While some may consider the movie a little slow at times, its overall message is a powerful one. A movie about redemption, restoration and hope. Robert Duvall's portrayal of a man whose life is in need of repair is outstanding. Ranks with his character in "The Apostle", a similar tale in many ways. In my opinion, the baptismal scene is one of the movie's most moving moments. The bleak landscapes and the dust-blown scenes effectively echo the main character's state of mind for part of the film. Mac Sledge is a great character brought to life by Duvall. As Sledge gradually gets his life together thanks to the developing relationships with a young widow and her son, the mood of the movie becomes a little more positive.

Horton Foote won an Oscar for his original screenplay about a drunken ex-country singer/songwriter finding personal strength and redemption after marrying a young widow who runs a hotel and gas station with her little boy. The spare Texas landscapes, busy roads and bars, are vividly captured by director Bruce Beresford, who is aided greatly by a keen art direction from Jeannine Oppewall and solid performances by his cast. Robert Duvall received the Best Actor Oscar for what is arguably his greatest screen performance (he also did his own singing); using his expressive eyes and body language to wonderful effect, Duvall conveys the self-consciousness and shyness of this complicated man, the demons he's now able to shuck off and the betrayals of life he blames on himself. As his new wife, Tess Harper has never been better, and young Allan Hubbard is inquisitive without being the slightest bit precocious. Betty Buckley's role as Duvall's "rich and famous" ex-wife doesn't really work (her scenes are presented in shorthand, as are the film's opening moments). Ellen Barkin seems a bit mature cast as Duvall's estranged teenage daughter, however the beautiful work by Duvall and Harper anchors the film is an emotional reality which stays with you. Nice music direction and songs as well, adding to the challenging simplicity of the story, which runs deeper than might be expected. *** from ****

This is a movie with a lot of "dignity." It has such realistic people, it kept me fascinated because it seemed so different from most films I've watched.

There aren't a lot of dramatic things that happen in the story yet, as a whole, it's a wonderful tale that stays with you. It's a lot more than just seeing an Oscar-winning performance by Robert Duvall as Texan and former C&W singer and writer, "Mac Sledge." It's simply good storytelling

I can't say I am a fan of Duvall's country singing, but that is the only thing I didn't like. Well, maybe "Dixie" (Betty Buckley), who played a bitter ex-wife of Duvall's in here. She was not pleasant, but others were really nice, likable people. Yet, this is not some sappy movie just because most of the people are good folks.

As in film noirs in which the viewer has a sense of dread, knowing something bad is around the corner, I felt the same thing in this film, even though it didn't necessarily happen. I mean with the main characters: Mac, Rosa Lee and Sonny. There was underlying tension, probably because of Sledge's alcoholic and violent past, that made me fear that any minute he was going to ruin the nice setup he had with a good woman and nice stepson.

Duvall, as usual, makes his role a fascinating and unpredictable one. With many of the people he has played over the years, you never am sure what his characters are going to do next. Tess Harper, as Mac's new wife, and Alan Hubbard, as her son, are two of the most realistic characters I've ever seen on film. It helped they were from the area so their accents were real.

This is a just straight drama, with a solid screenplay by Horton Foote and direction by Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy"). In addition, actors Buckley (who can sing, too), Wilford Brimley and Ellen Barkin all give memorable supporting performances.

It was an interesting tale of something I have rarely seen on film in the past 50 years: a good Christian woman lifting up a man to her level. She never had to do it verbally, never nagged or preached to the man, just set example of how to act and be a loving, supportive spouse. There is a lesson for people here with how well "Rosa Lee" handled situations. Nice.....very nice.