The Whole Wide World
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Movie Reviews of The Whole Wide World
Movie Review: Fine, Very Fine Work
Summary: 4 Stars
I am delighted that this film has been released on DVD, because like many of the other reviewers I was unaware of this film's existence when it was first released. This is certainly a highlight performance (both as actor and producer) in Mr. D'Onofrio's career, and Renee Zellweger's performance is as natural as the Texas sunsets and sunrises depicted here.
The subject matter itself is of inherent interest, and could be considered strange at first glance. Robert E. Howard? He of Conan the Barbarian? Cross Plains, Texas? I certainly knew nothing about Howard's life, despite the fact that I collected the Marvel Comics of Conan back in the '70's and '80's.
But this is a deeply moving and dignified film, with a wonderful sense of place and time. The small town Texas depicted here is portrayed and acted as lovingly and gently as the breeze on a Central Texas front porch. Mr. Ireland's direction is more than up to the task, and the movie's cumulative effect on the viewer is one of complete emotional involvement and investment.
Poetic and lovely, honest and true, there are few American films of the last 25 years that can match "The Whole Wide World."
One shortcoming (and it is an unfortunate and common one): where are the Black and Mexican people? Texas had and continues to have plenty. Howard's and Lovecraft's racism are well known and unfortunate matters of record; the filmmakers should have been more mindful of this fact.
Movie Review: THE VAGARIES OF GENIUS
Summary: 4 Stars
Stumbled on this heartwarming gem of a movie by accident and was pleasantly surprised. A simple yet moving tale of true love. Based on the memoirs of Novalyn Price, veers around her relationship with the creator of "Conan The Barbarian" and "Kull The COnqueror", Bob Howard, who committed suicide. The period is 1930s, location: small-town Texas. Novalyne is a school teacher who wishes to be a published writer, and Howard is already established as a pulp fiction maverick. Both are in their late 20's.
As such, you'd think that's a weak scaffolding to lay a spectacular movie on, but the story tiptoes at a very good pace. The script is honest and addictive, and the chemistry between the two protags has that elusive, seductive charm of lovers without being overly somatic.
If you think you have seen Zellweger's true class as an actress from Bridget Jones or One True Thing, you haven't seen nothin' yet! The lady is marvellous. D'Onofrio does a fabulous job of being the creative mess of a story writer.
What I relished most, apart from the beautiful potrayal of love, was an unspoken grief of being an outlier in society -- the kind of palpable but overt ostracism that "geniuses" face simply by virtue of being extraordinary.
Required viewing for the romantics, and some delectable worthy escapism for others.
Movie Review: Know the Back Story
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this because I'm a huge D'Onofrio fan. I was put off at first by his strange demeanor. But eventually I was enthralled and couldn't stop watching. It's almost like a train wreck when you just can't look away. The end is the clincher.
I knew nothing about the story but the movie drove me to find out more. It's based on a true story. The woman waited until she was in her 70's to write about this. The man is indeed the author of the Conan the Barbarian stories. Just knowing this little bit made the story that much better to me.
I found D'Onofrio irritating at times so maybe that's why everyone else thinks he acted it so well. I hate thinking of him as irritating but I got over it in the end.
A-
Movie Review: Caught it on Cable - big Robert E. Howard Fan
Summary: 4 Stars
I had wanted to see this movie for a while as I am a Big Robert E. Howard fan - Conan, Solomon Kane, etc.
I had also enjoyed COLD MOUNTAIN which had the same two stars - Vincent D'Onfrio and Rene Zellwiger - but not in the same scenes.
It was a diverting movie with good performances and spectacular scenery. My wife wound up watching it with me. I do think that D'Onfrio overacted a bit as he was also the producer. Zellwiger gave a fantastic performance.
It was NOT much for Conan fans but did have a few scenes in which D'Onfrio acted out scenes from his writing which were interesting.
It is great if you are a fan of Howard, the 2 stars and also like your romance to be simple
Movie Review: A fine Texan love story
Summary: 4 Stars
The character she plays in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD is my favourite role of Ms Zellweger's, apart from that of her NURSE BETTY. My favourite role of Mr D'Onofrio is the quite central one he plays in FULL METAL JACKET but his playing in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD is invested with considerable intelligence and he does a superb job among a great team of actors in this film. Mr Ireland does a sterling job of maintaining tone and allows the work to unfold at a pace appropriate to the classic scenario of a mother not willing to let go an only son, and a lover not willing to wait until she does. A piquant and refreshing change from sentimental pap and Hollywood formula.