MovieChat Forums > The Prince of Tides (1991) Discussion > Nick Nolte - No Middle Ground

Nick Nolte - No Middle Ground

posted 11 years ago by trickg1
9 replies | jump to latest

After revisiting this movie after not having seen it in its entirety in a number of years - possibly more than a decade - one of the things that really stood out to me was the fact that there was just no middle ground to Nick Nolte's acting - he'd go from calm to a temper tantrum in nothing flat, and then he'd chill out in nothing flat. I found that to be a bit disconcerting.

A prime example of this is at the hospital where he comes out of Savannah's room outraged that she's in restraints as well as the fact that she's heavily seadated. Lowenstein meets force with force....and then all of a sudden he's all chill, like he hadn't just made a big scene. This is a pattern that happens throughout the movie.

I don't know if it's because Nolte couldn't crecendo and decreceno, or if he purposefully did it that way to show that underneath Tom's mostly calm exterior, there was great turmoil underneath, just threatening to explode at the least provocation.

Thoughts?

"My name is Gladiator"

[–] onemanbond 11 years ago

He's handling his pain by having a split personality therefore, fluctoating from one extreme mood to the other.

[–] trickg1 11 years ago

Ok, so you thought it was done on purpose? I wasn't sure, but being a casual fan of Nick Nolte, it wasn't something I'd ever noticed before, hence the reason I started the thread.

I've always liked this movie, but as good as the movie is, the book is just oh so much better. But isn't that always the way out goes when they try to compress a fantastic novel into a screenplay that only spans a couple of hours?

My name is Gladiator - Maximus Decimus Meridius

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

seen 'the great santini' movie? that's good. blythe danner is in it too.

You stay classy, San Diego.

[–] trickg1 11 years ago

IMO Blythe Danner was hawt! Well, in her day she was anyway, and hotter than her daughter, although Gwyneth is quite pretty as well.

My name is Gladiator - Maximus Decimus Meridius

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

He's handling his pain by having a split personality therefore, fluctoating from one extreme mood to the other.

I agree. That was my impression too, it was his way of handling things.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

that's a great observation.

You stay classy, San Diego.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ecrowley-878-171149 7 years ago

Should have received the Oscar for 48 hrs and this.

[–] vajta99 7 years ago

I think Nick Nolte would've won an Academy Award for this role any other year except this one when there simple wasn't any chance that anybody other than Anthony Hopkins wins it. At least he won Golden Globe award.