Madison County is Eastwood's gift to women: to Francesca, to all the girls he's loved before -- and to Streep, who alchemizes literary mawkishness into intelligent movie passion.
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
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Reviews Counted: 40
Fresh: 36
Rotten:4
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: The film adaptation of Robert James Waller's wildly popular, bestselling novel. The story takes place in 1965, in the farmlands of Iowa, where bored, middle-aged Italian housewife Francesca has just sent her two kids and husband away to... The film adaptation of Robert James Waller's wildly popular, bestselling novel. The story takes place in 1965, in the farmlands of Iowa, where bored, middle-aged Italian housewife Francesca has just sent her two kids and husband away to the state fair. Shortly thereafter she encounters Robert Kincaid, a mysterious, rugged, "National Geographic" photographer, on assignment taking pictures of Iowa's covered bridges. The two are immediately attracted to each other, and when Francesca invites Robert back to her home, they begin a romantic, sensual, illicit affair that lasts over the next few days. For Francesca, this is the first time in years that she's experienced passion in her life, and she realizes that maybe she's found her true love. Robert feels the same way, and shortly before her family returns home, asks Francesca to run off with him. Francesca now must make an important decision -- one that will affect the rest of her life and could leave her with many regrets... [More]
Starring: Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood
Starring: Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood
Director: Clint Eastwood
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: Richard La Gravenese
Story: Robert James Waller
Producer: Clint Eastwood, Kathleen Kennedy
DVD Info
Reviews for The Bridges of Madison County
Little happens here apart from a long, slow buildup to sentimentalized coitus, but there's no denying the sheer screen presence of these two 500-lb. gorillas of pop culture.
An unlikely choice as director and producer, it's thanks to Eastwood's relatively thin sentimental streak that the film doesn't fall headlong into a lagoon of schmaltz.
Whether Meryl Streep deserved an Oscar nomination may be debatable, but what's beyond dispute is that scripter Richard LaGravenese and director Clint Eastwood have actually made a better, more enjoyable film than the schmaltzy literary source.
Given the intelligent restraint of the treatment, this is about as fine an adaptation of this material as one could hope for...
In Eastwood's hands, it seems, even divorce can be more romantic than orgasms under the right circumstances.
Clint's movie is muddy, dusty and full of flies. It took a real man like Eastwood to really fall in love.
Immaculately performed, and assembled with wit and sensitivity, this is one of the most satisfying weepies in years.
This didn't pain me anywhere near as much as I thought it would. A money-grab, surely, and Clint's weird bush story is very awkward, but generally charming enough for a date with a boring person.
Eastwood can do no wrong in my eyes ... but he came dangerously close with this one.
Limited by the vapidity of this material while he trims its excesses with the requisite machete, Mr. Eastwood locates a moving, elegiac love story at the heart of Mr. Waller's self-congratulatory overkill.
Outstanding drama. Actually makes a case for adultery. You really feel for them and get sucked into this quiet world.
Latest News for The Bridges of Madison County
October 17, 2005:
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March 29, 2005:
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