IGN.com|AskMen.com|Rotten Tomatoes|GameSpy|FilePlanet|TeamXbox|CheatsCodesGuides|GameStats|Direct2Drive
RottenTomatoes.com
Register | Log In | What is RT?
Home Movies DVD Celebrities News Critics Trailers & Pictures The Vine Forums
Box Office | Best Of | Certified Fresh | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches by subscribing to our Google Subscribed Links profile.
 
Movies / On DVD / Tender Mercies
Tender Mercies

Rate This Movie

Write a Review
Share This Movie
Add to List
Buy Poster

Bookmark and Share

Tender Mercies (1983)

86%
N/A
80%
N/A
N/A
N/A
86 %
Reviews Counted: 21 Fresh: 18  Rotten:3 Average Rating: 7.2/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

Synopsis: While director Bruce Beresford has often dwelled on the amusing peccadilloes of southerners, in this film he has adapted his style to characters whose manners are as plain and unadorned as the landscape they inhabit. The film stars Robert Duvall as Mac Sledge, formerly an icon of country &... While director Bruce Beresford has often dwelled on the amusing peccadilloes of southerners, in this film he has adapted his style to characters whose manners are as plain and unadorned as the landscape they inhabit. The film stars Robert Duvall as Mac Sledge, formerly an icon of country & western music, now down-and-out, a penniless alcoholic. Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the young widow who owns the rural Texas motel where he has ended up, allows him to work off his board. As the months pass, the singer develops a bond with Rosa and her young son, experiencing the healing effects of this deeply religious woman's compassion. They become a family when she accepts Mac's offer of marriage, and he continues to rebuild his life. He attempts to see his daughter, Sue Ann (Ellen Barkin), whom he hasn't seen in years, and despite a nasty dust-up with Dixie (Betty Buckley), his ex-wife, is finally able to do so. However, the last tragedy he must confront is one that will truly test his recovery. Less a traditional story than a chain of epiphanies on faith and love, this masterpiece of low-key naturalism is arguably the finest work in the distinguished careers of both Duvall and Beresford. [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Allan Hubbard

Director: Bruce Beresford
Screenwriter: Horton Foote
Producer: Philip S. Hobel

DVD Info

Release:

Aug 4, 2008

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital - English

Reviews

 
T-Meter Critics
 
 
Top Critics
 
 
RT Community
 
 
My Critics
 
 
My Friends
 
 
DVD
 
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
07/08/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/22/08
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
A-

An anti-Hollywood drama that glitters in its subdued form because it's a real gem.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/05/08
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ratings Image
B+

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.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/13/08
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image
4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
10/13/07
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Ratings Image
2/5

No review available.

comment Comment
02/18/07
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
Ratings Image
2/5

I found myself filled with disquieting wishes for something to happen to break the silence.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/28/06
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies
Ratings Image
4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
06/15/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image
C-

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.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/04
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
11/19/04
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Ratings Image
5/5

Earthy Duvall vehicle, wonderful character study

comment Comment
10/23/04
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
12/22/03
Derek Smith
Cinematic Reflections
Ratings Image
4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Ratings Image
5/5

No review available.

comment Comment
06/26/03
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
Ratings Image
5/5

Duvall won an Oscar for this one, and it's still a moving and fascinating flick.

comment Comment
02/03/03
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
12/04/02
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums

Tender Mercies
by: Videomaster99 7/12/02

Around the Network

• Tender Mercies at Rotten Tomatoes
 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | ModCenter | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2008, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.