On P List of Movie Reviews
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Promise (1986)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
11/20
11/20:
Because of the exemplary performances put on by James Woods and James Garner, Promise is the most-honored
movie in television history.
James Woods has a beautiful moment that describes what it's like to be a schizophrenic. The zenith of his
character's disability occurs when he's vacationing at the cabin. It's his most manic episode: moving at 100 miles
per hour with no regard for realities of life only to crash down after being atop the make-believe castle.
To be D.J.'s caretaker can't be easy which explains Bob's frustration. I wonder why he
didn't ask the old lady for instructions in terms of how to take care of him given her extensive experience. Maybe
he didn't realize it would be that bad. Then again, she must have felt relieved for being unloaded
of the burden.
Of course, it'll be easy to go against Bob for his selfishness and inability to grow up, but James Garner has
so much star power that it's hard to dislike him. Piper Laurie is a ray of sunlight: always positive and
nonjudgmental. Things work out in the end, but let's face it: D.J. belongs in the nursing home. He's too much to
handle for one person, medicine or not.
All in all, if Promise was theatrically released, James Woods would've won the Oscar for Best
Supporting Actor.