Tender Mercies

Rating:
Summary: As close to perfection as movies ever get.
Review: "Tender Mercies" proves beyond doubt that Americans can make movies the way Europeans do, and still make them unmistakably American. Sure, the director, Bruce Beresford, is Australian, but screenwriter Horton Foote and star Robert Duvall--both of whom won richly deserved Oscars--root this movie firmly in Texas soil. As Mac Sledge, an alcoholic country singer trying to rebuild his life and career, Duvall gives a performance of astounding complexity and emotional impact, all the more astounding because of its laconic spareness. It ranks as one of the greatest performances ever given by an American actor. He is nearly matched by Tess Harper as his new wife and Ellen Barkin as his daughter from his first marriage, and Russell Boyd's photography captures the Texas prairie in all its stark, lonesome beauty. Two other performances that deserve praise are those of Betty Buckley as Mac's country-star first wife--a woman who has let paranoia and resentment take over her life--and Allan Hubbard as Mac's stepson, a resoundingly normal, likable kid. Don't come to this movie looking for slam-bang action--it's a quiet, gentle slice of life, brimming with poignant emotion, filled with love and respect for its characters and their way of life.

Rating:
Summary: As close to perfection as movies ever get.
Review: "Tender Mercies" proves beyond doubt that Americans can make movies the way Europeans do, and still make them unmistakably American. Sure, the director, Bruce Beresford, is Australian, but screenwriter Horton Foote and star Robert Duvall--both of whom won richly deserved Oscars--root this movie firmly in Texas soil. As Mac Sledge, an alcoholic country singer trying to rebuild his life and career, Duvall gives a performance of astounding complexity and emotional impact, all the more astounding because of its laconic spareness. It ranks as one of the greatest performances ever given by an American actor. He is nearly matched by Tess Harper as his new wife and Ellen Barkin as his daughter from his first marriage, and Russell Boyd's photography captures the Texas prairie in all its stark, lonesome beauty. Two other performances that deserve praise are those of Betty Buckley as Mac's country-star first wife--a woman who has let paranoia and resentment take over her life--and Allan Hubbard as Mac's stepson, a resoundingly normal, likable kid. Don't come to this movie looking for slam-bang action--it's a quiet, gentle slice of life, brimming with poignant emotion, filled with love and respect for its characters and their way of life.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent film
Review: A masterful piece of work--interesting country-western, Texan backdrop and music, great ensemble acting; Duvall and others at their best. How shocking to find a film with transcendent, resonant qualities that can outlast your Milk Dud buzz. I'm increasingly convinced that Duvall is the only sane quality actor left in Hollywood. Well . . . he has turned up in some real [garbage] (Gone in Sixty Seconds), but he always goes for the gusto, and it's simply outrageous the lengths he had to go to get his masterpiece 'The Apostle' staffed and bankrolled. Despite serving in an industry in which people like Madonna and Eddie Murphy are generously allowed to pollute movie theaters worldwide, Duvall continues to do his duty as an American. Those hack writers in Tinseltown can't kiss his dirty boots.

Rating:
Summary: Beware: not Dolby Surround but mono!
Review: Although advertised and even marked on the box as Dolby Sourround 2.0 the only audio track on this DVD is Dolby Digital 1.0 MONO! And a bad monaural sound at that. There are no subtitles or any extras at all, either. The picture seriously lacks detail and sharpness. All this is a crying shame because the film is a masterpiece, truly Robert Duvall's labor of love. He actually sang most of the songs, too (too bad this DVD is in mono!) and deservedly won the Academy Award for his performance. As great as the movie is (if you like country music), the only good thing about the DVD edition is that the transfer is anamorphic.

Rating:
Summary: A touching movie about second chances...
Review: As I begin to type this review, I am not surprised that only one other has been written. Although this film was nominated for the Academy award for Best Picture of 1983...it was not a box office hit. Most people I discuss films with have never seen it.

I love good movies and see most worth seeing. TENDER MERCIES is my favorite of all time. It speaks to the complexities of human relationships and the sweetness of second chances.

It is profound in its simplicity.

I have just ordered a copy to keep and will enjoy sharing it.

Rating:
Summary: QUIET PERFECTION
Review: Box office wise, TENDER MERCIES, sounded like a pebble dropped in the ocean, but this is a cherished film among those who appreciate quiet perfection. The simplicity of this film is its lasting fame. But this was also Duvall's hour of glory and the Academy rightfully gave him his Best Actor Oscar (1983) in what had to be a runaway vote. Best Song nominee, "Over You" still launches my heart into my throat.

Rating:
Summary: Subtle with Upper-case Letters
Review: Each reviewer has mentioned just how "joined" each scene is, and how subtle the various messages of each of these scenes are. So SUBTLE, in fact, that no one -- to my knowledge -- has ever noticed the subtlety in the second-to-last scene wherein Robert Duvall is hoeing the garden, reflecting (with a fair amount of frustration) about God's intentions. Pay close attention to Tess Harper. If you still haven't figured it out, email me at [e-mail] and I'll clue you in. It suggests that a scene was cut from the final edit that might satisfy anyone who had wished for closure in this excellent movie about humanity.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: First of all Duvall's best work was Lonesome Dove hands down. However this movie ranks right up near the top of the list. It is a simple story void of twist and turns. It is about a recovering alcohalic and how he puts his life back together. Even more it is the story of every person. We can all relate to being beaten down. We have all been close to giving up. However, in the end we see that life goes on. There is no illusion of a "happyily ever after". (You kind of wish the movie would go on at the end). You know that they will continue to have struggles, but more importantly, you also see that life goes on.

Rating:
Summary: a must see!
Review: I agree with the fact that this film was not a box-office blockbuster but it was just as well because when I saw it the theater was not filled which is the way I like it. In any case, I bought the DVD and watch it over and over. Duvall's singing was a surprise, not as good as Sissy Spacek's in Coal Miner's Daughter, but good enough for a small Texas bar. Another movie that I compare this to was Murphy's Romance with Sally Field and James Garner (Garner was nominated for an Oscar, I believe, the same year as Harrison Ford in Witness and William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman.) This film has a sort of switched-roll theme on Tender Mercies with Sally Field as the down-on-her-luck woman who meets a stable, older man. Also a fantastic film as far as it's character study. See both if you can.

Rating:
Summary: Quiet, wonderful, worth seeing
Review: I am so used to the commercial-minded movies of today that every time the characters in this film would settle into a quiet moment, I would wait for someone to pull out a gun or go crazy and beat someone up. But by the end, I was comforted by the quiet, powerful way that this movie is made. Robert Duvall is fantastic, and so are all of the supporting characters. If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone considering watching this movie, it would be to relax, because this movie doesn't require you to be on your guard. It's not going to get your trust and then go crazy. That's what I found so amazing about it.