Nobody's Fool 1994

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: We love to see our movie gods play flawed souls, especially a god with a face that looks like one on a Roman coin. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Moviegoing holds few pleasures greater than watching an established star completely inhabit a role that exactly suits his personality and abilities. And seeing Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool defines that pleasure. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Nobody's Fool is funny at times and as cuddly as an old teddy bear. But this movie is being taken far too seriously in some circles. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: The principal pleasure of this film directed by Robert Benton is that its characters are carefully drawn and developed rather than applied like so many decals on a two- dimensional wintry landscape. Read more

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: While watching Robert Benton's sublime adaptation of Richard Russo's novel, it's hard to avoid the realization that movies like this have become an endangered species. Read more

Caryn James, New York Times: It says everything about Mr. Newman's performance, the single best of this year and among the finest he has ever given, that you never stop to wonder how a guy as good-looking as Paul Newman ended up this way. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: For better and for worse, it's still a Hollywood movie (and a white boys' movie to boot), but one with a more alert eye and feeling for American life than most of its competitors. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Not much of a plot? Don't be fooled. The best thing about a story so subdued, so contained -- at least when it's done well, and Fool is done exceptionally well -- is that, in the quiet, we can really hear the characters breathe. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: This is a feel-good flick that doesn't look like one -- it's smart enough to hide its smooth polish beneath a scuffed-up veneer. Read more

Michael Sragow, New Yorker: The movie is both a star vehicle and an ensemble piece; the other actors revolve around Newman yet give off more than just his reflected light. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The intelligent sensitivity of the script, coupled with Newman's powerfully understated performance, make this motion picture special. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It benefits from the confidence of Newman's performance. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a gem. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: By giving his movie a very effective realistic look, by helping his actors to shape strongly believable performances, even when they are doing implausible things, Benton lends credence to...inspirational fibs. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Benton's quietly superb adaptation of Richard Russo's novel is one of those movies you thought they didn't make anymore. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Fronted by a splendid performance from Paul Newman... Robert Benton's character-driven film is sprinkled with small pleasures; the dramatic developments here don't take place in the noisy, calamitous manner that is customary these days. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: So eloquently straightforward, it practically sings to the soul. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: Whatever its faults, it is humble, adult fare and welcome in this age of grandiose children's games. Read more