As a showcase for the awesome acting skills of Geraldine Page this film is impressive indeed. As a powerful, drama, however, it leaves much to be desired. Put simply, there is virtually no conflict. The only example of this vital ingredient for a satisfying dramatic experience is the struggle between mother and daughter in law and that is curtailed toward the end of act one, not to reappear until the very end of act three, (and if I sound like I'm reviewing a stage play rather than a movie, well, that's another problem with this thing). Most of the film is taken up with strangers being kind to the elderly woman played by Ms. Page, sort of the reverse of the Blanche DuBois situation in "Streetcar", a drama in which the conflict is most assuredly NOT soft peddled. So while Tennessee's searing work feels like a raucous, violent Saturday night of the soul Horton Foote's hymn singin paean to decency feels like Sunday school. And personally I like my movies to be more Saturday night than Sunday school, thank you very much.
Bottom line: Shoulda given Page the Oscar for "Sweet Bird Of Youth" instead. And left this work off Broadway, where it belongs. C plus.
PS...Can't leave this review without a tip of the cap to Richard Bradford, a veteran interpreter of psycho rednecks, here given a chance to play a good guy sheriff and acing it.
Bottom line: Shoulda given Page the Oscar for "Sweet Bird Of Youth" instead. And left this work off Broadway, where it belongs. C plus.
PS...Can't leave this review without a tip of the cap to Richard Bradford, a veteran interpreter of psycho rednecks, here given a chance to play a good guy sheriff and acing it.