Let's begin with the good, shall we? First of all, the acting was top notch. Alan Alda, as many have noted, was perfect playing a liberal, sensitive, funny guy WITHOUT being "Hawkeye Pierce goes to Washington." From there, we have his ex-Broadway costar Barbara Harris once again giving a brilliant performance (love the cutaway from her fight to the speech she gives)as a woman who just wants to live her life. As well, Meryl Streep is on hand, about two seconds before she really hit it big, along with Melvyn Douglas, who, evidently, was 1979's go-to "aging gentleman." And of course, special mention must be given to Rip Torn, who stars in one VERY prophetic sequence.
Now, we move onto what keeps this film from the best of list. I'm sad to say, the story wasn't terribly interesting. To begin, we have the fight to get a racist off the Supreme Court. But, once that's said and done, we're stuck in a love triangle between Streep, Alda, and Harris, with extra plot dealing with Blanche Baker's growing pains. It's the story old as the hills, though the performances REALLY helped me stick to the very ambiguous end (Does she take him back? Does anyone know?).
But, I only saw this today. Perhaps a second viewing will help me decide.
Now, we move onto what keeps this film from the best of list. I'm sad to say, the story wasn't terribly interesting. To begin, we have the fight to get a racist off the Supreme Court. But, once that's said and done, we're stuck in a love triangle between Streep, Alda, and Harris, with extra plot dealing with Blanche Baker's growing pains. It's the story old as the hills, though the performances REALLY helped me stick to the very ambiguous end (Does she take him back? Does anyone know?).
But, I only saw this today. Perhaps a second viewing will help me decide.