As Billy Crystal quipped during his Oscar presentation song, "Did this film direct itself?" Barbra Streisand, producer, director, and leading lady in The Prince of Tides was almost completely snubbed at the Academy Awards in 1992. The film was up for Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress for Kate Nelligan, Music, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, and Art Direction, but she wasn't honored for her beautiful directing. From the opening scene, it's clear a professional with a vision is at the helm. Nick Nolte narrates through a scene of his childhood: he and his siblings run from home while their parents are fighting, jump off the dock into the water, and hold hands in a circle. "We found a silent soothing world where there was no pain. A world without mothers or fathers. We would make a circle bound by flesh and blood and water and only when we felt our lungs betray us would we rise towards the light." Three little heads pop up from the water's surface, and the opening titles start. It's truly beautiful. There are so many scenes in The Prince of Tides that are moving and memorable, and they greatly outshine the less-than-stellar elements of the film. While Barbra Streisand isn't given very good lines to say-she plays a therapist, and she says things no therapist would ever say-Nick Nolte's performance in her office makes everyone forget her side of the conversation. He plays a family man whose family life isn't particularly stable. He's spent a lifetime burying the secrets of the past, but when his twin sister tries to commit suicide, he travels from South Carolina to New York City and meets his sister's therapist. He and Barbra frequently clash, and while he is given very good lines to say, the way he says them is even better than they were written. He's quick to raise his voice, and when he does, it's clear he's releasing decades of pent-up emotion through his throat. Even when he's being a loving father to his three children, you can see the unresolved tension on his face. You'd think it would be impossible to play against Nick's powerful performance and not give a very good one, but Blythe Danner proves my supposition wrong. She looks very pretty and has an absolutely adorable hairdo, but her acting leaves much to be desired. Then again, when you're watching Nick Nolte-who lost the gold to Anthony Hopkins for sixteen minutes of The Silence of the Lambs-you don't really care about Blythe Danner. Kate Nelligan, who plays Nick's mother, does do a very good job, so if you're a fan, you might want to see her only Oscar-nominated performance.Normally, I don't really like movies that flash back and forth between the present and the past, but it's only because most directors don't handle the transitions very well. Barbra masters the difficult task, and every time the film flashes back to Nick's childhood, it's in an inventive, intriguing style. The "dual timeline" narrative is extremely popular nowadays, so if you like that style, you'll be in a great position to appreciate this marvelously crafted film. Before you rent it, though, just know that it's very heavy. You'll probably need to bring your Kleenexes, and you'll feel unsettled more than once. You might not want to watch this with your parents, and you should definitely put the kids to bed before movie night starts. It's extremely heavy.Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to upsetting situations involving children and adult material, I wouldn't let my kids watch this movie. Also, there may or may not be a rape scene.

This is one of the best movies ever made. Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand give legendary performances that should not be missed. The acting was so good it looked like a documentary movie that was happening in real life. This is an amazing emotional roller coaster that all movie goers need to see.All families have ghosts or skeletons in their closets that they must face at some point in their lives. In fact many families are dysfunctional. This movie portrays them perfectly in a realistic story and screenplay that is unforgettable. The emotional impact is immortal. You will find yourself watching it again and again shedding some tears every time.Take my word for it and see this movie now. You won't be disappointed.

Spanish moss dripping from the branches of the live oak trees, dark and brooding tide pools of brackish water, love and hate intermingled, deep, abiding secrets shared and forgotten, Tom Wingo (name like unto Tom Wingfield of "The Glass Menagerie"), quintessential Southern boy/man. Brother Luke and sister Savannah, a mother named Lila, a brutal father, Henry. Terror and shame intertwining to paralyze and shock, murder covered over like South Carolina soil covered over the bodies, psyches being explored, wrung out, hung out to dry, love healing as it crucifies. Christ repeatedly crucified, but the only mention of his name is a curse. Symbolism abounding: violin vs. football, Southern life vs. Northern life, Jewish mother, Southern mother, children playing, laughing, crying, hurting, adults playing, laughing, crying, hurting. Oh, God, where were YOU in all of this?

I've had mixed reactions to Nick Nolte's work over the years. Some of his movies I've quite enjoyed; others I think have been disasters. As far as his performances go, I've usually found him good but never quite reaching the heights of greatness. But then there's "The Prince Of Tides." Barbra Streisand might have produced, directed and co-starred, but this is Nick Nolte's movie from beginning to end, and his performance is absolutely brilliant. He captures his character's complexities perfectly - his repressed emotions, his unwillingness to face conflict or trouble and eventually his underlying pain in a powerful scene in which the family secret is finally revealed. Streisand as director does a good job of building up to that revelation; Streisand as co-star is just that - a good partner for Nolte who's wise enough and confident enough in herself to let him carry the movie.The story - revolving around Tom Wingo (Nolte) travelling to New York from his beloved southern home to be with his sister who's just attempted suicide - is rather heavy at times. With the sister's suicide attempt and the general dysfunction all the lead characters deal with, it had something of an "Ordinary People" feel to it, although the conclusion is more hopeful than that film was. The viewer is drawn into the story right away with a surprisingly effective opening narration by Nolte that intrigues us, the movie ends on the perfect note of reconciliation within Tom's family and a powerful closing narration by Nolte. Music doesn't usually make or break a movie for me, but kudos to James Newton Howard, who was responsible for the original music. It was absolutely perfect - it suited the movie superbly and was itself very moving. The movie weakens a little bit after the revelation of the secret, mainly because it turns a bit "sappy" as Tom and Lowenstein (Streisand) become romantically involved. You could see that coming from the start, but I found it unnecessary - in fact, the whole angle of Tom's growing relationship with Lowenstein (and her son, and her husband) was perhaps an unnecessary diversion. Still, one can't deny the basic power of the story or the strength of the performances. 9/10