BBBB.5
(out of 5)
One of the most satisfying and enjoyable films to be made by the team of Merchant Ivory. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are excellent as the heads of a conservative midwestern family in the 1940s whose day to day lives and personal conflicts make up the bulk of the plot. Woodward longs to escape the confines of being a plain housewife, their daughter Kyra Sedgwick is growing into a lady, son Robert Sean Leonard is also looking to stretch his wings, and dad Newman is trying to keep control of it all. Blythe Danner shines as a close friend with an eccentric personality in this beautifully photographed film, based on two novels by Evan S. Connell, Mr. Bridge and Mrs. Bridge, which were skillfully combined into one story by screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
United Kingdom/USA, 1990
Directed by James Ivory
Screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, based on the novels Mr. Bridge and Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell
Cinematography by Tony Pierce-Roberts
Produced by Ismail Merchant
Music by Richard Robbins
Production Design by David Gropman
Costume Design by Carol Ramsey
Film Editing by Humphrey Dixon
Film Festivals: Venice 1990
Cast Tags: Addison Myers, Al Christy, Alison Sneegas, Allen Monroe, Andy Knott, Austin Pendleton, Ben Stephenson, Blythe Danner, Buck Baker, Charles Perkins, Danny Cox, Diane Kagan, Evan S. Connell, Florence Hall, Gale Garnett, Hubert Saint-Macary, Jennifer Conforti, Joanne Carr, Joanne Woodward, Jocelyn Hamilton, Joe Tinoco, John Anthony, John Bell, Judy Judd, Kathy Quinn-Byrne, Kyra Sedgwick, Laurence Goua, Lee Lambert, Marcus Giamatti, Margaret Welsh, Mark Yonally, Melissa Newman, Milton Abel, Nora Denney, Paul Newman, Remak Ramsay, Richard Ross, Robert Levine, Robert Sean Leonard, Robert Westenberg, Robin Humphrey, Robyn Rosenfeld, Roch Leibovici, Roger Burget, Saundra McClain, Simon Callow, Spencer Keesee, The Nicolodis, Tom Hall
Academy Award Nomination
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Joanne Woodward as “India Bridge”)
Golden Globe Award Nomination
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama (Joanne Woodward)
New York Film Critics Awards
Best Actress (Joanne Woodward)
Best Screenplay (Ruth Prawer Jhabvala)
Nomination
Best Film
Los Angeles Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Actress (Joanne Woodward)
National Society of Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Actress (Joanne Woodward)
National Board Of Review Award
Top Ten Films
Independent Spirit Award Nomination
Best Female Lead (Joanne Woodward)
