the ability to forgive - Nolte's character referred to this rare human characteristic a couple of times in the movie - and his character actually embodied this fine quality - tough to bring across to the viewer by even the best of actors.
shareIt's very easy for an actor to recite platitudes like that, but Nick Nolte genuinely conveyed the emotional process of forgiveness in this film. He was genuinely torn between the demands of his dying wife and his knowledge that he might not be the best parent for the child. You could feel his emotions and doubts about his grandson's mother, but he also conveyed why he thought the child belonged with her. From a weaker actor, the performance would have sounded like a Hallmark card, but Nick brings it home.