The Oracle says: Jeroen Krabbe has a Bacon number of 2.
Jeroen Krabbe was in Fugitive, The (1993) with Mike Bacarella
Mike Bacarella was in Stir of Echoes (1999) with Kevin Bacon ***

Prince of Tides is a movie about masonry. Sure, I bet a lot of you think otherwise, but just look at those walls that were constructed, will ya? It is based on a story about a failing southern high school teacher, Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte), and his introduction into reality. Not that he hadn’t had his fair share of reality, but thanks to the store house of cement blocks he had, it was well hidden and nestled down far into his brain. Enter Dr. Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand).

Dr Lowenstein came into the case because Tom’s twin sister, Savannah (Melinda Dillon), had nudged aside a few of those cement blocks of her own and wasn’t happy with what she found hidden behind the walls. Instant reaction – slice the wrists. Not that this had been the first time the lovely Savannah had attempted this removal from society, in fact this has almost become second nature to her.

Give Tom another block for his wall – his successful, and employed, wife, Sallie (Blythe Danner), has decided that his remote attitude, his ability to close himself off from everyone around him, has finally pushed her to the limit. A respected surgeon, she begins an affair with an equally successful and respected doctor, and drops that nickel on Tom as well. Right now Tom is feeling pretty low, poor Tom, and it isn’t about to get any better because ……

What evil lurks in the heart and minds of men and why do we hide it away?
Lowenstein wants to cure Savannah and feels that Tom has the key to the cure. She wants to cross the picket line with a bunch of scabs and knock down all those heavily cemented walls surrounding the Wingo family. She is sure she has a hold on the reason for the pain and the anger, but she needs confirmation and since Savannah ain’t talking, that leaves Tom, because naturally their mother, Miss Lila (Kate Nelligan), won’t even bother to come to New York to see Lowenstein. She is just ‘too through’ and ‘too tired’ of Savannah’s childish attempts for approval.

Lowenstein crosses the line. Bernard finds his ball hand. Tom confesses. Love blooms and the fiddle plays a trippin’ song
Lowenstein is in a loveless marriage. Previously enamored with her talented violinist husband Herbert (Jeroen Krabbe), his wandering eyes – and other body parts – have left her cold and alone with only the love of her headstrong son Bernard (Jason Gould) to keep her company. They both invest as little as possible into the marriage, leading her into Tom’s arms. Herbert’s eyes aren’t that closed, though, and when Lowenstein invites Tom over for drinks and whatever, a little soiree of sorts, Herbert breaks out his violin and trips out a disparaging tune for Tom’s benefit.

Tom and Bernard form an unlikely friendship when Lowenstein asks Tom to teach Bernard the game of football. Father Herbert will lose his last nut when he finds out about this, wanting Bernard’s precious hands saved for the violin, but Bernard desperately needs this male/male interaction to grow a set of his own nads. Naturally, he hates the love he sees blooming between mother and Tom, but eventually the comradeship between he and Tom wins him over.

But behind all this, we still have the ‘tainted’ secrets of the Wingo family of the frozen south. In a heart wrenching scene, Tom confesses the secrets that have lain dormant so many years and the story of the sordid past of he and his siblings, and his hateful parents.

Production, players and playing
Nolte has never been a favorite of mine since I met him years ago while he was in town filming the movie Teachers. At first I considered blowing this movie off, but the lure of Ms. Streisand is stronger than Nolte, so she won out. He’s beginning to show his age, but not as bad as some that have mistreated their minds and bodies in this profession. I actually enjoyed him in the movie, felt he played one of his best parts since North Dallas Forty, felt he gave more to the role than it probably deserved and frankly, felt he outdistanced everyone else in the production. Now, for me, that is really saying something. In this role he brought forth both sympathy and strength, not an easy trait for a man and especially a man that has been as typecast as Nolte has. I give him two thumbs up for this part.

Jason Gould was neither powerful nor blasé. His performance did not offend me, however I wouldn’t search him out for other movies just because he was in them. He does show strength of character, which I feel he probably picked up from his mother, and he did seem to enjoy the role. A decent performance, but nothing spectacular.

Kate Nelligan as Lila was a mean and spiteful person. A great role, she played it to the hilt, very Joan Crawford/Bette Davis style. Loved her and hated her all at once. Blythe Danner, simpering and forgetful. As uneventful as the part she played. I guess this was to make Streisand appear more vibrant in her part. Krabbe was just an a s s, and I’ll make no further mention of him.

Melinda Dillon, not enough time in the movie to get an assessment of her in the part. The few shots of her were either strapped down and comatose in her hospital bed, or the ending shots, which were scant. A good actress, neglected I believe in the story since it was supposed to be about her in the first place but at least it lead us to her neighbor, the affable George Carlin. Hell, what can you say about George? He isn’t really an actor but he certainly isn’t offensive. This was practically a cameo appearance but I loved him just the same. And that just leaves me ……

Barbra. She was beautiful, she was vibrant. They showed her incredibly long legs, her clothing was impeccable. She was smart, suave, and sassy. Her delivery was on cue and to perfection, as always, but ….. yet, I was disappointed. Not that anything she did, necessarily, was wrong, I just expected more from a vehicle that she produced, directed and starred in. Yes, I am spoiled.

Overall, I found that although everyone was on course, I think the movie shifted too far away from the real meat, which was the dreaded Wingo’s delectable past, and into the Lowenstein/Wingo love affair too deeply. Not that this gal ain’t hip to a sweaty, steamy love affair, but this was really about Savannah and the troubles in the Wingo’s past. I wanted more, but then, I’m a cheap date!

Recommendations
A tentative yes, because it was a good movie. It had morals galore, family values galore, it had love and lack of love, some off camera steamy sex, and some good acting.

And the Academy says……
Nominations – Best picture, Best support actress (Nelligan), Best adapted screenplay, Best art direction-set direction, Best cinematography, and Best original score. Winner? ZIP

Thanks,
Susi

*** Compliments of Department of Computer Science
School of Engineering, University of Virginia


Recommended: Yes