This adaptation of a series of Hemingway stories never fails to be engaging. George C. Scott stars as a sculptor, Thomas Hudson, who lives in a Bahamian island paradise in 1940. The world is on the cusp of WWII, but people like Thomas aren't likely to be deeply affected by it, apart from the Jewish refugees that sometimes turn up on their island. That summer, Thomas is visited by his three sons - Tom (Hart Bochner), Andy (Brad Savage), and Davy (Michael-James Wixted) - whom he's sired with two different wives.
The script, by Denne Bart Petitclerc, follows a three-act structure, as it portrays Thomas' relationship with "The Boys", is visited by Toms' mother (Claire Boom) during "The Woman", and they reminisce about their past, and finally, shows what happens as Thomas and his friends Joseph (Julius Harris) and Eddy (David Hemmings) undertake "The Journey", wherein they act upon a chance to do some good.
Reuniting Scott with his "Patton" director, Franklin J. Schaffner, "Islands in the Stream" is a deliberately paced drama with a pleasant feel to it during its first two thirds, and an almost dream-like quality. Certainly it's very easy on the eyes, with its gorgeous photography of these exotic locations. It's also accompanied by a wonderful Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack. While some viewers might feel that the film goes downhill in its final third, this viewer never lost interest (although, admittedly, "Islands in the Stream" is never better than when it's a story of a father and his sons).
Scott gives one of his most engaging performances of all time, with similarly laudable work by such performers as Harris ("Live and Let Die"), Hemmings ("Deep Red"), Bloom ("The Haunting"), Gilbert Roland ("The Bad and the Beautiful"), Susan Tyrrell ("Forbidden Zone"), and Richard Evans ("Dirty Little Billy"). Bochner (in his feature debut), Savage, and Wixted are very appealing as the sons.
Overall, this is definitely worth a look: a nicely nuanced look at an interesting man - maybe not a truly great man - but who has certainly earned the admiration of his friends and offspring.
Seven out of 10.
The script, by Denne Bart Petitclerc, follows a three-act structure, as it portrays Thomas' relationship with "The Boys", is visited by Toms' mother (Claire Boom) during "The Woman", and they reminisce about their past, and finally, shows what happens as Thomas and his friends Joseph (Julius Harris) and Eddy (David Hemmings) undertake "The Journey", wherein they act upon a chance to do some good.
Reuniting Scott with his "Patton" director, Franklin J. Schaffner, "Islands in the Stream" is a deliberately paced drama with a pleasant feel to it during its first two thirds, and an almost dream-like quality. Certainly it's very easy on the eyes, with its gorgeous photography of these exotic locations. It's also accompanied by a wonderful Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack. While some viewers might feel that the film goes downhill in its final third, this viewer never lost interest (although, admittedly, "Islands in the Stream" is never better than when it's a story of a father and his sons).
Scott gives one of his most engaging performances of all time, with similarly laudable work by such performers as Harris ("Live and Let Die"), Hemmings ("Deep Red"), Bloom ("The Haunting"), Gilbert Roland ("The Bad and the Beautiful"), Susan Tyrrell ("Forbidden Zone"), and Richard Evans ("Dirty Little Billy"). Bochner (in his feature debut), Savage, and Wixted are very appealing as the sons.
Overall, this is definitely worth a look: a nicely nuanced look at an interesting man - maybe not a truly great man - but who has certainly earned the admiration of his friends and offspring.
Seven out of 10.