Tomorrow

This is a very fine William Faulkner adaptation set in circa 1910 rural Mississippi. Duvall fans, like me, should be thrilled to see and hear his masterful piece of humble and unpretentious acting. I must say there is a level of disappointment in reading the few negative or cursory reviews. I think one of the most overlooked elements in this film is the outstanding acting by Olga Bellin (Sarah). Frequent commentary of being cast too old is unfounded. Women in rural environments of this depicted era were a little worn around the edges. Sarah is actually quite beautiful in close ups, and she dispels any age related bias in the subtleties of her great acting. Where Duvall is masterful in delivering rural and colloquial dialog, Bellin equals the performance with outstanding facial expressions and body language. It is like having a window to her heart and mind. Together, they compelled me to care about them. In some ways, a nice motif on opposites attract. As for the purported, slow pace of this movie, I might just say life in the woods of Mississippi for 103 minutes did not seem too deliberate for me. This film is a very good and focused character study on love and loyalty. The monochromatic cinematography is appropriate and adequate. The on location, props and screen captures are great. Cinophiles should appreciate it. Despite some critics perceived B-movie imagery at times, this film has 4-star acting and a meaningful story.

Robert Duvall has mentioned in several interviews that "Tomorrow" was one of his favorite movies that he worked on. He also mentioned that it was one of his most esoteric works. The movie disappeared from the theatres mostly because Duvall wasn't quite a marquee name at the time and furthermore, the actors weren't conventionally beautiful or handsome. And then there was that accent that Duvall affected... Anyway, this was based on a short story by Faulkner that was published in the Saturday Evening Post back when short stories could be published in anything other an anthology. It is also one of my favorite movies. The love story was touching and sweet. The ending had me bawling. And nobody was turned into a fish.

This movie predates some of Duvall's more critically acclaimed and popularly received turns, but in truth, this may be the finest acting job of his career. Duvall is this film, and he has made this kind of intense, honest character study his own (Tender Mercies, The Apostle, The Great Santini). The black and white cinematography is perfectly suited to the story and the acting. It works as a far more honest story-telling device than Spielberg's "Schindler's List." This is a must-see for Duvall fans and for fans of small, independent films as well.

Tomorrow is one of the finest movies I have seen. Duvall was excellent in this movie, and even he points back to this as his finest work in cinema (I read an article once in which Duvall said that this role was his "King Lear"). The story is simple but significant. The impact of it is substantial. It is not a movie for hard-hearted cynics. Although it is not sappy, and by no means is it over-the-top (understated is a much better description), the movie does require a man to peel back his macho veneer and and try to identify with a life situation many men may find almost ridiculous (or horrifying) in this day, i.e. a life of faithful love and service. As such, this film would not be a top pick of fans of "The Man Show", or anything on MTV, for that matter. It is a gutwrenching story of sacrifice and self-denial; in other words, it is a REAL love story that brings to mind the love of God for the unlovely.

What a formula for a great movie, based on a Faulkner short story, screenplay by Horton Foote and Robert Duvall in the lead! I don't think any of the three has ever done better. If you want to know what is essential in this life and what you can do without I'd highly recommend this film. The last line of the film explains the title so beautifully, it is a film that has haunted me for years, always gives me courage to go on. Don't watch it if you are not a sensitive person, you'd waste your time and only sensitive hearts and minds should be blessed by watching this film.