Robert Duvall

Tess Harper

Betty Buckley

Wilford Brimley

Ellen Barkin

Allan Hubbard

Lenny Von Dohlen

Paul Gleason

Michael Crabtree

Norman Bennett

Andrew Scott Hollon

Helena Humann

Rick Murray

Stephen Funchess

Glen Fleming

Jerry Biggs

Sheila Bird

Robert E. Blackburn III

Eli Cummins

Tony Frank

Barkley H. Garrett

Suzanne Jacobs

Barbara Jones

Jerry Jones

Harlan Jordan

Robert P. Kelley

Ray LePere

Pat Minter

Terry Schoolcraft

Oliver Seale

Denise Simek

Robert Stewart

Susan Aston

Vicki Neff

Pamela Putnam

Jerry Abbot

Bobby Hibbitts

Buddie Hrabal

Jerry Matheny

Wyane Milligan

Joe Zadwick

Bruce Beresford

George Dreyfus

Russell Boyd

Philip Hobel

Daniel Loren May

William M. Anderson

Jeannine Oppewall

Horton Foote

Jimi White

Russell Towery

Ben Loggins

Randy Fife

Drama

Music

Romance

Tender Mercies

Antron Media Production

EMI Films

Associated Film Distribution

Universal Pictures

United States of America

**_A broken-down Country musician seeks a new life in Texas_**

A single mother (Tess Harper) runs a motel & gas station in the lonely plains between Dallas and Austin. She hires an alcoholic man who couldn’t pay what he owed (Robert Duvall) and discovers that he’s an ex-Country star.

“Tender Mercies” (1983) is a lowkey drama set in rural Texas, reminiscent of "Resurrection" (1980) mixed with “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and the later “The Apostle.” While it’s better than “Resurrection,” it’s not quite as good as the other two. However, if you like subdued storytelling, like “Places in the Heart,” you might prefer it. The film was reimagined as “Crazy Heart” 26 years later with Jeff Bridges, which also features Duvall.

On the female front, Tess is winsome in a humble way while Betty Buckley is great as the ex-wife and country entertainer, Dixie. Whenever she performs, the movie perks up. Lastly, Ellen Barkin is notable as the beautiful 18 years-old daughter. She was 28 during shooting, but easily fit the role. By contrast, both Tess and Robert were slightly long-in-the-tooth for the ages of their characters (if you do the math), but that’s a minor cavil. 

There’s a welcome spirituality to the proceedings and the movie doesn’t skimp out on addressing tough theological questions in its understated way.

The flick runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Palmer, Texas, which is a half hour drive south of Dallas.

GRADE: B/B-

English

Tender Mercies (1983) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

Tender Mercies - Trailer