Back Roads (1981)
Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1
liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 1,544
My Rating
Movie Info
For his follow-up to 1979's Academy Award-winning Norma Rae, director Martin Ritt re-teams with that film's star, Sally Field, for this gritty romantic road comedy. Reportedly Ritt's homage to Frank Capra's films of the 1930s, Back Roads stars Field as Amy Post, a no-nonsense prostitute in the deep South struggling with the fact that she gave up her only child for adoption. When Amy first encounters the recently unemployed Elmore Pratt (Tommy Lee Jones), she is anything but fond of the drifter.
Mar 13, 1981 Wide
May 3, 2005
Cast
-
Sally Field
Amy Post -
Tommy Lee Jones
Elmore Pratt -
David Keith
Mason -
Miriam Colon
Angel -
Michael Vincente Gazzo
Tazio -
Dan Shor
Spivey -
M. Emmet Walsh
Arthur -
Barbara Babcock
Rickey's Mom -
Nell Carter
Waitress -
Alex Colon
Enrique -
Royce D. Applegate
Father -
Jim Bailey
Billy -
Don 'Red' Barry
Pete -
Lee de Broux
Red -
Bruce M. Fischer
Ezra -
Tony Ganios
Bartini -
John M. Jackson
Merle -
John Dennis Johnston
Gilly -
Eliott Keener
Willis -
Lee Mc Laughlin
Deputy -
David Powladge
Fight Announcer -
Ralph Seymour
Gosler -
Henry Slate
Grover -
-
Woody Watson
Larry -
John Wilmot
Ed -
Richard Boyle
Ernest -
Eric Laneuville
Pinball Wizard -
Bill Holliday
Isaac -
Fred Baldwin
Gordy -
David Dahlgren
Mel -
Brian Frishman
Bleitz -
Billy Jayne
The Boy Thief -
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All Critics (9) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)
Very good on local colour but a bit sugary in its attitude to the central relationship, it would have been better taking a bleaker cue from Tommy Lee Jones' admirably dry performance.
Top CriticIf the movie had been willing to deal honestly with the plight of its characters, it wouldn't need to be clutterted up with eccentrics and hearts of gold.
Less a movie than an extended sketch, and it's to the credit of Mr. Ritt, his stars and Gary Devore, the screenwriter, that the movie is so much fun.
It's a surprise to discover that this hackneyed, relatively dull road picture is the work of director Martin Ritt.
A quiet and unassuming little comedy, a dual-gendered character study mixed with a low-key "road trip" adventure.
Back Roads is a love story with real clout.
Despite the efforts of the two talented leads, their central relationship fails to ignite, while the comedy is lacklustre at best.
Audience Reviews for Back Roads
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