Review: The Bridges of Madison County

The Amblin film, The Bridges of Madison County, opened on June 2, 1995 in theaters. The romantic drama starred Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The Bridges of Madison County was directed by Clint Eastwood and based on a best-selling novel.

Synopsis:

Photographer Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) accidently wanders into the life of housewife, Francesca Johnson (Streep). Francesca is currently home alone as her family travels out of town for a few days. Robert and Francesca quickly fall in love and spend the next few days contemplating if they can have a future together.

Positives:

• As always, Meryl Streep is great in the film. Eastwood also gives a strong performance.

• Director Clint Eastwood does an excellent job of presenting a small story and keeping it interesting and flowing. The Bridges of Madison County is a quiet film, and that is possibly its greatest strength.

• The ending resolution between Kincaid and Johnson is strong. The progression of their relationship is handled extremely well.

• The Amblin film, The Bridges of Madison County, opened on June 2, 1995 in theaters. The romantic drama starred Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The Bridges of Madison County was directed by Clint Eastwood and based on a best-selling novel.

  Synopsis:

  Photographer Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) accidently wanders into the life of housewife, Francesca Johnson (Streep). Francesca is currently home alone as her family travels out of town for a few days. Robert and Francesca quickly fall in love and spend the next few days contemplating if they can have a future together.

  Positives:

  • As always, Meryl Streep is great in the film. Eastwood also gives a strong performance.

   

  • Director Clint Eastwood does an excellent job of presenting a small story and keeping it interesting and flowing. The Bridges of Madison County is a quiet film, and that is possibly its greatest strength.

   

  • The ending resolution between Kincaid and Johnson is strong. The progression of their relationship is handled extremely well.

   

  Negatives:

  The film cuts back and forth from the 1960s, and the relationship between Johnson and Kincaid, to modern day, and Johnson’s children. Every time the film focuses on Johnson’s children it stalls. I can understand why the filmmakers felt their story was important, but it ultimately feels unnecessary. It is distracting every time we leave the heart of the film, the romance between Kincaid and Johnson, to focus on Johnson’s uninteresting children.

  In Closing:

  The Bridges of Madison County features an excellent performance from Meryl Streep and strong direction from Clint Eastwood. The film gets off course when it is not centered on the relationship of its main characters. The Bridges of Madison County is a fine romantic film that is carried by its lead talent.

  Rating: B