One of those long-lost mid-budget dramas that’s content with observing the rich yet uneventful lives of average folk, Nobody’s Fool reminds us that nothing exciting or shocking needs to happen to make a good story. The late, eternally charismatic Paul Newman leads an ensemble of character actors in relaxed, memorable roles—Bruce Willis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Margo Martindale, and Jessica Tandy, among others. It’s the authentic, neither-love-nor-hate relationship among all these characters that drives all their individual drama forward and keeps the film from stagnating into anything less than endearing. Here, the idea of things never really changing in this small community is meant to be a comfort, not a lament.
"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."
— Michael Sragow
"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."
— Todd McCarthy
A rascally nearing-retirement man juggles a workers' compensation suit while secretly working for his nemesis and flirting with his nemesis' young wife. As his estranged son returns, he faces new family responsibilities, while a banker plots to evict him from his home.
Oscars
2 nominations
Berlin
2 wins
Golden Globes
1 nomination
SAG Awards
1 nomination
Nat. Board of Review
1 win
NYFCC
1 win
