Richard Harris and Robert Duvall star in this low-key drama concerning a hard-drinking former sea captain (Richard Harris) who befriends a shy retired barber (Robert Duvall). Though their polar-opposite personalities find the relationship slow going at first, roguish Frank (Harris) and gentle Walter (Duvall) soon develop a close friendship as they pass the days with conversation. As death looms near and their pasts seem to evaporate into the air with the passing of each day, the lonely souls
find comfort in each other's company until their fragile friendship is shattered. When Frank insults a waitress (Sandra Bullock) with whom Walter harbors a protective friendship, Walter makes the decision to cut his ties with loutish Frank. Forced to reevaluate their friendship, the two lonely souls attempt to find meaning in their lives as their chances for connecting with the outside world grows ever more dim. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway aspires to be serious about its subject. Yet in a curious way this sobriety works against it. Frank and Walt turn into schematically contrasting case studies, and the movie's sympathy for them eventually becomes patronizing.
Randa Haines' sappy, rather dull melodrama about the friendship between two eccentric old men is mostly a showcase for its stars, Robert Duvall and Richard Harris.
The movie is essentially about the close observation of behavior. Like some of Hemingway's stories, the real action is all implied. The characters trade small talk, and we sense that larger issues are lurking beneath their cheerfulness.
Offers little in the way of narrative drive or plot conflict, and what does happen is far from surprising. MacLaine and Piper Laurie are more or less wasted in supporting roles, and pretty Sandra Bullock is given almost nothing to do.
This is a film of two superlative performances from Richard Harris and Robert Duvall, who play an odd couple drawn together by their common loneliness as they become friends in the winter of their lives
AWESOME FILM!!! Look at this cast:
Robert Duvall, Richard Harris, Shirley MacLain, Sandra Bullock. . . . this movie is just too good to be true - top notch story, acting, and soundtrack, and you'll never forget these performances.
Rather slow paced comedy/drama with 2 super lead roles in Richard Harris(especially,who stands out from the rest) as an Irish immigrant drunk & retired Navy officer sent to a basic retirement appartment in the sweltering heat of Florida and Robert Duvall an retired Cuban tee-total straight laced barber who find
friendship.
Absolutely 1 of those movies thats so easy 2 watch. Takes you on a ride with 2 virtually opposite characters at the peak of their lives.
Looks like a movie for the older generation from the cover & write up on dvd case but its far from it,Definately under-rated movie that did not have much publicity but then again Neither does a lot of our favourite films we find from websites like RT.
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