I thought Robert Duvall gave a very nuanced, credible performance as Walter. It barely looked like him under the glasses and aging makeup -- he looked more like Martin Scorsese or Swifty Lazar. And the Cuban accent was completely believable. Excellent job all around by the cast on this underseen film.
shareThis is a beautiful film. I remember the two old men urinating on the bank as the fireworks are going off. I remember them sitting in the dusty chairs outside in the sun and Robert DuVall's character going into the same diner every day to flirt with a young waitress and have his bacon sandwich.
I love bacon sandwiches.
I believe we're going to see Mr. Duvall in the nominations, and possibly carrying one off the Oscar stage in 2011 for his new movie called "Get Low"
Bill Murray and Luke Black's also in it. Bill Murray said that DuVall is a revelation. "Says more in thirty seconds than most actors can in thirty years"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5XU2MRiDA&playnext=1&videos=H dQi86fbbXw
Hope you appreciate all the work I go through to link up these wonderful songs for you! Warrrr-Peddd
(even if you never ask me to)
Served with the style of a real neurotic
the easy style of a true psychotic
J C Clarke
So glad you've seen this film, C_J! This sort of slipped my radar for the past 17 years. I'm visiting my family this week and found it on VHS in the clearance bin of a local video store for 99 cents. It's a terrific aging-with-dignity-and-sass film. Duvall and Richard Harris do a lot of male-bonding, and that urination scene is part of it. Duvall has a crush on the waitress played by Sandra Bullock, and Richard Harris embarrasses him with his crass dialogue and behavior. Both elderly gents have plenty to teach the other.
I surely hope Duvall gets nominated and wins an Oscar this year, because he's not getting any younger. None of us is, come to think about it. I was surprised at how much he made "Crazy Heart" worthwhile for me; Jeff Bridges was excellent, but the film itself left me a bit empty outside of Duvall's role.
And I very much acknowledge and appreciate your music links. That "Nina Simone" song from Tom Russell is gorgeous!
Know what you mean Warped. I watched the movie and didn't realize it was Duvall until the end credits!
shareHello JohnHiatt (<————— one of my favorite singer-songwriters, by the way!):
Yes, it is an amazing transformation, isn't it? The makeup is certainly part of it, but Duvall totally immerses himself in the role with the accent and characterizations. Tremendous performance by a great actor.