Tender Mercies

1983
Directed by Bruce Beresford

SYNOPSIS

An alcoholic drifter and former country singer (Robert Duvall) is unable to pay his bill at a small motel in Texas, he volunteers to work it off. Soon he falls in love with the motel's owner Rosa Lee (Tess Harper) and marries her. He begins to pull his troubled life together and maybe plot a comeback as he is able to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Ellen Barkin) while bonding with Rosa Lee's young son (Allan Hubbard.)

MY THOUGHTS

Many of the best indie dramas since the 90's have been low-budget 'small films' that were well-written and showcases for great actors portraying interesting, if troubled, characters. Those countless films clearly used Tender Mercies as a template. 2009's Crazy Heart is a great example and it borrows more than a little from this film and is probably one of the better examples of the influence of this film.

Robert Duvall has always been one of the best actors out there and this is one of his best roles. Often a supporting performer elsewhere, he shines in the lead as Mac Sledge. Sledge is a difficult role especially with balancing the darker elements with the lighter, dry comedic aspects of the character. Mac Sledge and his world seems very real. It's a very subtle and subdued performance that fits the character like a glove (or guitar.) The subtle way he is able to make that transformation from a dark soul to a warm and centered one because of a the love of a woman is the highlight of the film. He definitely deserved the Oscar for Best Actor that he won here.

The supporting performances augment the fine performance by Robert Duvall, as do the direction and screenplay,. They help make Mac Sledge one of the main highlights of his long successful career.

You do not need to be a fan of country music to find the film to be great. The film speaks at a far deeper level. You will be able to reflect on your own problems as Mac tries to conquer his.

Hopscotch

1980
Directed By Ronald Neame


SYNOPSIS


When aging CIA agent Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau) is put out to pasture, he quits. In order to get back at his boss (Ned Beatty,) he vows to write his memoirs which will reveal critical secrets of all the major world powers. Kendig sends his book out one chapter at a time to all the involved parties and tries to stay one step ahead of them... who will stop at nothing to keep him from publishing the book.

MY THOUGHTS

A very entertaining and fun cat and mouse spy tale.
 
The script of Hopscotch moves with the intelligence and suspense of the best of James Bond films, though it is a very different animal.
It's that different animal because of Walter Matthau. The film offers him a great opportunity to display his unique skills to their fullest. Matthau was equally adept with comedy and drama. His wholly original mix of charisma, charm and gruffness is used to perfect effect here. He handles the mix of high comedy and high drama far better than, and with far more sophistication and subtlety, than Roger Moore's James Bond.

Hopscotch also benefits from Matthau's genuine chemistry with Glenda Jackson, playing an old flame. The two make for a quirky but realistic couple.

The film is also filled with many other great actors in supporting roles which flesh out the world and Kendig's character like Herbert Lom as Kendig's Russian counterpart and a young Sam Waterston as Kendig's protege who's forced to go after him, yet admiring and rooting for him the whole way.

Matthau is great with comedy and drama and Hopscotch is perfectly able to balance them. The comedy never lets you forget that Kendig is in serious and life-threatening trouble... or destroys the realism the film is able to maintain. Yet at the same time, the drama never gets too heavy handed and is often broken up at just the right time by a one-liner or crazy situation. It never gets too silly or overly dramatic to be believable and that is a very difficult balance to maintain.

A perfect film for lovers of Walter Matthau or fans of spy films looking to laugh.