1022 The Prince of Tides

[Rayon Vert]

I liked this movie too when it came out, but don't remember anything about it now. Due for a revisit.

[therewillbeblus]

I watched it right after the clue came out a couple months ago. I had always put this one off because my mother, also a therapist, found it to be very wrong and even offensive to the profession. I don't totally agree with that, and personally thought was plenty of merit in the film, but it's not one I need to own or see more than maybe once more in my life. There are a lot of classic 90s character dynamics restricted grid-movement and scenes that reveal a person's true character through simplistic means (Jeroen Krabbé at the party, Nolte as football coach/father figure) but they're forgivable because they're fun to experience. As for the actual trauma work and flashbacks, I don't think anyone wants to hear a clinical rundown, but it was a decent enough demonstration especially given the way movies were made and what we knew about mental health in '91. I will say that the most interesting aspect of the film for me was how Nolte's character carried himself in relationships but unfortunately this wasn't delved into nearly as complexly as it could have been. There was a lot of power in the presentation of the good-naturedness of people and although simplified to Southern vs. Northern cultural expressiveness this had a warm effect that helped the film from submerging into a murky depressive space. I agree that people here will probably like it more than they expect to, but I'd be surprised if it came anywhere close to the shortlist for 2020's best discovery.

[soundchaser]

I think you’d like the book, TWBB — I haven’t read it in nearly 10 years, but from what I remember it focuses pretty heavily on the complexity of Nolte’s relationships, especially with his sister. Looking forward to my first watch of the film next year.

[therewillbeblus]

Yeah I'd believe that - for what it's worth, I think the movie does a pretty good job at showing and not telling this, in his reactions without his sister present (though a book could really flesh that out better) but I wished there was more regarding how he drives other people (i.e. romantic partners) away as an unconscious result of his trauma. It's still there enough, and I stand by it being the strongest part of a film I like.

[aox]

I've never seen it (if Criterion puts it up on their channel I'll give it a spin), but doesn't it deviate from the book fairly noticeably? Similarly to Fried Green Tomatoes (the film completely omits the lesbian plot) which was also a contemporary adaptation?

[alacal2]

Strange that there's nothing specific at all on Nick Nolte in the extras.

[hearthesilence]

Strange that there's nothing specific at all on Nick Nolte in the extras.

He's the best thing about the film so it is strange - but it could easily be a mundane reason for the exclusion, like being unable to schedule Nolte for a commentary, etc.

swo17 made a crack about this film being far more important than Leave Her to Heaven on the basis of extras, but I'm sure the wealth of bonus material comes down to Streisand wanting to participate and keeping a good deal of material in her archives.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

If the gag reel is the same one from the laserdisc, it's Nolte-focused, so that kind of counts? I'm guessing all the extras are LD carryovers except the three interviews and whatever changes Streisand made to her commentary. That said, it will be nice to see this stuff without the space-saving method employed for the LD (also used for some other releases, like the 50th anniversary Kane), in which multiple videos would play simultaneously as inset frames and the audio for each would be encoded on different tracks.

[flyonthewall2983]

I am concerned that this will be in delay hell for years like Spinal Tap.

Was it delayed because of the music rights lawsuit?

[bearcuborg]

I caught up with this again, and found the music incredibly distracting. But it is lovingly photographed and Nolte is terrific. The harrowing aspect of this story still packs a punch. Barbara looks terrific.