Sissy Spacek is beautiful. Let me put that up there at the very front and center. She may not be classically beautiful(though I suppose one could make an argument that,in fact,she is) and certainly not conventionally "hot" or "sexy",but she's--to me,anyway--always radiated a warmth and attractive femininity that makes the characters she fills out to be(for lack of a better term)beautiful. I've often felt,in fact,that as she's gotten older,she's become more graceful and alluring,equal parts loving "Earth mother" and MILF(please pardon my French) next door.
She's the main reason I decided to rent this(And had been kind of aware of this movie ever since I first looked through her long career backlog of films),and since it being a not-far-from thirty year old film that was probably NOT a box office blockbuster and therefore a somewhat obscure rent title,when I saw this in the library recently,I felt compelled to get it. I also got it for the presence of one Henry Thomas,a guy about my age who will probably much more forever be known as Elliott from E.T.--the Extra-Terrestrial,but has also patched together quite a collection of work as a character actor(Legends of the Fall,All the Pretty HOrses,Suicide KIngs). He made his film debut at the tender age of nine as Spacek's oldest boy. Who surprises me here is a then twenty-something Eric Roberts as an in transit NAvy sailor,due to ship out for the WAr. He's genuinely pleasant and likable,a contrast to a great deal of creepy,unlikable sorts he's portrayed in his prolific(if perhaps easily ignored)career as a character actor.
THe movie's plot(or plots),moves as thus: in 1943(?) rural Texas,a divorced mom of two named Nita(Spacek,able to convey emotions through her big blue eyes alone,and able to do so much more)works as a rural telephone operator. THe period of time,plus the rural atmosphere makes for a less than forgiving climate for Nita,so when a handsome stranger(Roberts,of course)shows up at her abode and she agrees to let him stay until his deployment is up,causes a fair amount of gossip and consternation from the locals.
The first half to 2/3 of the film is basically a quiet,subtly-paced story where as much is limned from the reactions and actions of all characters involved as the words they say. The interactions in this piece are priceless,as single mom Nita does not have it easy with job,kids or relationships,yet perseveres as a sort of quiet defiance. THe last half to 1/3 of the movie is a little harder to reconcile with it,and twice as hard to figure out. A sub-plot about a couple of heartless thugs(future "Newhart"stand-by William Sanderson and character actor extraordinaire Tracey Walter)who take an oily shine to single and vulnerable Nita is,simultaneously,predictable and strangely discordant. Then there's Sam Shepherd,third-billed,who really...well,to explain his presence might be just a bit of a spoiler,I suppose,so I'd just as soon let you,the perspective viewer watch this if you want to find out.
Spacek's husband JAck FIsk,normally an art-director and cinematographer,is able to transparently guide this film,probably due to both his familiarity with the star and his probable affinity for the script. A little too ambiguous in total composition and not probably sexy enough to be more than a sleeper hit,this movie is still a solid cheap rent,mostly due to the actors who fill out the parts beautifully.
She's the main reason I decided to rent this(And had been kind of aware of this movie ever since I first looked through her long career backlog of films),and since it being a not-far-from thirty year old film that was probably NOT a box office blockbuster and therefore a somewhat obscure rent title,when I saw this in the library recently,I felt compelled to get it. I also got it for the presence of one Henry Thomas,a guy about my age who will probably much more forever be known as Elliott from E.T.--the Extra-Terrestrial,but has also patched together quite a collection of work as a character actor(Legends of the Fall,All the Pretty HOrses,Suicide KIngs). He made his film debut at the tender age of nine as Spacek's oldest boy. Who surprises me here is a then twenty-something Eric Roberts as an in transit NAvy sailor,due to ship out for the WAr. He's genuinely pleasant and likable,a contrast to a great deal of creepy,unlikable sorts he's portrayed in his prolific(if perhaps easily ignored)career as a character actor.
THe movie's plot(or plots),moves as thus: in 1943(?) rural Texas,a divorced mom of two named Nita(Spacek,able to convey emotions through her big blue eyes alone,and able to do so much more)works as a rural telephone operator. THe period of time,plus the rural atmosphere makes for a less than forgiving climate for Nita,so when a handsome stranger(Roberts,of course)shows up at her abode and she agrees to let him stay until his deployment is up,causes a fair amount of gossip and consternation from the locals.
The first half to 2/3 of the film is basically a quiet,subtly-paced story where as much is limned from the reactions and actions of all characters involved as the words they say. The interactions in this piece are priceless,as single mom Nita does not have it easy with job,kids or relationships,yet perseveres as a sort of quiet defiance. THe last half to 1/3 of the movie is a little harder to reconcile with it,and twice as hard to figure out. A sub-plot about a couple of heartless thugs(future "Newhart"stand-by William Sanderson and character actor extraordinaire Tracey Walter)who take an oily shine to single and vulnerable Nita is,simultaneously,predictable and strangely discordant. Then there's Sam Shepherd,third-billed,who really...well,to explain his presence might be just a bit of a spoiler,I suppose,so I'd just as soon let you,the perspective viewer watch this if you want to find out.
Spacek's husband JAck FIsk,normally an art-director and cinematographer,is able to transparently guide this film,probably due to both his familiarity with the star and his probable affinity for the script. A little too ambiguous in total composition and not probably sexy enough to be more than a sleeper hit,this movie is still a solid cheap rent,mostly due to the actors who fill out the parts beautifully.