9/10
Near brilliant dramatic comedy with plenty of amusing moments and sadness.
16 November 2007
T.S. Garp (Oscar-Winner:Robin Williams), who lives an unusual life with his bright, caring, truthful but peculiar mother Jenny (Glenn Close). Who's also an nurse. But Garp has an wild imagination as a child and now as a young adult, he wants to be a "serious" writer. Once he moves to New York City with his mother. His mother decides to write non-fiction novel about life, sex and lust. That becomes an national best-seller and she becomes an heroine for the "feminist" movement. While Garp is struggling with his writing career, while he's married to a smart woman Helen (Mary Beth Hurt) and having children of their own. Garp's life starts to fall apart when he starts to fool around once with the babysitter, his wife fools around as well and other disturbing moments has yet to come in his incredible life.

Directed by the late Oscar-Winner:George Roy Hill (Funny Farm, Slap Shot, The Sting) made an one of those rare films that was truly ahead of its time. The film has an major cult following as well. The performances are first-rate in this one of a kind film that plays with different genres extremely well. Close and John Lithgow as Roberta received Oscar Nominations for their brilliant supporting performances. I would have liked also if Roy Hill received an Oscar Nominated for Best Director, same goes for Williams for his sharp lead performance for Best Actor and Steve Tesich's (American Flyers, Breaking Away) excellent screenplay. Which he should gotten an Oscar Nomination for Best Adapated Screenplay. Since this picture is based on a novel by Oscar-Winner:John Irving (The Cider House Rider, The Hotel New Hampshire, Simon Birch). This movie is somewhat underrated today, this is probably one of the most remembered classics of the 1980's. Plenty of familiar faces appears in bit-parts or in cameos as well. This is a extraordinary film about an unusual man going through life, don't miss it. (**** ½/*****).
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