully, a North Bath, New York, loner who totally emulates the negative definition of the title. Newman gives a brilliant performance (Oscar-nominated and winner of two critics circle awards) relying on his well-honed subtleties. The dramatics are simple: the return of his son (Dylan Walsh) and grandson, offering a chance to reconcile; odd jobs for a construction company he's trying to sue for an injury; and a comedic grudge match against the owner (a reserved Bruce Willis). North Bath is the kind of place, wrapped in winter (beautifully shot by John Bailey), where enemies are friends, marriages are shaky, and Hawaii is only a state of mind. This "town drama" of a blue-collar America offers the patient filmgoer a rich and rewarding experience. Another small gem from writer-director Robert Benton (Places in the Heart). --Doug Thomas
If you just finished reading the book, and are just now looking for the movie, put this on your "to-do" list for next year. It's a good movie, but it is yet another example of why novels never make great feature length movies.
The good;
Most of the dialogue is lifted, almost word for word, from the book. The basic storyline is true to the book. The characters are good approximations of the characters from the book.
Can swing both ways;
The tone of the movie is generally lighter than the tone of the book. This can be good if you felt the book was too dark. Honestly though, the book, IMO, is very true to life, and does a good job of capturing the nuances and shades of pleasure and pain that real life is. The book is neither too dark or light, IMO. Sully, to me, is portrayed as being way more attractive, in many ways, than the book showed.
The bad;
Entire characters that are, IMO, essential to the development of Sully's character, are missing. The most glaring example is the absense of Sully's lover and her associated "baggage train". I also feel that much of the dialogue wound up on the cutting room floor. I feel that Richard Russo is a master of subtle dialogue, with a lead-in followed by a "punchline." Much of the lead-in is missing, so the result is the equivalent of a joke told by someone who forgot much of the lead-in, leaving the punchline flat.
Bottom line;
If you just read the book, don't watch this just now. If you hae not read the book, go ahead, it's a good movie, on its own, and the book will flesh it out afterward.
Comment;
Watched, back to back, with Empire Falls, this movie shows why it's better to do a "made for TV" movie, with 4 or more hours, than try to cram a novel into a 2 hour feature. Empire falls was a much better movie, in relation to the book, because of the extra time spent developing the characters. IMO, short stories do MUCH better as movies than novels. A shining example of this is "Stand by me" which came from Steven King's story, "The Body"
Wonderful film
Simply a beautiful character study, following blue collar Newman's existence in a small town near New York, his friends (and foes) and his family.
Newman is amazing in the lead, yet again creating a remarkable character that isn't easily forgotten. Jessica Tandy is an absolute delight in her last film, she seems to have gotten even better with age. In fact; all the cast are simply great (yes, even Melanie Griffith) and they contribute heavily to one of the most charming films in a very long time.
Wonderfully written, full of sentiment and wisdom and directed by a pro (Benton, who also made the wonderful Kramer vs. Kramer). Can't recommend this one enough.
That extra 1 or 2 percent!
Someone once said that the difference between being " Very Good " and being " GREAT " is perhaps 1 or 2 percent. Alot of people are very good, but few are great. They just don't have that extra 1 or 2 percent. This movie, and Paul Newman, have that little extra, which moves them up into the GREATNESS category. Watching Mr. Newman " act " on the screen is similar to watching any great art form. You know it's terrific, you know it's perfect, yet you don't know quite how it's done. Perhaps the reason you can't figure it out is because when Mr. Newman " acts " he somehow transforms himself into that character. You cease thinking it's Paul Newman up there, and actually believe it's "Sully ", a worn out, down on his luck man, who, while watching this movie, reminded me so much of my late father that it truly was scarey. After viewing this movie, you simply cannot fathom anyone other than Mr.Newman in that role.
The facial expressions, the pauses, the movements of Mr. Newman are the indescribable little subtleties that show why he is a movie legend.( Folks, it doesn't get any better than this).
The movie is shot in just the right town, with just the cast, and just the right emotion. In my opinion, it is one of the 10 or 15 best movies I've ever seen. It's the kind of movie that makes you feel good inside, sort of like comfort food for the soul.
In this 1982 courtroom drama written by David Mamet and directed by Sidney Lumet, Paul Newman found the perfect role for a transitional period of his stellar career. As alcoholic Boston lawyer Frank Galvin, Newman shook off his screen persona as a handsome, blue-eyed hunk to portray an aging, weary man whose best years are behind him, with a shot-glass future that looks very bleak indeed. But when Galvin is given a chance to redeem himself--by proving medical negligence in the case of a comatose woman--he makes one final effort to regain his self-respect and tarnished reputation. He's an underdog against formidable odds, facing a powerful, politically connected lawyer (James Mason, slick as ever) who will do anything to win his case, regardless of professional ethics. Further complicating... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Paul Newman - Charlotte Rampling Director(s): Sidney Lumet DVD Release Date: Released the 04 June 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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A frame-bursting roster of actors crowds this two-part HBO miniseries, which is nothing less than a look at America through the lens of a small New England town. Richard Russo adapted his own novel, a story of a gently depressed factory town that has always been run by the wealthiest family around (currently lorded over by matriarch Joanne Woodward). Ed Harris plays the central role, a decent, cautious man who runs a local diner and carefully negotiates the political niceties of Empire Falls; Paul Newman is his rapscallion of a father (the son is perpetually picking food out of Dad's beard), Helen Hunt is Harris's ex-wife, Aidan Quinn his feistier brother, and Robin Wright Penn his tragical mother seen in flashbacks.
The goal of Russo and director Fred Schepisi seems to have been... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Fred Schepisi DVD Release Date: Released the 13 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The ethics of the press are roundly slapped around in an entertaining if not always believable drama from director Sydney Pollack. Sally Field is the Miami reporter who is set up to leak information on a dead-end murder investigation. A sneaky government official (a marvelous, rubber-band-spinning Bob Balaban) provides the information that implies liquor distributor Paul Newman is under investigation. When the story runs, it uncorks a legal quagmire that puts the spotlight on presumably innocent lives. As the lawyers explain, the paper's story is accurate, even though it may be untrue. The details of the story are sharply drawn by first-time screenwriter and former reporter Kurt Luedtke (who later went on to win an Oscar scripting Pollack's Out of Africa); the film could be used... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Paul Newman - Sally Field Director(s): Sydney Pollack DVD Release Date: Released the 07 November 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Based on a Larry McMurtry novel, this Martin Ritt film was a testament to the sex appeal of the young Paul Newman. Playing the title character--a total rotter who, by the end of the film, has double-crossed or screwed over everyone he knows, including his hard-working father and brother--Newman turns him into an intriguing antihero. Things are tough on the ranch and Hud's dad (Melvyn Douglas) needs help, but Hud is too busy looking out for number one, even as things fall apart. And guess who's going to land on his feet? Beautiful black-and-white cinematography by James Wong Howe won an Oscar, as did performances by Douglas and Patricia Neal. --Marshall FineMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Paul Newman - Melvyn Douglas - Patricia Neal Director(s): Martin Ritt DVD Release Date: Released the 02 December 2003 Usually ships in 6 to 7 days
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