dennismontini

What a great mosaic of characters.vI haven't seen this movie in +25 yrs.....loved watching Paul Newman in his mature role....sad to see Bruce Willis who was at the prime of his life only to see him declining today. Great movie about reflecting on one's regret but more importantly second chances and redemption. This is a low-key, slice-of-life drama, a type of film that can be deadly dull in the wrong hands but which in this case, under director Robert Benton's guidance, and aided by a fabulous script and wonderful cast, is totally engrossing. This movie has no CGI, special effects or explosions but the character development is what makes most entertaining.

Talk about life imitating art. Gleason died shortly after making this movie. While there were some funny parts the movie portrays a bit of melancholy life brings and us living a life of regret. Watching clearly shows an aging couple who lived in marriage with no love.....The aging man regrets not treating his wife better and a woman who finally has the courage to leave. Then there is Tom Hank's character.......as a child growing devoid of any fatherly love but it doesn't burn him enough that is not there for his father. The writing is rather simple, very easy to understand but the meaning behind the movie is very deep. For those of us who experienced some of the relationship hurt that is rather obvious this movie is very under rated. This is Jackie Gleason's finest last performance and anytime it's on TV I watch. A real classic and a pleasure to watch.

Why this did not get an Oscar nod for Brian Dennehy or Lucas Jaye I will never know.....I like many can relate to many of the films' life events that we lived ourselves.......it's only as we get older do we understand the importance of these life event and we do our best to instill our own lost chances and opportunities in the young ones we love.......now that I am 60+ I often ask myself where did the last 40 yrs go.....I look back and wish I could relive the road trip referenced in the movie........the young will never understand that wisdom does not come with knowledge,it come with age and the life experience we bring to it. This is Brian Dennehy at his utmost best. Thank you for a beautiful movie!