I can't imagine anyone in their right mind wanting to see this film more than once, and once may be too much for a lot of people. I can appreciate Paul Schrader and Russell Banks' message about child abuse having perpetual ramifications for its victims, and dead-end lives, but still...who wants to have their face rubbed in that for two hours! I wanted to see an MGM musical after this bilge.
Its not the actors fault: Nick Nolte is impressively over-the-edge and sustains his performance well. James Coburn also registers well as his vicious father, but its strictly a one-note performance that, in my opinion, did not deserve the oscar he won, which was a career award. Sissy Spacek, as always, is a breath of fresh air, but given far too little to do. The child actress, though, who played Nolte's daughter was irritating in the extreme, and an affliction on the audience.
Its not the actors fault: Nick Nolte is impressively over-the-edge and sustains his performance well. James Coburn also registers well as his vicious father, but its strictly a one-note performance that, in my opinion, did not deserve the oscar he won, which was a career award. Sissy Spacek, as always, is a breath of fresh air, but given far too little to do. The child actress, though, who played Nolte's daughter was irritating in the extreme, and an affliction on the audience.