| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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Streisand directs her most personal work
by Jason T (movies profile)
Mar 15, 2007
2
of
4 people found this review helpful
I indeed have never been a true fan of Barbra Streisand. I more or so appreciate her talents and accept the fact that she is, after all, full of herself. But that is not the basis for which this review ponders. "The Prince of Tides" is a elegantly made social drama about a loud-mouthed jerk (Nick Nolte) who has a deep, dark "secret" that when revealed, shows his softer side. After his sister attempts suicide, Nolte leaves his wife and kids from the South and moves to New York, where he goes to a psyhiatrist, played by Streisand.
The film's best scene is no doubt the first encounter between Nolte and Streisand. Their energies bounce back and forth- he's loud and sarcastic, she's quiet and stubborn. Together, this yelling match works perfectly. The movie then unfolds and we have to watch for 2 hours as Nolte comes to why his sister is in a mental institution, and what is causing her to try to kill herself. Once that's cleared up, there is also an unnecessary affair.
"The Prince of Tides" was nominated for 7 1991 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Why it was I have no clue. It's a good movie, it moves well, but there's nothing groundbreaking here. "Thelma & Louise" and "Boyz N The Hood" would have been much more appropriate fifth slot fillers then this melodramatic mess, which works smoothly until the last fourth. The movie's scene that probably earned it the top nod was when Nolte breaks down and Streisand has to keep assuring him she "feels his pain". Touching, yes, but not exactly Best Picture material.
The performances are also compelling. Nick Nolte would have won the Oscar for best actor had Anthony Hopkins not beaten him in "The Silence of the Lambs" sweep. He is great at going from mr. funny man to mr. vulnerable. I liked him best when he was funny. Streisand is also in one of her best performances. She doesn't go over the top and she also lets us in. There's still the sense she's in love with her persona, but this is Barbs. Her best scenes are of course, in the office, and the ridiculous affair makes her act like she wants to be 20 when we're really watching a desperate 50 year-old try to win our sympathy. Kate Nelligan has a small role as Nolte's bitter mother, and recieved an Oscar nomination as well for best supporting actress. The cast also includes Blythe Danner, Melinda Dillon and Jason Streisand, Barbra's son. |
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