Year of Release: 1991
Director: Barbra Streisand
Starring: Nick Nolte, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner, Kate Nelligan, Jeroen Krabbe, Melinda Dillon, George Carlin, Jason Gould, Brad Sullivan, Maggie Collier, Lindsay Wray
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review:
Following her directorial debut with "Yentl", actress/producer/director Barbra Streisand, decided to tackle another feature, this time with an adaptation of Pat Conroy's "The Prince of Tides". The film follows the story of Tom Wingo, a teacher and football coach from South Carolina, who goes to New York at the request of his mother, to help with the recovery of his twin sister, Savannah, following a suicide attempt. Savannah is being helped by a therapist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, who wants to understand what is propelling Savannah's issues, including a different persona which she has created, and under whose name she writes books. Tom himself has avoided thinking about the family's past, since it's filled with abuse and violence, which have tormented his adult life, the same going for his siblings (his oldest brother has already passed away). As they start uncovering their past, Tom and Lowenstein become closer, since they're both going through marital difficulties. Tom also starts coaching and helping Lowenstein's son, who wants to break away from a pre-arranged life and focus on things that he actually loves. As sessions continue and as emotional ties get deeper, Tom and his family's dramatic past become clearer, suddenly clarifying many of the issues that haunt the Wingo family.
Barbra Streisand's feature directorial career has thus far been comprised of three features (the third being "The Mirror Has Two Faces"). "The Prince of Tides" which is based upon a very successful book by southern writer Pat Conroy, is filled with a richly layered storyline, centered around domestic abuse, traumatic childhood events, and the ghosts of certain situations that scar children and trouble them for the rest of their lives. This story could have easily been depicted as an harrowing drama, with enough grittiness but also with demonstrable hope, ultimately proving that ghosts and past traumas can be battled and overcome. However, Barbra Streisand goes for a Lifetime type of film direction and approach, focusing the story at some point more on the Lowenstein/Tom Wingo amorous relationship, as opposed to the actual core of the story, the root of all the issues that made all of those family members so dysfunctional. The material in itself required someone with a stronger point of view, since ultimately the film becomes so manicured and polished, that it looks like a Nancy Meyers film taking place in the South. It's overly manicured look and feel, ultimately rob this film and its relevant topic, of the impact that it could have, the same way it also robs the cast of delivering performances that are truly resonant. Nick Nolte manages to overcome the restraints of the sappiness, creating a character with a heart, the same going for Blythe Danner, but Streisand, Kate Nelligan and Jeroen Krabbe, have very little to do. The cinematography from the immensely talented Stephen Goldblatt is at times overly golden, but the score from James Newton Howard is effective. A somewhat forgettable endeavor.
Barbra Streisand's feature directorial career has thus far been comprised of three features (the third being "The Mirror Has Two Faces"). "The Prince of Tides" which is based upon a very successful book by southern writer Pat Conroy, is filled with a richly layered storyline, centered around domestic abuse, traumatic childhood events, and the ghosts of certain situations that scar children and trouble them for the rest of their lives. This story could have easily been depicted as an harrowing drama, with enough grittiness but also with demonstrable hope, ultimately proving that ghosts and past traumas can be battled and overcome. However, Barbra Streisand goes for a Lifetime type of film direction and approach, focusing the story at some point more on the Lowenstein/Tom Wingo amorous relationship, as opposed to the actual core of the story, the root of all the issues that made all of those family members so dysfunctional. The material in itself required someone with a stronger point of view, since ultimately the film becomes so manicured and polished, that it looks like a Nancy Meyers film taking place in the South. It's overly manicured look and feel, ultimately rob this film and its relevant topic, of the impact that it could have, the same way it also robs the cast of delivering performances that are truly resonant. Nick Nolte manages to overcome the restraints of the sappiness, creating a character with a heart, the same going for Blythe Danner, but Streisand, Kate Nelligan and Jeroen Krabbe, have very little to do. The cinematography from the immensely talented Stephen Goldblatt is at times overly golden, but the score from James Newton Howard is effective. A somewhat forgettable endeavor.
0 comments:
Post a Comment