Anyone who has been struck by the lightning bolt of an affair that came out of nowhere will identify 100% with this one. I had read the book many years ago, but never seen the film until this year (2018). Eastwood really has produced a classic masterpiece. As others have said, the (over)acting by the son which really grates a bit, but after the 'flash forward ' shots of his the relief and enjoyment of getting back to the sensitivity and passion of the affair is all the more enjoyable. The fact this film is still fresh and grips one's attention after nearly 25 years speaks volumes.

I surely hope that the responses to this movie is NOT a true representation of the thinking and devotion of that of our generation. I could only hope & pray that we are a better nation of true love and devotion. I certainly understand that we are human, just like Adam & Eve. But why do we spend the effort, time, energy and money to beautify our weaknesses? In my opinion, it is a movie that tries to justify and beautify our lust. It seems to be Eastwood's cup of tea. What will happen if we, the audience and actors as well in general, will glorify these creations and allow it to grow in volume and in the much cheaper and lustful way..

Movie is nothing comparing to book, but story is beautiful.

Streep delivers a fantastic and convincing performance full of subtlety...but the film is paced extremely slow and the flow is constantly broken by the jarring transitions to her present day children reading her diary. The acting in those sequences is strikingly bad and destroys any sense of immersion in the story. A cut of this film without those sequences would be at least one star higher...maybe more since I cannot truly tell if I would have been more drawn into the story without them.