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DVD The Accidental Tourist
Lawrence Kasdan adapted Anne Tyler's novel into this mopey comedy which, oddly enough, took the New York Film Critics Circle's best picture award (a case of strategic voting getting out of hand). William Hurt plays a depressed travel writer struggling to come to terms with his son's death. He buys a dog for companionship, then hires an eccentric dog trainer (Geena Davis, who won an Oscar for her role) to teach it to behave. She, in turn, teaches him to reconnect to life. But as he is beginning to admit his feelings for her to himself, he is blindsided by the return of his estranged wife (Kathleen Turner), who attempts to rekindle their marriage. A muffled, low-key affair--so low-key that it sometimes seems positively stationary. --Marshall Fine
William Hurt is Macon, a travel book writer for those who'd rather stay home; he is a creature of habit and repressed feelings. His wife (Kathleen Turner) leaves him (their son has died), and Hurt mopes around, settling nicely into the void that's been created. Then he meets Muriel (Geena Davis), the single mother dog trainer/groomer, who falls for him and tries to shake him out of the doldrums. He resists, even takes up with his wife again, but Davis follows him to Europe and finally wins him there.
The major problem is with Hurt: he acts as if he's in a comatose state all the time; in the novel that this was based on (same name), he was quirky and humorously obsessive - none of that is in the movie. And it's a great loss; one wants more from him than this single dimmension only. In fact, the whole picture could do with a little messing up: it's all so refined and calculated. [Love that ending, though.]
Thought-Provoking, Slow-Paced Conflicted Romance
THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST has some of the most interesting dialogue ever heard in a film about relationships. The story begins when Macon Leary, a travel writer played by William Hurt, comes home to find his wife, Sarah, (played by Kathleen Turner) wants a divorce. This marriage has endured almost unbearable strain after the death of their only son, and Macon's coping strategy is to strive to keep things as they are. When Macon's welsh corgi becomes bad-tempered and starts to bite, Macon can't stand the thought of parting with the dog that was his son's childhood companion. Macon is forced to rely on others when he breaks his leg and moves in with his sister and brothers, and the movie really picks up momentum when he meets a sparkling divorcee dog trainer named Muriel Pritchett (played by Geena Davis). Muriel has her eyes on Macon Leary from the first moment she sees him, when she begins a long campaign to win this world-weary man over and bring joy back into his life. When Sarah finds out that Macon is seeing another woman, she has a change of heart about finalizing the divorce, and seeks a reconciliation. Macon's choice then becomes one of maintaining the status quo or navigating his way through uncertain yet exciting territories with someone new.
Both the acting and the dialogue in THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST are first-rate and highly memorable. Geena Davis steals the show with her shining performance of a quirky, life-positive divorced single mom with a single-minded interest in helping Macon Leary to become more than a reluctant sight-seer in life. My favorite line of dialogue in this dialogue-driven film is when Macon says to Sarah, "I'm beginning to think that maybe it's not just how much you love someone, maybe what matters is who you are when you're with them." I've contemplated this concept for years, and been continually inspired by it's significance.
While this film may be considered slow-moving and somewhat sad, it ultimately delivers an uplifting and inspirational message of hope.
The Armchair Traveller
William Hurt + an allstar cast star in this character study of an overly methodical divorcee and his profession on who traveling buisness men can make their trips as dull as his life is.Seen the movie?You'll understand my review then because I'll speak directly about the characters.Macon (Hurt) and his astranged wife Sarah have lost their only son to a horrible murder and have grown apart.His siblings live in a house together and live a comically over-organized life.Meanwhile Macon is pursued by his BEYOND pushy dog trainer Murial Prichett and is forced to make a serious choice-between his ex with whom his relationship is always tenative or the fresh faced (but I should point out obviously younger) Murial.He chooses the later,if only for the reason she followed him on a trip to Paris (where they end up eating at a Buger King.????).
And as pushy and quirky as she is one actually tends to relate more to Geena Davis's Murial character.Macon Leary comes off as too controlled and insensative and his wife has lost faith in the world due to her loss.The side characters include Macon's
hyper organised sister Rose and her relationship with his eccentric boss Julian (portrayed by Bil Pullman) who proceeds to eat two helpings of Rose's highly undercooked turkey at Thanksgiving.More a slightly ubsurdist character study then a comedy,seeing as nothing really romantic happens and the leading man is actually an (intentionally) pathetic individual
'The Accidental Tourist' stands out heads and tales above todays faceless comedies bogged down with mindless teen flicks and vapid 'chick flicks'.This movie had some intelligence and wittyness to it and with the exception of the wonderful movie 'Amelie' very little is being done in this vein nowadays.
