The Movie Room

The Bridges of Madison County 1995, directed by Clint Eastwood

Rating: 9/10

Five years after directing himself as a director in White Hunter, Black Heart, Clint Eastwood directed himself as another man behind a camera, but this time as a photographer taking pictures of bridges which he is doing when he meets Meryl Streep. I had heard about this movie long before I finally saw it, and I am glad that I eventually gave it a chance. 

I knew this movie had the reputation of being a favorite amongst little old ladies as being their romantic film of choice and it always had the feel of being akin to The Notebook or Love Story. I don’t like Love Story, though I do like The Notebook to a degree, but this film does feel like it is in line with those kinds of movies even though I think it surpasses them. I read Love Story and was not surprised that it became a bad movie as well, and I haven’t read an entire Nicholas Sparks book, but the writing style he has seems accurately translated in The Notebook, both for good and bad. I haven’t read The Bridges of Madison County or have any ideas about the authors style or substance, so I can’t judge it on the same grounds as I judged those other two films. I can see how this could be the elevation of a cheesy book (like The Godfather) but I am willing to believe that the book is also pretty good. All this to say that even though I think The Bridges of Madison County is better than those two movies, if you like those two it will probably be the type of movie you enjoy. The reputation this movie had gained in my head before I had seen it is not unfounded I don’t think, but it also doesn’t mean the movie isn’t good—quite the opposite. Like those other movies (despite all their faults), it has such a deep feeling of romance and feeling that it is impossible to watch this film and not come away believing in love.

Part of what makes this movie better than those other two I’ve mentioned is the talent involved. I have made clear this whole month of reviews that I love Eastwood’s directing style and this is another example of how great he is behind the scenes. But also acting-wise, this movie is sublime with him in a role that isn’t his usual type of part (even though he is often a romantic lead) and Meryl Streep being her amazing self. Individually they are great, but together they become a cinematic pair of lovers for the ages. It does not surprise me that some people hold their coupling here up alongside those of Bogart and Bergman in Casablanca or DiCaprio and Winslet in Titanic. Like those other examples, there is a tension here that makes you want them to be together, even if you know that it could never stay this way. This is not the kind of romance that was meant to last, but it is the kind of romance, due to these whole-hearted and believable performances, that you know will change the lovers for good. They will go on their way and live their own lives, but they will never be the same.

This movie is one of those ones that I rank high and then kind of doubt myself about it. I feel like this probably would be an 8 if I allowed myself to sit with it, but then every time I watch it I am just so swept up by the deep sense that this has captured what love looks like and the performances are so great that any flaws (like a weak frame story) are erased, so I am happy to leave it as a 9.