Kramer vs. Kramer
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Movie Reviews of Kramer vs. Kramer
Movie Review: outstanding, taut and riveting drama that grabs you by the throat and never lets you go until the ending
Summary: 5 Stars
Kramer vs. Kramer provides us with a timeless snapshot of what custody battles are like after a messy divorce. Although there are a few things in the movie that are a little dated (phone with dials, Checker type New York City taxicabs, the fashions, and salaries that were once considered quite good when in our times they would be way too low to afford a nice apartment in Manhattan), the fundamental story remains relevant and the issues have changed little. In addition, the acting is absolutely convincing in Kramer vs. Kramer; you couldn't ask for better--Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep deserved their Oscars. The musical score for the film enhances it, too; and I like the choreography as well as the fine cinematography.
When the action starts in New York City, we see the highly stressed out Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep) walking out on her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and their seven year old son Billy (Justin Henry). Ted calls Joanna's friend Margaret (Jane Alexander) as he thinks Joanna will be with her friend and then come right back home--after all, she didn't even take her suitcase! Unfortunately, Joanna simply disappears and Ted is left to care for his son while holding down a demanding job when he is finally beginning to climb the corporate ladder big time. Initially, Ted and his son Billy don't always have things easy, but as time goes by they form a touching bond and they love each other very much.
As time passes, Ted is tested many times and I came to sympathize with him a great deal. We see him panic and run with Billy in his arms to a hospital emergency room when Billy falls off the neighborhood park's jungle gym and requires a few stitches. Ted and Billy share very tender moments when Ted reads bedtime stories every night to Billy. Ted also slowly but surely forms a bond of friendship with Joanna's now former friend Margaret; they often chat with each other on the park bench as their children play close by.
However, all this is threatened when Joanna unexpectedly moves back to New York. Almost a year and one-half later, Joanne now wants custody of their son Billy. Ted is incensed and refuses; thus Joanna starts a custody battle in the court system. Ted gets lawyer John Shaunessy (Howard Duff) to represent him although Shaunessy tells Ted it's going to be tough to win the custody battle because judges always favor giving custody to the woman--even if the woman once walked out on her own child.
Questions remain, however. What happens when Ted's boss suddenly lets Ted go--how will Ted be able to find a good paying job in twenty-four hours so that he has at least a slim chance of keeping custody of his son? To what degree with Joanna and her lawyer go to defame Ted's character? How will Margaret be able to help or hinder Ted in the courtroom custody trial? No plot spoilers--watch and find out!
The DVD comes with a terrific documentary about the making of the film.
Kramer vs. Kramer will stay in your mind long after you see it; it's extremely poignant and moving with just a little bit of comedy that makes it as realistic as possible. I highly recommend this film for people interested in the themes presented and played out in this movie; and fans of the actors would do well to add this to their collections.
Movie Review: The trauma of divorce...
Summary: 5 Stars
A powerful statement about the trauma of divorce is offered by this winner of five Academy Awards. Dustin Hoffman plays Ted Kramer, a husband and father who, in order to "bring home the bacon" is totally dedicated to his career.
His wife feels neglected, ignored, alone, and forgotten. Meryl Streep plays the wife, Joanna, and delivers an outstanding performance about the young mother, overwhelmed with what she considers a dead end. She decides to leave her husband, son and apartment in search for self-development and growth.
Ted Kramer arrives home, bringing what he thinks will be the best news ever. He has just received a promotion, landing a major advertising account. As he enters, Joanna delivers the news that she is leaving.
As it happens in many situations, we find Ted going from the sublime to the ridicule, from what he thought was the best of news, to hearing his world, as he knows it, is about to end. Ted tries hard to keep some sense of composure for tomorrow he has a major presentation to deliver at work. But... the drastic change in his personal life starts to take its toll.
Dustin Hoffman is superb. The next day scenes during his first attempt at breakfast with his son, Billy, played by Justin Henry, are some of the best movie clips in this movie, for you sense his anger, his pain, his frustration. He wants to be positive to prevent his son from having to live through the trauma of abandonment, but soon finds himself making breakfast, not knowing how, with his son trying to help, only to realize that "Daddy" has no clue as to how to make his favorite, French toast.
Father and son soon begin to adjust to this new life, the father taking on all the responsibilities of his ex-wife, and the child adjusting to a world without Mom, where he actually has to guide his father to the right products to purchase as they grocery shop.
Finally, when these two have regained some sense of composure, and life is beginning to smoothly run for father and son, Joanna returns and now she wants Billy back. Ted refuses to give him up and they go to court to battle... Kramer vs. Kramer... Husband vs. Wife...
