Nick_Nolte and James_Coburn are magnificent in this powerful, brutal tale of alcoholism and emotional neglect in a dysfunctional family. No stranger to portraits of male rage, writer-director Paul_Schrader (Taxi_Driver, Raging_Bull, The_Mosquito_Coast) imbues the film with a discomforting wintry bleakness. Though the story -- based on a novel by Russell Banks, the author responsible for the similarly chilly The_Sweet_Hereafter -- may not exactly inspire, the raw, truthful performances of the two leads keep the film compelling. Though somewhat underutilized, the reliable Willem_Dafoe and Sissy_Spacek are similarly excellent in their supporting roles. Both Nolte and Coburn were nominated for Academy Awards; Coburn took one home for Best Supporting Actor.
Matthew Doberman, Rovi

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