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The Accidental Tourist [1988] [1989]
![The Accidental Tourist [1988] [1989]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ECW199FGL._SL160_.jpg)
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Brilliant film of a brilliant novel
Review date: 2008-08-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
When I first saw this film I really liked it, mainly because it wasn't a formula film and I couldn't begin to figure out what would happen next. I hadn't seen anything like this for years: it was like a 1930s domestic comedy - driven by character and dialogue, rather than by action. The film was based on a 1985 Pulitzer-nominated novel by Anne Tyler, (I liked the film so much I went out and read the novel and now Anne Tyler is one of my favourite novelists.)
The actors playing the central characters - William Hurt as Macon Leary, Kathleen Turner as his wife and Geena Davis all give really good performances. Davis's portrayal of whacky Muriel Pritchett won her an Oscar for best supporting actress, but Hurt and Turner, playing a couple traumatised by the tragic death of their young son, are much less 'animated' and more subtle, and totally believable. Indeed Hurt plays his part as though he is sleep walking and still manages to earn our sympathy. The supporting cast also shines, particularly Leary's sister and brothers and Pritchett's young son. Lawrence Kasdan's direction is fairly low-key but brilliantly catches all the nuances of this family saga and the film really deserved its Oscar nomination for best picture.
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Reviews
Wonderfully acted
Review date: 2006-12-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is a wonderfully touching portait of a man, Hurt, who cannot grieve for his dead son and eventually ends up losing his marriage as well.
He writes travel books for people who hate travelling. For a while, after an accident, he goes back to the family home where his two dysfunctional brothers and sisters live cut off from the outside world.
Then he meets a dog trainer, Geena Davis who is both wonderfully whacky and vulnerable and a rocky romance begins. As this is a Kasdan film nothing is ever straight forward, like real life really.
Superbly acted by Hurt, Davis and Turner.
Baltimore books
Review date: 2006-04-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
Great movie and book is even better. Set me off on pleasurable trail of reading all Ann Tylers Baltimore series. Favourite so far "Dinner at the Homesick restaurant"
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Geena Davis
Amy Wright
Kathleen Turner
William Hurt
David Ogden Stiers
Creators:
William Hurt (Primary Contributor)
Kathleen Turner (Primary Contributor)
Lawrence Kasdan (Producer)
Lawrence Kasdan (Writer)
Charles Okun (Producer)
John Malkovich (Producer)
Michael Grillo (Producer)
Anne Tyler (Writer)
Frank Galati (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900288781
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-03-20
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 116 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-05-25
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)