Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17387 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-09-09
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
"Worn to perfection" is the tag line promoting this crafted character study. It describes Paul Newman, the resourceful 70-year-old lead actor, but not his character, Sully, a North Bath, New York, loner who totally emulates the negative definition of the title. Newman gives a brilliant performance (Oscar-nominated and winner of two critics circle awards) relying on his well-honed subtleties. The dramatics are simple: the return of his son (Dylan Walsh) and grandson, offering a chance to reconcile; odd jobs for a construction company he's trying to sue for an injury; and a comedic grudge match against the owner (a reserved Bruce Willis). North Bath is the kind of place, wrapped in winter (beautifully shot by John Bailey), where enemies are friends, marriages are shaky, and Hawaii is only a state of mind. This "town drama" of a blue-collar America offers the patient filmgoer a rich and rewarding experience. Another small gem from writer-director Robert Benton (Places in the Heart). --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

A Classic and Possibly for the Holidays, Too!
Teaser: An unsung classic of a film, deep, heartwarming, and brilliantly acted. Set between Thanksgiving and New Year in snowy upstate NY, the film could be a part of your holiday film library.

Plot: Paul Newman is Donald Sullivan, a 60-year-old odd-job man in a small, hardscrabble town. His tangled web of relationships with sometime employer Bruce Willis, landlady Jessica Tandy, and a host of colorful locals slowly emerges and it turns out that na'er-do-well Sully actually is a vital component of his community.

Acting: Just superb. Newman is at his best and in her final role, Tandy is brilliant. Willis, Melanie Griffith and Pruitt Taylor Vince is full of pathos as best friend Rub Squeers. The supporting cast is also scintillating. Of special note is an early role for Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman, as local police bumpkin Werner.

Best Feature: The script-- the Newman-Tandy repartee is great and the Newman-Willis dialogue just crackles. There are enough memorable lines to make you want to take notes.

Also of note: Good cinematography lends an authentic ambience and the semi-Celtic soundtrack is pleasant without being manipulative.

Reviewer note: I grew up in the area where this movie was filmed. It's 'on the mark' and looks and feels genuine.

Definitive Newman....Delightful Miss Tandy....Delicious Film
This review refers to the Paramount DVD edition of "Nobody's Fool".....

The irresistable Paul Newman, in a role that was tailor made for him and the always wonderful Jessica Tandy(in her final feature film performance) will steal your heart(as if they haven't already)in the life affirming dramadey, "Nobody's Fool". The rest of the cast are no slouches either. It includes Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith,Josef Summer, Phillip Seymour Hoffman,Dylan Walsh and a performance by youngster Alexander Goodwin that will have you in awe of his extraordinary talent.

Wintry upstate New York is the setting for the story. "Sully"(Newman) is an aging down on his luck, jack of all trades(master of none),regular guy. He just can't seem to get a leg up... figuratively and literally(arthritis is getting the best of him).His life seems to be in a shambles. Abandoning his wife and son years earlier, still trying to eek out a living for himself,constantly seeming to have minor run-ins with the local police are his day to day exsistence. Yet with all these dark clouds over his head,there doesn't seem to be one person in this little community who could get along without him. When his now adult son and young grandson come back into his life, he now has a chance to do something right.It's a heartwarming and funny view and Newman will charm you right out of your socks!

The transfer to DVD is excellent. It is presented in widescreen(you won't miss a bit of the scenery),with a nice crisp, clear picture and beautiful colors. For sound you have a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1, or stereo surround and has English subtitles for those that may need them. I had a little technical problem with my copy. I could not seem to delete the subtitles no matter what I did. Although this is something that didn't bother me too much, if this happens it may be annoying if you are not used to watching with subtitles.I'm pretty sure though that this is probably a fluke and my copy only because I haven't seen any other complaints on this issue.Maybe the next reviewer can mention whether or not their copy was also affected.Other than that, it's a great view. There are no special features,but a film that will leave you smiling the rest of the day(that was bonus enough for me).

Directed and written for the screen by Robert Benton("Kramer vs Kramer"/"Places In The Heart"), with engaging music by Howard Shore, this captivating film is a must have for Newman fans.His superb performance garnered him Best Actor awards from the Berlin Int. Film Fest.(Silver Bear), the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics as well. It's a feel good story that's great to watch anytine life throws you a little curve! It is rated "R" for language and some nudity.

Definitive, Delightful, Delicious!
Thanx and enjoy....Laurie

One of the best films you probably haven't seen.
This is a gem of a movie that never created much of a stir when released. We are accustomed to perfect work from the likes of Paul Newman and Jessica Tandy and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but director gets pitch-perfect performances from Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith (who was never better).

Nobody's Fool might not be a great film, but I'd argue that it is a perfect film. A film of character, not action, it opens up with quiet assurance and never puts a foot wrong. The writing is exceptionally intelligent, and you could watch it several times just to enjoy the witty banter between small town friends (including friendly enemies, played by Newman and Willis). But ultimately, there is a very serious point to this unpretentious movie. The big climax is nothing much in a way: Newman decides against running off to Hawaii with Melanie Griffith, but that act is an act of heroism and triumph over himself. He comes to realize, after a life of living just for himself, that he has ties of love and responsibility to several people more important than himself.

I don't recommend that you watch this film. I recommend that you buy it and then loan it out to all of the people in your life who mean something to you. They'll thank you for it.