Rating of
4/4
The Bridges of Madison County review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 09/02/12
An authentic romantic drama that not only teaches you about love, but life in general while keeping you glued from start to finish. The film manages to give you choices to make for the characters in certain key scenes, which shows the brilliance of the direction. It's special features will get you close to Eastwood as a person, actor and director. Michael (Victor Slezak) and Carolyn (Annie Corley) arrive at the Iowa farmhouse of their deceased mother who has an unusual request. Carolyn reads the diary of Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep) and they discover the relationship between their mother and National Geograpi photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood). Aside from the given the great performance from Streep and Eastwood, the score, direction, setting, cinematography and enticing screenplay were flawless. Some of this critics favorite lines about life/love: From Francesca's memoirs - "Do what you have to, to be happy in this life. There is so much beauty." "I realized love won't obey our expectations, it's mystery is pure and absolute." Robert - "Things change. They always do, it's one of the things of nature. Most people are afraid of change, but if you look at it as something you can always count on, then it can be a comfort." Even the artists selected for the other roles did a solid job. Highlights of how great an actress Streep is scenes during the kitchen scene before Robert leaves, her discovering the intent of Robert when his truck is infornt of Richard's and the first few days getting to know each other. The special features with interviews from the cast/editor/producer/director were very insightful. The Bridges of Madison County is a realistic approach of how an old fashioned love story should be presented coupled with significant topics on parenting, choices, fate, acceptance, realities of marriage, keeping the flame alive, life lessons imparted and love.
