Watch Tender Mercies

Tender Mercies is a 1983 drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, and Betty Buckley. The movie tells the story of Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall), a washed-up country singer who hits rock bottom after his alcohol addiction leads him to lose his family, fame, and fortune. He ends up finding redemption and a new purpose in life when he meets a young widow, Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), and her son, Sonny (Allan Hubbard).

At the beginning of the film, Mac is living in a motel, drunk and broke, with no hope for the future. However, when he is arrested for drunk driving, he is bailed out by Rosa Lee, who runs a small roadside motel and café with her son. She offers him a job as a handyman, and he reluctantly accepts. As he starts to work for her, he also starts to form a bond with her and her son.

As the story unfolds, we see Mac trying to rebuild his life, get sober, and reconnect with his estranged daughter, Sue Anne (Ellen Barkin). He also starts to write new music and performs a few songs at the local bar with a band that Rosa Lee's ex-husband, Wayne (Wilford Brimley), plays in. Mac's songs are simple and heartfelt, and they resonate with the audience, including his daughter, who comes to watch him perform.

Throughout the movie, we see Mac struggling with his demons, but also finding solace in Rosa Lee and Sonny's unconditional love. He starts to see himself as a father figure to Sonny and even teaches him how to play the guitar. Rosa Lee also opens up to Mac about her past and the struggles she faced as a young widow, which helps him to put his own problems into perspective.

As the story reaches its climax, we see Mac's past catching up with him as Sue Anne arrives at the motel and confronts him about his neglectful behavior. However, instead of falling back into his old habits, Mac tries to make amends with her and shows her that he has changed. The film ends with Mac and Rosa Lee getting married, and Mac performing his new song, "Tender Mercies," to the audience at the local bar.

Tender Mercies is a beautifully crafted film that explores themes of redemption, love, and second chances. The performances by the actors are all top-notch, with Robert Duvall delivering one of his career-best performances as the troubled and tormented Mac. Tess Harper also shines as Rosa Lee, giving a nuanced and understated performance that perfectly complements Duvall's.

The film's direction by Bruce Beresford is masterful, creating a quiet and reflective atmosphere that allows the characters and their emotions to shine through. The cinematography by Russell Boyd is also stunning, capturing the beauty of the Texas landscape and the loneliness of Mac's journey.

Overall, Tender Mercies is a must-watch film for anyone who appreciates character-driven dramas that explore the complexities of the human experience. It is a film that will stay with you long after it's over, leaving you with a sense of hope and a belief in the power of love and forgiveness.

Tender Mercies is a 1983 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 76.