Nobody's Fool (1994)

90% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(7,595 ratings)

Paul Newman earned an Oscar nomination (and won citations from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Berlin International Film Festival) for his performance in this well-drawn comedy-drama. Sully (Newman) is a 60-year-old man who emotionally seems to have never quite emerged from adolescence;… More Paul Newman earned an Oscar nomination (and won citations from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Berlin International Film Festival) for his performance in this well-drawn comedy-drama. Sully (Newman) is a 60-year-old man who emotionally seems to have never quite emerged from adolescence; scraping by on part-time work in construction, Sully has built a life around avoiding responsibility. He hasn't spoken with his ex-wife (Elizabeth Wilson) in years, he lives in a rooming house owned by his eighth-grade teacher Mrs. Beryl (Jessica Tandy), his best friend is a mildly retarded handyman, Rub (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and he has a crush on Toby (Melanie Griffith), who is half his age and married to Carl (Bruce Willis), who sometimes gives him work. One day, Sully nearly runs into his son Peter (Dylan Walsh) and discovers that he has a grandson he never knew about; for the first time, Sully finds himself thinking that he ought to start behaving like a grown-up -- or at least get to know his family before it's too late. Nobody's Fool also features Gene Saks as Sully's lawyer Wirf, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the overly-enthusiastic Officer Raymer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Robert Benton
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 23, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 2003
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
By giving his movie a very effective realistic look, by helping his actors to shape strongly believable performances, even when they are doing implausible things, Benton lends credence to...inspirational fibs.
Caryn James, New York Times
It says everything about Mr. Newman's performance, the single best of this year and among the finest he has ever given, that you never stop to wonder how a guy as good-looking as Paul Newman ended up this way.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
It's a gem.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
This is a feel-good flick that doesn't look like one -- it's smart enough to hide its smooth polish beneath a scuffed-up veneer.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It benefits from the confidence of Newman's performance.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Whatever its faults, it is humble, adult fare and welcome in this age of grandiose children's games.
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
The tagline for Nobody's Fool was 'Worn to perfection.' That sums up the life and acting career of Paul Newman.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Paul Newman's Oscar-nominated performance and Robert Benton's solid, unobtrusive direction combine to create a resonant if unsurprising meditation on growing old in America.
, Film4
Gentle, witty and delightful without ever being manipulative, Nobody's Fool is adult entertainment of rare quality.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In Benton's low-key tale, Paul Newman gives one of his best performances as an aging loser, a construction worker who's made "nothing" of his life; divorced and alientaed from his kids, he lives in the house of his old teacher (the great Jessica Tandy)
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Solid acting performances across the board, with Newman's star shining brightly the whole way through.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Benton's quietly superb adaptation of Richard Russo's novel is one of those movies you thought they didn't make anymore.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A low-key but very affecting character-comedy with Paul Newman playing the kind of charismatic rebel that made him a star in the first place.
John Wirt, Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Newman in fine late-career form.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Newman is strength of fine character study
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
A skinny package containing the film itself and nothing else.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
The success of Nobody's Fool lies with its actors.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
At 72, Paul Newman was still one of the sexiest men on earth
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Nobody's Fool offers a hell of a lot more than just Paul Newman at his very best, although that alone would make the flick worthy of your attention.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alice S

PAUL NEWMAN!!! HE'S SO WONDERFUL!!! BUT NOW HE'S DEAD!!! :````~( Okay, enough of that. Wonderfully lived-in movie. I'm okay with this optimistic, uplifting tale because everyone's love of each other is tempered by bitter hatred.
Tim S

It is probably better that I saw this movie after Paul Newman died. There are parts that are pretty cliche, but there are also scenes that are fucking flawless. The supporting cast around Newman is amazing including Bruce Willis who gives one of his best performances in this film. (I… More
It is probably better that I saw this movie after Paul Newman died. There are parts that are pretty cliche, but there are also scenes that are fucking flawless. The supporting cast around Newman is amazing including Bruce Willis who gives one of his best performances in this film. (I also enjoyed seeing Melanie Griffith's assests...nice.) The part that got me the most was the ending which was a great way to think of Newman. It's a simple and well acted film that also features a fresh faced Philip Seymour Hoffman who is fucking hilarious.
Lafe F

Things seem stuck in a small town here. It's a good set of actors, who don't do much of consequence.
Alec B

Its mostly your standard "stubborn old coot undergoes a paradigm shift" film but Paul Newman's immersion in the character is noteworthy, it never becomes gimmicky or a caricature.
Bill C

A film that reminds you that it’s the small thing that you do in life that define your passage through this world. The tone of this film is similar to Gran Torino but more family small town and homey feel. Despite his unappreciated status in a small upstate New York town Newman’s… More
A film that reminds you that it’s the small thing that you do in life that define your passage through this world. The tone of this film is similar to Gran Torino but more family small town and homey feel. Despite his unappreciated status in a small upstate New York town Newman’s character has a great affect on the day to day lives of this very close-knit and interconnected town. At the age when most people his age are retired he’s divorced and still doing odd-job carpentry. Enter his son who is an associate college professor and two disfunctioning sons. He wants his sons to meet there grandfather and openly expresses his discontentment of how poor of a father Newman was when he was growing-up. He returns later and explains he’s no longer employed, his marriage is on rocky ground. He works for Newman to make some money to tide his family by and develops a greater understanding for his father. There are many well developed characters in this movie Bruce Willis plays the contractor who hires Newman for odd jobs. Willis has a heart condition but it does not keep him from philandering with his secretary and drinking and smoking. His wife is Melanie Griffith. And for those interested in seeing here breast here is your chance. Phillip Seymour Hoffman makes an appearance early in his career as Officer Raymour. The scene when Hoffman and Newman are called into Judges chamber is one of the most memorable scenes. The Judge in response to Hoffman firing a warning shot at Newman retorts: “You know how I feel about arming idiots, if you arm one you have to arm them all, Otherwise it not fair sport.” I highly recommend watching this movie, If you like it watch it once a year as a way of staying grounded
Haley A

Great film and one of Paul Newman's best performances! This is a touching film about a man that never took responsibility for anything that finally decides to be a good father and grandfather. Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis all make up the talented ensemble,… More
Great film and one of Paul Newman's best performances! This is a touching film about a man that never took responsibility for anything that finally decides to be a good father and grandfather. Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis all make up the talented ensemble, but it's Newman's wit and and quite charm that steals the film. The script, based on the novel by Richard Russo (who also wrote "Empire Falls", which Newman also starred in), is absolutey wonderful. Great story, great acting, and great film!!