MovieChat Forums > Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1991) Discussion > Joanne Woodward's performance kept me wa...

Joanne Woodward's performance kept me watching this film.

posted 17 years ago by Joshf84
8 replies | jump to latest

I liked the film but there was something about it that made me feel odd while watching it. I did however think the acting in this was stellar. Joanne Woodward was great as was Paul Newman. I also thought that Blythe Danner was great in this. At first I didn't really understand the point of her character but closer to the end of the film you realise her character had played a larger role in India Bridge's life than you first are aware of. While I did enjoy te film for the most part the only thing that really kept me watching was Woodwards' fantastic performance!

[–] caugusto16 17 years ago

Yes, she was the only good thing in the movie and was robbed of the Oscar (although Kathy Bates was outstanding in "Misery" as well).

For an Oscar Nomination:
Tabu in The Namesake

[–] rtcnz 16 years ago

I'd heard less than positive reviews of this, but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed it. Joanne Woodward was brilliant, as was Blythe Danner (who usually plays blonde outgoing types, but thought she played the introvert very well), and Paul Newman.

My favourite scene is when JW marches into her son's bedroom, singing a marching tune, then immediately shouts at him to shave off his moustache, then bursts into tears. It was funny in a way, but also very moving

[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

I agree that Joanne Woodward was tremendous in this film, and you could tell she and Paul Newman had something special onscreen and off. This was a film with very strong performances, which is fortunate because with lesser talents, it would have been a snooze. The "crises" in the Bridges' lives appear trivial to us these days, but the strong cast made us care.

Kathy Bates gave a tremendous performance in "Misery" that year, so an Oscar just wasn't in the cards for Joanne. Also, this film was sadly overlooked by critics and moviegoers. Fortunately, it lives on in video, and I will never forget the tremendous talents of Joanne and her dearly departed husband, Paul Newman.

[–] caugusto16 14 years ago

Two years and four months later, I still believe Woodward deserved to win but the movie is so slow I almost wanted to turn it off.

I'm retired. I invented dice when I was a kid.

[–] mariahfan-1 14 years ago

she was great in this so was Paul James Ivorey is one of the few directors that can direct her so well as are Gil Cates Jonathan Demme Paul and Martin Ritt

"why are you married to him then if you can't work with him how do you live with him?"

[–] lynda618 12 years ago

I'm late coming to this post, but I think Woodward's reaction when her son refused to kiss her was one of the greatest acting jobs ever.

[–] blackvenom-1 12 years ago

^This. Joanne Woodward was brilliant in the film. In the beginning, I was annoyed by how naive India Bridge was. And how extremely kind she was towards everyone. But once we see how lonely and neglected she feels in her own family, she becomes such a moving character and the only one I was rooting for. Woodward created a complex personality onscreen, every little scene added a new detail to India's multi-layered character. She was exquisite and, out of the nominees, should have won the Oscar. Kathy Bates and Anjelica Huston were very good, but Woodward had the trickiest role and she more than delivered.

[–] fentress 8 years ago

I agree with all the positive things others have said about Woodward in this thread. But I think there are other reasons to watch it too. I don't agree with those who say the movie is too slow. It's meant to be a slice-of-life snapshot of a family's life. If you take it for what it is and don't expect to be a plot-directed movie, then it works.

I would second too how wonderful Blythe Danner's performance was. I thought she stole every scene she was in. The scene where she talks to India about losing her mind and India can only be sweet and offer platitudes, that may be my favorite scene. I think that scene is the essence of the movie right there.