Cheap The Bridges of Madison County (DVD) (Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep) (Clint Eastwood) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Bridges of Madison County

"Bridges" stars the glorious Meryl Streep as Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride turned unhappy '60's Iowa farm wife, who falls deeply into romantic love with National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) while her husband and teenage children are away for four days at an out-of-state fair. She must then decide whether or not to abandon her family in order to spend the rest of her days with the love of her life. The story is really as simple as that, as the true joy of this film is not in surprising and witty plot machinations but in watching two mature and interesting people TALK and RELATE to each other in a realistic manner, something you just don't see in American films any more.
Add to the main plot a much-maligned framing device, set in the present-day with Annie Corley and Victor Slezak as Francesca's grown children. (They're going through their recently-deceased mother's papers and find her diary which contains their mother's story of the affair.) It adds an extra dimension as the pair are forced to confront the problems in their own marriages by reflecting on their mother's infidelity and sacrifice. While some viewers evidently find the present-day story to be an unnecessary conceit, I feel it works just fine and leads to a final shot which is hauntingly memorable.

Actually, everything in this film is hauntingly memorable, from the amazing Streep's Oscar-nominated performance and Eastwood's nuanced and vanity-free work as Kincaid (Witness the nasty, ageist, and unnecessary comments about Eastwood's nude scenes in some of the previous comments and you'll know what I mean about "vanity-free"), to Corley's wonderful work as the daughter and Jim Haynie's nearly silent, though equally memorable turn as Francesca's dull, taciturn but unfailingly decent lump of a husband. Only Slezak overplays his hand as Francesca's son, making him overbearing, unlikeable and unsympathetic.

The film is beautifully shot and stunningly edited by Eastwood regulars Jack N. Green and Joel Cox, making the Iowa landscape and the title bridges vital characters in the film. In fact, Eastwood and company create an indelible sense of time and place; after viewing this film you may actually feel you've been transported to 1960's Winterset, Iowa. Even Lennie Niehaus' obligatory jazz score works incredibly well, even though I would bet jazz wasn't exactly a radio stalwart in the midwest at that particular time. In fact, it's a testament to how good the film is that an interlude at a black jazz nightclub doesn't come across as implausible until later, when you may wonder where exactly in Iowa such a place would exist.

My only disappointment with "The Bridges of Madison County" was that it faired so poorly during awards season. Eastwood, LaGravanese, Green and the film all deserved Oscar nominations, but when the nominations came, only Streep received one. This in spite of the fact that 1995 was a weak year for Hollywood films, with two authentic classics ("Apollo 13" and "Babe") duking in out with three incredibly overrated pictures (Mel Gibson's eventual Oscar winner "Braveheart," "Sense and Sensibility" and the already forgotten Italian treacle "Il Postino"). LaGravanese in particular was shamelessly snubbed for Adapted Screenplay, since his adaption was a substantial improvement over the source material while eventual winner Emma Thompson's "Sense..." script added little to Jane Austen's masterpiece. My guess is Waller's original novel was so horrible that the Academy didn't want to be associated with it in spite of the masterful work that went into this adaptation. Oh, well--

So, considering this glowing review, you may wonder why it only ranks a *** rating? Simple. I'm rating the DVD, and it is a true disappointment: the only Eastwood directorial effort not available in a widescreen transfer, which is puzzling considering Warner Home Video has released all other titles in its Eastwood catalog exclusively in widescreen. My guess is they're waiting for next year's tenth anniversary to release a special edition with making-of features, interviews and widescreen presentation. One can only hope. Until then, this print will have to do. So enjoy, and grab a hanky. You'll need it.

"THIS KIND OF CERTAINTY COMES BUT ONCE IN A LIFETIME."
This movie is one of my all-time favorite romances. It begins with adult siblings looking through their deceased Mother's things where they discover a secret. They "find their way" to a letter from their Mother (Francesca played by Meryl Streep) which is the content of this movie (along with 3 journals.) Francesca's words in the letter to her children open the story. "I know it sounds awful but I couldn't wait for you all to leave. You were going to be gone until Friday. Four days--just four days." This is where the story begins, in the past.

"THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY" is about these incredible life-changing four days of Francesca and Robert. The Father and children had left to enter a steer into a fair and Francesca stayed home. Not long after Francesca's family leaves, a photographer who is lost (Robert Kincaid played by Clint Eastwood) drives up to ask for directions to a covered bridge. She tries to tell him but they both get confused because the roads aren't marked. Of course if they would have been, this love story would have never have happened. The way their affair begins so innocently is part of what makes the story so compelling for me. Streep and Eastwood together are amazing; and their growing friendship and deep love that follows is magical. Both of their acting is flawless in my eyes as well as the music, script and cinematography. Eastwood is an impressive producer as well as director.

It is such a wonderful story I could paraphrase the whole thing; but I won't. Just enjoy each moment of their 4 days together which go on forever in their hearts. I think the moral of "THE BRIDGES OF MADSION COUNTY" is to be grateful for every day of our lives. Life is a long-winding road full of joy and sorrow. We must survive the sorrow and truly cherish the joy while at the same time remembering that our decisions affect not only us but our loved ones as well. The ending is magnificient.

As my wise Father told me once: "Live your life so that you'll have no regrets and try to accomplish that which will be best for everyone."

The best love story of all time
Anyone who calls this a snooze fest is scared to death of themselves. This is a true love story. Its about a romance that keep people alive whether they dream of it or in this case actually get to live it. I hope someday to meet Mr Eastwood and Ms. Streep and thank them for doing this movie.
Watch the movie, read the book and dont be ashamed to cry and to dream and cry some more. It's ok. It's a beautiful story of something so special that few us ever get to feel. I am a deep romatic and love to write love songs and play them on my guitar.
I have been married to my wife for 25 yrs. I admit I am too scared myself to go out and find someone who really cares about me and appreciates me and doesnt take me for granted. I have spent my marriage trying with all my heart to get my dear wife to believe that romance is beautiful. Too many bad things happened to her as a child. Some people are threatened by those who can openly share there dreams and secrets. They are ahsamed of being. I dream of true love and romance. Maybe someday. Maybe someday I'll find someone to slow dance with again under the stars to the music of each others hearts. Someone to hold hands with, and feel so damn happy you pray to God it will never end. Thats what this movie and story does for me. Cheers.