Nobody's Fool (1994 film)

Nobody's Fool
File:Nobodysfool.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Benton
Produced by	Arlene Donovan Scott Rudin
Written by	Robert Benton
Based on	Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo
Starring	Paul Newman Jessica Tandy Bruce Willis Melanie Griffith Dylan Walsh
Music by	Howard Shore
Cinematography	John Bailey
Edited by	John Bloom
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures (USA), Capella Films/Intl. (Intl)
Release dates	December 23, 1994 (1994-12-23)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$39,491,975

Nobody's Fool is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Richard Russo. It stars Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, Dylan Walsh, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Gene Saks, Josef Sommer, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Philip Bosco. The film was written for the screen and directed by Robert Benton. It was Paramount's final production under Paramount Communications ownership and Jessica Tandy's final produced film before her death on September 11, 1994. It was released three months after her death.

Plot

Donald "Sully" Sullivan (Newman) is a worn yet spry hustler living in the peaceful, snowy northern New York state village of North Bath. He free-lances in the construction business, usually with his dim-witted friend Rub (Vince) by his side. He is often at odds with Carl Roebuck (Willis), a local contractor, suing him at every opportunity for unpaid wages and disability. Sully's one-legged lawyer Wirf (Saks) is inept, and his lawsuits are repeatedly dismissed. As a way to irritate him, Sully flirts with Carl's wife Toby (Griffith) openly at every opportunity (which she enjoys). He is a regular at the Iron Horse Saloon, where he often has drinks and plays cards with Wirf, Carl, Rub, and the town sheriff.

A running joke is the repeated theft of Carl's snowblower. Sully steals it to get back at Carl for his latest failed lawsuit. Carl steals it back, placing it in the yard at his construction business guarded by his doberman pinscher guard dog. Sully, after drugging the dog, steals it a second time. Carl takes it back a final time, and leaves the dog, who is now skittish due to his drugging, at Sully's childhood home for him to find.

Sully is a tenant in the home of the elderly Miss Beryl (Tandy), whose banker son Clive (Sommer) strongly urges her to kick him out and sell the house. Family complications of his own develop for Sully with a visit from Peter (Walsh), his estranged son who is a jobless professor at odds with his wife. While he and Sully reconstruct their relationship, Sully begins a new one with young grandson Will (Alexander Goodwin). Peter’s sudden everyday presence does not sit well with Rub, but Sully tells him that although Peter is his son, Rub is still his best friend. Meanwhile, Clive is on the verge of a lucrative deal to build an amusement park in North Bath. However, the deal unexpectedly falls through when the promoter turns out to be a con man, and Clive quietly skips town in shame since he used his bank's resources to help finance the amusement park.

After being jailed for punching a police officer named Raymer (Hoffman) who has been persecuting him, Sully's luck seems to be all bad. But his son and grandson start to warm up to him, and his fortune takes a turn for the better when his horse racing trifecta ticket wins. Even the lovely Toby expresses a willingness to leave Carl, mostly due to his constant womanizing, and run away with Sully to Hawaii. Sully realizes he can’t leave his grandson and thanks Toby for considering him, just before she leaves for the airport. In the end, Sully is pretty much back where he began, boarding at Miss Beryl's. But now he is a little richer, both financially and in his soul, he's a new dog owner, and he has become the picture of contentment.

Cast

• Paul Newman as Donald "Sully" Sullivan
• Jessica Tandy as Beryl Peoples
• Bruce Willis as Carl Roebuck
• Melanie Griffith as Toby Roebuck
• Dylan Walsh as Peter Sullivan
• Pruitt Taylor Vince as Rub Squeers
• Gene Saks as Wirf Wirfley
• Josef Sommer as Clive Peoples Jr.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Officer Raymer
• Philip Bosco as Judge Flatt
• Catherine Dent as Charlotte Sullivan
• Margo Martindale as Birdy

Production

Nobody's Fool was filmed in the Hudson Valley, New York towns of Beacon, Fishkill, Balmville, Poughkeepsie, and Hudson. The setting for both the book and movie, North Bath, New York, is based on the city of Gloversville in Fulton County.

Reception

Box office

The movie debuted strongly.

Critical response

Nobody's Fool was highly received by critics and maintains a 91% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus, "It's solidly directed by Robert Benton and stacked with fine performances from an impressive cast, but above all, Nobody's Fool is a showcase for some of Paul Newman's best late-period work."

Accolades

Nobody's Fool was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Newman) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Paul Newman won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival in 1995.

External links

• Nobody's Fool at IMDb