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No consensus yet.
All Critics (21) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (3)
Tender Mercies won Robert Duvall his only Academy Award in six nominations. It contains one of his most understated performances. It's mostly done with his eyes. Jun 19, 2018 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Tender Mercies won Robert Duvall his only Academy Award in six nominations. It contains one of his most understated performances. It's mostly done with his eyes.
Roger Ebert
An anti-Hollywood drama that glitters in its subdued form because it's a real gem. May 5, 2008 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
An anti-Hollywood drama that glitters in its subdued form because it's a real gem.
Dennis Schwartz
Aussie director Beresford makes an impressive American debut with this rural Texas based saga of the recovery and redemption of an alcoholic and abusive country singer, splendidly played by Robert Duvall in an Oscar-winning performance. Apr 13, 2008 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Aussie director Beresford makes an impressive American debut with this rural Texas based saga of the recovery and redemption of an alcoholic and abusive country singer, splendidly played by Robert Duvall in an Oscar-winning performance.
Emanuel Levy
I found myself filled with disquieting wishes for something to happen to break the silence. Nov 28, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
I found myself filled with disquieting wishes for something to happen to break the silence.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Like a quiet child whose primary virtue is that he doesn't make any waves, Tender Mercies is so muted and obedient that it's hard in good conscience to praise it. Dec 6, 2004 | Rating: C- | Full Review…
Like a quiet child whose primary virtue is that he doesn't make any waves, Tender Mercies is so muted and obedient that it's hard in good conscience to praise it.
Nick Davis
Earthy Duvall vehicle, wonderful character study Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Earthy Duvall vehicle, wonderful character study
Steve Crum
Duvall won an Oscar for this one, and it's still a moving and fascinating flick. Feb 3, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Duvall won an Oscar for this one, and it's still a moving and fascinating flick.
Dan Lybarger
Little gem of a film complements Duvall's later film "The Apostle" Sep 14, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Little gem of a film complements Duvall's later film "The Apostle"
Robert Roten
Remarkable film about a country western singer, a widow, and her son who try to expel the shadows of the past in order to become strong in the broken places of their lives. Sep 1, 2002 | Full Review…
Remarkable film about a country western singer, a widow, and her son who try to expel the shadows of the past in order to become strong in the broken places of their lives.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
This Duvall piece influenced a lot of similar films in the future. A lot has been mined out of the "cowboy has difficulty in the modern world" storyline but they all reasonate universally.
Super Reviewer
"Tender Mercies" is a very minimalist effort from director Bruce Beresford, who moves the film along at a calm and unhurried pace. As well, Robert Duvall gives an endearing and honest performance that resonates with every word that he says. Overall, the impact that "Tender Mercies" has on the viewer is not lasting, but watching it is a pleasant experience.
Robert Duvall delivers a great, oscar-winning performance in a film that is actually worthy of it (as opposed to "The Great Santini"). Hell, even the kid (Allen Hubbard) does a good job. Duvall plays an alcholic country singer who, after waking up in a desolate country farmhouse/gas station/motel, decides to stay on and help out the owner (who is a single mother) when he can't afford to pay off his bill. Obviously, the two fall in love and get married (their relationship is formed so quickly they're already married before the movie is ten minutes in), and she helps him sober up and straighten out his life. It's interesting to see how subdued or distant the wife (Tess Harper) is. One of the closing scenes, where Duvall's character has a breakdown, any other movie wife would run to him and hug and comfort him, but this woman (who appears in the corner of the screen), merely turns and walks away. For such a loving wife, it's rather strange behavior (in fact, it leads one to question whether she really loves him, or married him just because he provided a role model for her son). His ex-wife stands in stark contrast, she's driven purely by her music career and doesn't seem to care about anything else. She's a woman who seemingly has it all, but really has nothing, whereas he is someone who appears to have nothing but really has everything he could ever want. He doesn't covet his ex wife's success. Their daughter (Ellen Barkin) is kept from him until at 18, she decides to look him up for herself. It's such a slow-moving, simple tale and yet it feels realistic, like it could've been made-for-television by Robert Altman. Duvall is convincing as a country music singer, and does a good job performing the songs in the movie. Tender Mercies would make a nice contrasting companion piece for Altman's "Nashville", if someone were in the mood for country & western, slice-of-life.
Robert Duvall is brilliant here. This might be Duvall's best performance of his stellar career. Great direction and screenplay in what I found to be an interesting, moving character study that is so genuine that I, a liberal atheist, could care about and relate to these southern Christians. Great film!
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