MovieChat Forums > The Prince of Tides (1991) Discussion > Just watched and I'm confused

Just watched and I'm confused

posted 10 years ago by JavierBoredom
11 replies | jump to latest

I know I'm 20+ years late to this party, but bear with me —

Loved this movie for the first 90+ minutes, and then it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

Why does the very interesting story of the past and present lives of the Wingo family morph for the last 30 minutes into the story of the emotional emancipation of an affluent New York City psychiatrist? Does the novel travel this route as well?

Why is more time spent on Tom telling Susan she's beautiful than on Tom bonding and healing with Savannah, or confronting Lila?

Why is Savannah suddenly better at the end? What exactly has Susan done to help her?

Why is Susan married to an apparent psychopath?

Why does Susan's son have a stronger story arc than any of the Wingos?

Why was the goofy gay neighbor given more screen time than Luke?

Why were Susan's fingernails given more screen time than Luke?

Does the novel really end with Tom repeating "Lowenstein - Lowenstein - Lowenstein"? Egads.

I could go on. I'm truly not meaning to hate on Streisand, Conroy, or this film. It's very well made and extremely well acted. All of the Wingo family scenes were wonderful. As I said, I was completely on board for the first 90+ minutes, and then it took a wild turn and I was suddenly watching The Way We Were 2. How in the world did this storytelling disaster get a Best Picture Oscar nomination over Barton Fink, Boyz N The Hood, The Fisher King, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Thelma & Louise?

Thanks in advance!

[–] RoyalAllure 10 years ago

It became a vanity project for La Streisand.

You, a salty water ocean wave.
Knock, me down and kiss my face.

[–] biggiebaby 10 years ago

The book concentrates on Luke much more and the relationship of the siblings.

[–] rascal67 10 years ago

Lowenstein became a major character in the film, rather than support, compared to the sprawling novel. I agree that Streisand ruined the latter part of the film and weakened it by focusing more on her character and romantic relationship with Tom. Pat Conroy co-wrote the script with Becky Johnston and both were likely at Streisand's behest and had to endure her narcissism. Hence, her own real life son's focus and character arc and Lowenstein being the one to emancipate both Savannah and Tom, which gave her character major kudos in the context of the story.

Streisand was lucky to get a Best Picture nomination, (Thelma & Louise, Fried Green Tomatoes and Fisher King are more solid works), and though she did a good job with the direction of the script she chose to work from, her snub from the director nominees was likely deserved, when compared to the novel and the film it could have been.

[–] eelb 10 years ago

Streisand poured a lot of influence and money into the project, and everyone else had to follow along if they wanted a payday. Conroy likely made more money from the film than any book he had authored.

The film is basically a formula middle age romance plot, with the dysfunctional family as a backdrop.

[–] rc-108 10 years ago

I am also late to the party.
good questions Javier...I agree with what you are asking..

still not a bad flick...
Nolte was good...
and Streisand also..

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Treg1980 9 years ago

I'm glad it did, the movie worked really well as a love story. Had it focussed more on the Wingo family it should have been a mini-series since there would be too much to tell for a movie. Now we got Lowenstein helping her patient's brother and the brother helping Lowenstein. It's not the first time a based on a novel movie changes the plot a bit. And it's not as if Streisand ruined Conroy's novel, Conroy himself wrote the screenplay and said that Streisand changed The Prince of Tides for the better. For example she let Tom be the chain smoker instead of Susan. Conroy said in an interview that Streisand perhaps understood TPOT better than he did when he wrote it. That says a lot, coming from the author himself.

But god forbid Streisand the director gives herself a bigger part in a story than her character originally had, but when Clint Eastwood the director does the same thing people praise him.
As if Clint is this attractive man every woman dreams about, yet he plays Richard Kincaid in The Bridges of Madison County as if he is. Richard had many women, strips off while a yearning Streep spies on him etc.

Streisand made a terrific movie which will always be one of my all-time faves.

[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 9 years ago

Just watched it in full, finally. Hollywood is full of these little hypocrisies and double standards, so I won't argue with you about your Streisand-Eastwood point. But does it piss anyone off that she crowbarred her son into the film? Just curious. I mean, Jason Giuld doesn't otherwise have an acting career to my knowledge...

[–] Treg1980 7 years ago

She did not crowbar her son into this film, Streisand wanted Chris O'Donnell and had already casted him. Then Pat Conroy visited Streisand at her house and saw pictures of Jason and said 'That's Bernard, I want him as Bernard'. Streisand at first didn't want to direct her own son and was afraid of how people would react. Conroy has stated this in interviews himself.

Do you really think Streisand liked having to pay O'Donnell while he didn't appear in the movie and pay her own son? She paid two actors while only one of them played the part.

My goodness all the crap Streisand has to endure.

[–] Illini8456 8 years ago

Agree about Streisand .... I loved the book and was so disappointed when the movie project included her. I admit, I am not a fan of hers, but she is so self absorbed and narcissistic that in my opinion she tries to turn every project in to "I'm Barbra Streisand and the is really all about me".

[–] isundling 8 years ago

I just finished watching this movie again, and it is still one of my favorites...

And yes, the ending of the book is the same. Tom driving over the bridge saying "Lowenstein,Lowenstein"...

Barbra had orignally cast Chris O'Donell as her son, but Pat Conroy, the author disagreed, and said he didn't look like her, so he flipped through some photos and saw Jason Gould, and said "he is the one".