The Good Father (1986)
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73% of users liked it
(1,532 ratings)
Anthony Hopkins stars in The Good Father as a publishing executive whose wife Julie Walters has left him, taking their son with her. Walking around like a zombie after this blow, Hopkins is brought back to life by involving himself in the profound problems of his friend Jim Broadbent. Feeling that… More Anthony Hopkins stars in The Good Father as a publishing executive whose wife Julie Walters has left him, taking their son with her. Walking around like a zombie after this blow, Hopkins is brought back to life by involving himself in the profound problems of his friend Jim Broadbent. Feeling that his misguided pro-feminist stance has caused him all his trouble, Hopkins encourages Broadbent, whose own wife is leaving him with their son in tow, to fight for custody of the child in court. Hopkins even agrees to finance Broadbent's legal fees. As Broadbent's custody battle intensifies into a bitter, all-out war, Hopkins becomes more relaxed concerning his own domestic difficulties. Allowing Broadbent to be his emotional surrogate, a becalmed Hopkins feels secure enough to try to reconcile with his ex-wife Walters. But she is aware, even if he isn't, that his problems stem not from his relationship with women, but from his resentment of his son, whose birth was the beginning of the end of his marriage. Contrary to the title and his own self-deceptions, Hopkins is not "the good father." The film was scripted by Christopher Hampton from a novel by Peter Prince. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mike Newell
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1986 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...mostly entertaining...
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Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
While rough in the early going and definitely not for all tastes, [it's] anchored by superb acting and a strong, stubborn humanistic streak...
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Provides a riveting portrait of a sundered marriage and the fallout from separation.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Anthony Hopkins
as Bill Hooper
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Jim Broadbent
as Roger Miles
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Harriet Walter
as Emmy Hooper
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Fanny Viner
as Cheryl Miles
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Simon Callow
as Mark Varda
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Miriam Margolyes
as Jane Powell
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Michael Byrne
as Leonard Scruby
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Stephen Fry
as Creighton
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Clifford Rose
as Judge
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Jennie Stoller
as Bill's friend
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Frances Viner
as Cheryl Langford
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Joanne Whalley
as Mary Hall
- Johanna Kirby
- Joanne Whalley-Kilmer
