Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 5, 1992 TAG: 9201030215
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT `PRINCE OF TIDES'
Gratifyingly leanNothing about Barbra Streisand's previous acting or direction is preparation for her expert handling of "The Prince of Tides," which has been pared down from Pat Conroy's sprawling, hyperbolic novel to a film that is gratifyingly lean.
Discretion and reserve are not the first qualities that come to mind about Streisand's work, yet they are very much in evidence this time. So is the frankly emotional style with which she is more often associated, a style perfectly attuned to this film's complex, stirring story. . . .
One of the best things Streisand has done here is to get out of the way, so that her portrayal of Dr. Lowenstein never upstages Nick Nolte's superlative Tom.
The screenplay, by Conroy and Becky Johnston, consistently extracts the book's best lines of dialogue and leaves the rest behind. . . . The novel's big revelations have been given different weight here, and in the film's version they make more sense. Streisand makes some skillful transitions in juxtaposing Tom's present and past for the audience, just as they are connected in the character's own mind.\ - JANET MASLIN The New York Times
\ Seamless, traditional filmmaking
Depending on your point of view, this film is either reconfirmation of [Barbra] Streisand's considerable talent or further evidence that she has an ego as big as all outdoors. More often than not, it appears to be both at the same time. . . .
Conroy's novel revels in wave after wave of unabashed, unapologetic emotion, and it was these great swaths of sentiment that clearly attracted Streisand, an artist who has always felt that if you were going to be satisfied with wearing your heart on your sleeve, you might as well hide it under a basket. . . .
To her credit, Streisand has turned in a handsome, seamless piece of very traditional Hollywood direction. This is mainstream filmmaking at its main-streamest, smooth and glossy.
The best parts of Conroy's book, Tom's amazing reminiscences of the magical-awful Wingo past . . . are either eliminated, short-changed or referred to only in passing. Yet, like a powerful wave that leaves a residue behind even after it has receded, the strength of the novel, watered down and blanded out though it may be, combines with Nolte's performance to give this movie a resonance it wouldn't otherwise have.\ - KENNETH TURAN Los Angeles Times
\ A minor miracle
Barbra Streisand has performed a minor miracle of sorts with "Prince of Tides." As a director, she has extracted from Nick Nolte the best performance of his career. . . .
Streisand, who also stars in the film, is a bit self-indulgent in the love scenes, but in all other respects this is a splendid movie version of an excellent novel. . . . The film is never as lyrical as the book, but for moviemaking, it is lyrical enough. It is unlikely that any other director or scriptwriter could do any better with this assignment.\ - LOU CEDRONE The Baltimore Evening Sun
\ Love it and hate it
There is no doubt that Barbra Streisand's "Prince of Tides" is hugely entertaining in that grand, old-movie way. I watched it raptly, even though I despised it.
It's crass, vain and manipulative; it's also broad, moving, absorbing and passionate. It's like La Streisand herself: bigger than life, sweller than life, louder than life, lifier than life. . . .
The performances save the film. Nolte's sinewy, graceful hurting ballplayer is a compelling character. Streisand is Streisand, wise, brave, gifted, giving and, like Portnoy's mother, maybe a little too good for her own good. But couldn't she have just hummed a few bars of "People"?\ - STEPHEN HUNTER The Baltimore Sun