Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel adapted by Robert Towne and Phil Dusenberry. Has a memorable beginning, just before sunset, by Caleb Deschanel. Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker and John Finnegan collide. Then a shocking turn of events involving Barbara Hershey, which is never explained. Years later, an enigmatic baseball player emerges. Wilford Brimley is inexplicably hostile, doesn't even try him out, but Richard Farnsworth has his back. Redford gets involved with Kim Basinger, who's so obviously bad news that you wonder why. There's a satisfying ending when the bad guys are scuppered, in a shower of sparkles. The very last scene suggests a happy ending.
But did Basinger bring on his stomach difficulties? It looked like she's drugged him, so that was a bit odd. I feel the script could have been ironed out a little more here and there. But it's very classy and engrossing and audience-pleasing.
With Glenn Close, Robert Prosky (evil club owner), Michael Madsen.
Music by Randy Newman, who is one of the extended Newman dynasty. Edited by Stu Linder. There's some good Redford-Levinson partnership because 10 years later, Levinson is an actor in Quiz Show, which Redford directed, and Linder is the editor.
A Tri-Star Picture.
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