Product Details

• Actors: Rosanna Arquette, Eric Roberts, Mare Winningham, Jim Youngs, Louise Fletcher
• Directors: Evelyn Purcell
• Writers: Beth Henley
• Producers: Cary Brokaw, James C. Katz, Jon S. Denny
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: January 27, 1993
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302131049
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,000 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, offbeat romance, February 25, 2002

By 

CT (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Fool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this film when it ran in NYC in 1986, and like the rest of the audience (who applauded when it was over), was totally charmed by it. I could never understand why it didn't do better at the box office - poor marketing, perhaps? I understand it's done very well as a video.

The performances and the originality of the script are what stand out in this film. Rosanna Arquette manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Eric Roberts is so damned sexy and appealing in this film, it's hard to understand why he didn't get more romantic leads. When Arquette's character shouts at him, "Stop looking at me with those eyes!", every woman in the audience knows what she is talking about. He is magnetic, and gives great dimension to a somewhat underwritten part. The chemistry between these two is great. All of the supporting actors give first rate performances.

Some of the quirkiness of Beth Henley's script could have been whittled down - she seems to delight in presenting odd characters for effect, such as the albino bride, schizophrenic cousin and the obese younger brother, who don't add a lot to the story, but seem like contrived distractions. These elements might work in her plays, but only take away from the development of the main characters and their relationship to each other.

What she does get right is the complex relationship between love, obsession, humor and disaster. In Henley's world, tragedy exists right around the corner from happiness, and nothing is black and white.

It was interesting to read the comments from Dean, an actor in this film. It does seem like editing might have done this one in. I could have used more development of the Riley character, a little more humor, and less parading of oddballs.

But all in all, a worthwhile film for its performances and originality. It looks good too, with lovely shots of the outdoors, and attractive, appealing leads. All in all, one of the more memorable movies I've ever seen. Even if it stunk at the box office, those involved should be proud of it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for the nice reviews!, January 30, 2001

By 

Dean Ricca (North Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nobody's Fool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Hi, as one of the actors in this small film, I really appreciate the kind words about it. The screenplay by Beth Henley was very funny, infact, in it's original form, the script was a laugh riot. Somehow, either by cost cutting or by director and editing cuts the film was whittled down to a quirky romance, with a lot of the comedy missing. It's still a sweet and funny film. So buy it or rent it, but if you like quirky characters, you'll like this film. -Dean Ricca

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romantic sleeper - wonderful character development, April 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Ottawa, Ont. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Fool [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A real sleeper - a quirky caricature town masks wonderful character development. Roberts is extraordinary as vulnerable, loner, insecure, long reformed bad boy from LA; Arquette tugs at heart strings as Scarlet Letter woman in small town, an outcast as much because she's an individual as because of what she's done. Watch for Roberts' scene with Arquette in the spaghetti dinner hall near the end - if you're not moved, you haven't loved. One of my all-time favorite movies, a personal discovery.