Bad U.S. Movies on South American Buses #2

so not only did i have to endure "the shaggy dog" on a bus trip, i also had to endure "the prince of tides" on the very same bus trip. it came on between 11pm and midnight and for whatever reason i could not resist this horrendous train-wreck of a film even though it was presented with spanish dubbing and english subtitles.

granted, i've never been a particular fan of barbara streisand (nor have i been able to understand why anybody else is either) but this movie had a lot riding against it apart from that. things like bad southern accents, bad new york stereotypes, and a scene of child rape. yes dear reader, that is correct. bad new york stereotypes.

i'm not even going to try to approach the plot of this one too closely although i shall say this was based on a novel and directed by barbara herself. should we be surprised then that she cast herself in the female lead as a smart, sexy jewish therapist who lives in new york? or that she cast her actual son as the son of the smart, sexy jewish therapist who is a violin prodigy and blossoming football player?

i sincerely wonder if babs decided to get this movie made so she could spend lots of time with an often shirtless nick nolte. this is an actual clip from the movie. be warned - it may not be for kids under 12! i'd like to say this was the worst part of the film, but you'll get to find out more about that below.

this film was enough of a scarring experience for me that i may need to go seek my own therapy from a smart, sexy jewish therapist.

high point: the always enjoyable blythe danner and jeroen krabbe (of "the living daylights" fame!) playing minor roles

low point: i'm not even sure i want to write about this. if you are curious, ask me when i get home.

"yeah, right" moment: not just one but two today. the first was the training of barbara's son by football coach nolte. i don't care how much individual training you do, football is a team sport and simply rolling on the ground and doing green bays is not going to make you all that much better. the second was the final line of the film uttered by nick nolte's narrator about barbara streisand's therapist: "At the end of every day I drive through the city of Charleston and I cross the bridge that will take me home. I feel the words building inside me, I can't stop them, or tell you why I say them, but as I reach the top of the bridge these words come to me in a whisper. I say these words as a prayer, as regret, as praise, I say: Lowenstein, Lowenstein." i do not have a joke for this.