Holly Hunter plays a network news producer who, much to her chagrin, finds herself falling for pretty-boy anchorman William Hurt. He is all glamour without substance and represents a hated shift from hard news toward packaged "infotainment," which Hunter despises. Completing the triangle is Albert Brooks, who provides contrast as the gifted reporter with almost no presence on camera. He carries a torch for Hunter; she sees merely a friend. Written and directed by James L. Brooks, this shows remarkable insight into the people who make television. On the surface it is about that love triangle. If you look a little deeper, however, you will see that this behind-the-scenes comedy is a very revealing look at obsessive behavior and the heightened emotions that accompany adrenaline addiction. It... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): William Hurt - Albert Brooks - Holly Hunter Director(s): James L. Brooks DVD Release Date: Released the 05 October 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Mark Medoff's tough play about deafness is sweetened and softened in this 1986 film adaptation directed by Randa Haines (Wrestling Ernest Hemingway). William Hurt plays a teacher newly hired at a school for deaf children, and Marlee Matlin is the deaf and withdrawn janitor who captures his attention. Romantic and heartfelt, the film makes its audience care very much about its two leading characters, and wince when Hurt's well-meaning instructor allows Matlin's handicap to become a problem. Haines develops some interesting visual ideas to underscore the isolation of Matlin's world, particularly a lovely refrain that finds Matlin swimming alone at night. The drama is cut somewhat by the bouncy energy and good humor of Hurt's students. Piper Laurie is very good in a supporting role as... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): William Hurt - Marlee Matlin Director(s): Randa Haines DVD Release Date: Released the 12 December 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Three Oscar-winning actresses have a go at one of playwright Beth Henley's southern-fried comedies, and cook up an agreeable gumbo. In the town of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, Diane Keaton dithers her birthday away as one sister (Jessica Lange) returns from a flopped attempt at a singing career in Hollywood, and the other sister (Sissy Spacek) languishes in jail after shooting her abusive hubby. Truth be told, all three have been a little touched in the head ever since the long-past day when their mother hanged herself along with the family cat. Bruce Beresford provides the workmanlike direction, and Sam Shepard and Tess Harper contribute supporting turns. But this one's all about the three skillful stars, who eschew showboating and defer to each other with real grace--they have the rhythms... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Diane Keaton - Jessica Lange - Sissy Spacek Director(s): Bruce Beresford DVD Release Date: Released the 03 February 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Melanie Griffith had a fling with stardom in this Mike Nichols comedy about an executive secretary (Griffith) who can't get her deserved shot at upward mobility in the brokerage industry. Hardly taken seriously by male bosses, things aren't really any better for her once she starts working for a female exec (Sigourney Weaver, never more delightful), a narcissist with a boy-toy banker (Harrison Ford) and a tendency to steal the best ideas from her underlings. When Weaver's character is laid up with a broken leg, Griffith poses as a replacement wheeler-dealer, flirting with Ford and working on a new client who doesn't suspect the deception. Nichols brings a lot of snap and sass to Kevin Wade's smart script about chafing against class restrictions and perceptions. Sundry scenes are played... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Harrison Ford - Sigourney Weaver - Melanie Griffith Director(s): Mike Nichols DVD Release Date: Released the 17 April 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Remember the outfit Cher wore to the Oscars when she won an Academy Award for her performance in this 1987 film? Ay-yi-yi. The actress' more retiring character in this infectious comedy leaps several psychological hurdles just giving her hair a permanent. But then the original screenplay by John Patrick Shanley (Joe Versus the Volcano) is a wonderful, gently satirical tale of an Italian-American family dealing with repression and dissatisfaction against a backdrop of cultural expectations. Cher is focused and funny as a widow who feels she should marry an older fellow (Danny Aiello), but then falls for his black-sheep brother (Nicolas Cage). Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia are perfect as her parents, and John Mahoney (of TV's Frasier) has a memorable, small role as a... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Norman Jewison DVD Release Date: Released the 30 June 1998 Usually ships in 24 hours
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