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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Nobody's Fool (1994)

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Sully's Travails

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Nobody's Fool on DVD.

I saw this one on an airplane, but I really liked it. It's one of those small gems that make you smile. Newman plays Sully, a crotchety old codger in upstate New York whose newly single son comes to stay, along with Sully's grandson. This gives him a fresh opportunity to learn to be a parent (or grandparent). Director Robert Benton gives the movie a light touch, focusing on humor and characters and dialogue (adapted from Richard Russo's book), and using the snow-covered exteriors to create a heavier sense of mood. The terrific supporting cast includes Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Dylan Walsh and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Benton, Russo and Newman re-teamed for Twilight.

With: Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, Dylan Walsh, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Gene Saks, Josef Sommer, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, Catherine Dent, Alexander Goodwin, Carl J. Matusovich, Jay Patterson, Jerry Mayer, Angela Pietropinto, Alice Drummond, Margo Martindale, Angelica Torn
Written by: Robert Benton, based on a novel by Richard Russo
Directed by: Robert Benton
MPAA Rating: R for some language and nudity
Running Time: 110 minutes
Date: September 26, 2008