Tender Mercies Movie Review 1983

Down-and-out country singer Mac Sledge (Duvall) gets roaring drunk after breaking up with his wife Dixie (Buckley) andfinds himself waking up at a motel/gas station run by religious widow, Rosa Lee (Harper). mac sticks arounds and finds his life redeemed by the love of a good woman and he also decides to attempt a comeback. Aided by Horton Foote's script, Duvall, Harper, and Barkin (as Mac's daughter Sue Anne) keep this from being simplistic and sentimental. Duvall wrote as well as performed the songs in his Oscar-winning performance. Wonderful, life-affirming flick.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 88 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Romantic Drama, Nashville Narratives, Struggling Musicians

Screenplay

Horton Foote

Cast

Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Ellen Barkin, Wilford Brimley, Lenny Von Dohlen, Allan Hubbard

Cinematography

Russell Boyd

Director

Bruce Beresford

Music

George Dreyfus

Producer

Mark Huffam

Awards

Oscars 1983: Actor (Duvall), Orig. Screenplay; Golden Globes 1983: Actor--Drama (Duvall); L.A. Film Critics 1983: Actor (Duvall); N.Y. Film Critics 1983: Actor (Duvall); Writers Guild 1983: Orig. Screenplay.