Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte)'s marriage to Sally (Blythe Danner) is in trouble despite outward appearances. They have 3 daughters. His brother Luke is dead. His poet twin sister Savannah in NYC has attempted suicide once again and is under the care of therapist Susan Lowenstein (Barbara Streisand). He agrees to go see Lowenstein to help Savannah. She hires him to coach football to her angry son Bernard. Her husband Herbert (Jeroen Krabbé) is a philandering concert violinist. Tom's problem stems from his dysfunctional family with his abusive shrimper father Henry, mother Lila (Kate Nelligan), twin Savannah, older brother Luke and one terrible incident.
Nick Nolte is a powerful presence and Barbra Streisand is well-matched. I wouldn't call her directing great. It's solid. This is mostly about the acting. Krabbé is terrific in the dinner party. Jason Gould is limited. It's another instance where nepotism takes away from the cinematic experience. Kate Nelligan is a great actress but I can really sense her southern acting in this one. It's an effective romance melodrama and Nolte gives it his all.
Nick Nolte is a powerful presence and Barbra Streisand is well-matched. I wouldn't call her directing great. It's solid. This is mostly about the acting. Krabbé is terrific in the dinner party. Jason Gould is limited. It's another instance where nepotism takes away from the cinematic experience. Kate Nelligan is a great actress but I can really sense her southern acting in this one. It's an effective romance melodrama and Nolte gives it his all.