But it's a progressive Texas town because among its population is "a" homosexual and a man who wears his wife's nightgown. That's the intro that the divorced Sally Field gets from town pharmacist James Garner, having a hard time getting settled in town and refused a loan at the bank. "I'd go out on the streets, but you only have one", she tells the very officious bank loan manager. Her romance with Garner starts off just through friendly encounters, a few a bit spikey, but hey, romance, even in May-December one needs to start somewhere.
Director Martin Ritt and star Sally Field sought out Garner for this role, and indeed, it is up there with his best, his Oscar nomination not in vain because he really deserved it. His character has a way of dealing with life and discussing it with such humor that you can see why he is known as "a bleeding heart liberal" in his very conservative community. Garner also hits it off with Field's son, Corey Haim, and that's a very important detail in a romance that really takes its time to develop.
I would consider this film to be excellent, but it's not a film that requires its audience to search for excellence. It just is. A screenplay of real people with real problems living a real life, and even when characters are grouchy (particularly Charles Lane, the town's feisty oldest citizen), you can't help but love them. American movies don't always get it right when dealing with real people, but when they do, the results are amazing. I may not want to move to where this takes place, but it certainly was worth a 90-minute visit there.
Director Martin Ritt and star Sally Field sought out Garner for this role, and indeed, it is up there with his best, his Oscar nomination not in vain because he really deserved it. His character has a way of dealing with life and discussing it with such humor that you can see why he is known as "a bleeding heart liberal" in his very conservative community. Garner also hits it off with Field's son, Corey Haim, and that's a very important detail in a romance that really takes its time to develop.
I would consider this film to be excellent, but it's not a film that requires its audience to search for excellence. It just is. A screenplay of real people with real problems living a real life, and even when characters are grouchy (particularly Charles Lane, the town's feisty oldest citizen), you can't help but love them. American movies don't always get it right when dealing with real people, but when they do, the results are amazing. I may not want to move to where this takes place, but it certainly was worth a 90-minute visit there.