BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

tribalmama I'll start by saying that I had not read the book. Having nothing to compare the movie to, I enjoyed it very much. I was particularly captivated by Nick Nolte's portrayal and thought he was very good as a man emotionally crippled by his past. I felt he portrayed very well indeed, the many ways men deal with the suppression that they experience when trying to express emotions. We knew there was something wrong under the surface. I kept rooting for him to break through that wall. When he did, it was powerful.I think Barbara is an incredible woman who deserves credit for the whole scope of her talents and convictions. I thought she played her character with subtlety, not trying to pull the spotlight on to herself. Kudos to her for being persistent in her efforts to further women in the industry.

Mere Humsafar This is one of those few movies which does not take you to a climax, but leaves you completely and purely satisfied.. The movie flows like a river, quiet, serene.. but never permitting you to forget its turbulent agitated sources..The movie shows many facets of unhappiness.. almost every character in the movie is unhappy..Tom, Sally, Lila, Savannah,Susan, Jason and even the very successful Herbert..Each one of them knows that he or she is unhappy, but does not know how to be happy.. It happens to most of us and that is what is appealing about the movie..Nick Nolte is absolutely amazing as the unhappy 'Southerener' who does not cry over personal tragedies.. Performances of Blythe Danner and Kate Nelligan as Sallie and Lila respectively are commendable..The movie certainly deserved better Oscar treatment..

gifford86 Spanish moss dripping from the branches of the live oak trees, dark and brooding tide pools of brackish water, love and hate intermingled, deep, abiding secrets shared and forgotten, Tom Wingo (name like unto Tom Wingfield of "The Glass Menagerie"), quintessential Southern boy/man. Brother Luke and sister Savannah, a mother named Lila, a brutal father, Henry. Terror and shame intertwining to paralyze and shock, murder covered over like South Carolina soil covered over the bodies, psyches being explored, wrung out, hung out to dry, love healing as it crucifies. Christ repeatedly crucified, but the only mention of his name is a curse. Symbolism abounding: violin vs. football, Southern life vs. Northern life, Jewish mother, Southern mother, children playing, laughing, crying, hurting, adults playing, laughing, crying, hurting. Oh, God, where were YOU in all of this?

strainj1 I know it is a cliché, but as someone who read and loved the book, I find the movie to be an utter failure. Nolte does a fine job, but the 650 pg. novel is condensed down to 2 hours. This causes a lack of the subtlety and forshadowing which make the novel truly great. The focus is all wrong. Instead of focusing on the Wingo family and the telling of it's history, which in turn nurtures both Tom and Savannah back to peace and health, the focus is on the short relationship between Susan and Tom. This is not what the book had in mind at all. Thus key important figures in the novel, Savannah, Luke, Henry, and Lila, are glanced over. With Luke, perhaps the major protagonist of the novel barely being mentioned. Other important figures, like Amos and Tolitha are not mentioned at all. Instead of beautiful well crafted novel, in which nature, family, and the southern way of life are explored, and admired. We are left with a cliché romantic drama, with only two real characters. I know Pat Conroy received credit as the screen-writer, but I have to believe that this wonderful story was either butchered by Streisand in the director's chair or in the editing room. I really expected great things from this movie after reading the book, but it hits all of the high points with none of resonance of it's source. 3 out of 10 stars.