While this movie was released in 1979, it is as good a topic today as it was then, and highly recommended for any family confronted with the issues of divorce, irreparable differences, separation, resulting anger, frustration, and pain.
Dustin Hoffman's performance as the father who attempts to do what is right for his son is brilliantly delivered. In all fairness, the movie delivers a powerful message, and that is that in cases of divorce, of a family breaking up, every individual has a certain share of responsibility. We can not blame one person entirely, and in Kramer vs. Kramer we find all parties facing the dilemma of how to proceed with life when the family unit ceases to exist. Without a doubt... this is the trauma of divorce performed to perfection!
Movie Review: A Domestic Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
How does one criticize perfection? The deserved winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Benton), Best Writing (Robert Benton), Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), and Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Kramer VS. Kramer captured an emotional essence that so many films since have tried and failed to resurrect. Any words that I spew out simply won't do the film justice. I read the novel by Avery Corman, in which the film is loosely based (first half; the second half is almost word-for-word), and there are certain things that I would have liked to see transferred from the novel to the film. But I fully understand the changes that were made and the subject matter that was omitted for the final theatrical release. The film not only tugs at the heart strings, but it also makes such a firm statement about a society that so strictly views parental strengths to be a gender-biased topic. In this film, workaholic Ted Kramer (Hoffman, in one of the greatest on-screen performances of all time) takes on the responsibility of single working parent for his son Billy (wonderfully portrayed by Oscar Nominee Justin Henry) after his wife Joanna (Streep) suddenly leaves, seemingly abandoning her child. After Ted rockily develops a rapport with his son, Joanna returns to take custody of Billy, and the courtroom battle between devoted father and emotionally-reborn mother ensues. To say that this was one of my favorite films of all time would be an understatement. What so many Hollywood films of today seem to fail to understand is the subtleties that connect the viewer to an emotionally-driven story. So many films out there go so far out of the realm of possibility just to get an emotional response from their viewer, while Kramer VS. Kramer settles in on a reality that we all know and recognize, and it is through this recognition that we experience a deeply moving family drama of such phenomenal proportions. I definitely recommend giving this one a gander, and when you're done, watch it a few dozen more times!Movie Review: "All Movies Should Be This Good"
Summary: 5 Stars
There are movies, then there are movies: "Kramer vs. Kramer is one of those. Originally released to theatres in 1979, "Kramer vs. Kramer is one of the most intelligent films ever, dramitizing the effects of what happens to a child when it's mother walks out on the family. The film explores the means in which the father goes to to gain full custody of his son, and the ultimate outcome when the mother resurfaces to claim the child. Thought provoking and emotional, this film will leave you confused, sad, angry, and happy, which is what most films that are dramas should do.
A perfect film with a cast that most Hollywood producers would kill for, "Kramer vs. Kramer" stars Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as the parents who get a divorce and wage a war with each other in their claims for their son. This was one of Meryl's first meaty roles and she would win her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The film would garner 4 other major Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Dustin, Best Director for Robert Benton, Best Screenplay, also for Robert Benton, and Best Picture of the Year!
Kate Jackson, of "Charlie's Angels's" fame, was offered the role of Joanna, the mother in the film, but the producers of "Charlie's Angels" wouldn't allow her time to do the film. Jackson would later quit "Charlie's" the following year.
Leonard maltin says of the film, it's "intelligent, beautifully crafted, and is intensely moving".
The DVD is full of bonuses including interiews with the main cast, trailers, and it comes in beautiful widescreen format and is beautifully restored.
Movie Review: Confronting
Summary: 5 Stars
For a lot of people seeing a movie about divorce, especially with children involved, can be very confronting. Seeing 'Kramer vs Kramer' was the worst/best movie I have seen about this subject. There are so many people in the world today that live alone with a child are a child of divorced parents. Same for me.
Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep are married but she decided to leave him because he is so into his work that he sometimes forgets about her. She was a former graphic artist like him but gave it up when their baby Billy came. Without even taking a suitcase she leaves him and Billy alone. The movie is about how the father and son have a hard time getting along in the beginning but come closer and closer as the movie progresses. He does have to leave his job because he cannot do it as well as he did because he has to take care of Billy now.
In the end she wants Billy back and starts a court case for custody which she wins, though she does not deserve it. Hoffmann is a great father and spends a lot of time with him, but the courts are strange sometimes.
What will happen remains unclear, the last scene is multi-interpretable.
As I said before as a child of divorced parents this movie was sometimes hard to watch and that is what makes it so good, its reality. Hoffman is amazing and deservedly won an oscar for this role as Billy's dad. The young boy also has a great role because he shows what it is like.
If you are divorcing and have children, watch this movie, it might lead you to a less selfish decision.