Fool for Love (1985)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Sam Shepard (play)
Sam Shepard (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 May 1986 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

May is waiting for her boyfriend in a run-down American motel, when an old flame turns up and threatens...

Plot Keywords:

Incest | Beautiful Woman | Based On Play | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Sam Shepard	...	Eddie
Kim Basinger	...	May
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Old Man
Randy Quaid	...	Martin
Martha Crawford	...	May's Mother
Louise Egolf	...	Eddie's Mother
Sura Cox	...	Teenage May
Jonathan Skinner	...	Teenage Eddie
April Russell	...	Young May
Deborah McNaughton	...	The Countess
Lon Hill	...	Mr. Valdes

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Argentina:16 | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

El Dorado, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Robert Altman's fourth filmed play in a row, after Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982), Streamers (1983) and Secret Honor (1984).

Quotes:

May: Do you want me to finish the story, Eddie?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Altman on 'O.C. and Stiggs' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

You Lied Your Way

May vs. Eddie

Adapted from Sam Shepard's play, this movie retains many play-like elements such as a relatively fixed setting (a roadside 50's motel in the Southwest) and extensive, intriguing dialogues. A woman "May" is hounded by a man "Eddie" (played by Sam Shepard). She tries to hide from him in the out-of-the-way motel, but he finds her. The film explores the history of their relationship, mainly from their childhoods, that has led them to this point. It's very easy to feel sympathy for the characters and to understand that their dysfunctional present relationship is a result of past events out of their control. We mainly watch them fight, make up, fight, make up and so on. One image that stands out in my mind, is of Eddie hauling May over his shoulder kicking and screaming, taking her somewhere she doesn't want to go.

The soundtrack is also perfect soulful country with vocals by a lesser known artist "Sandy Rogers". She has this country doll voice that almost yodels at some points in the album! This is the kind of movie that will stay lodged in some part of your brain/soul. In other words, go see it!