Jodie Foster Movie:

Editorial Review:
Based on the French film, The Return of Martin Guerre (which itself was based on a famous court case), this 1993 film by director Jon Amiel recasts the same essential story in post-Civil War Tennessee, in a dirt-poor town suffering the effects of the South's loss. Jodie Foster plays Laurel Sommersby, a widow whose husband died in the Civil War--or so everyone thinks. Then one day, Jack Sommersby (Richard Gere) strolls back into town and back into Laurel's bed--but he's a changed man. Gone is the selfish, nasty individual no one much liked. In his place is a friendly, sensitive, and resourceful new Jack who not only rekindles the long-dead fire of his marriage, but revives the entire town. Except for one small catch: He may not actually be Jack Sommersby at all. Beautifully shot by Amiel (with a great assist from cameraman Philippe Rousselot) from a script by Nicholas Meyer and Sarah Kernochan, the film features a sturdy, even flinty performance by Foster and a beguiling one by Gere. Though the ending will squeeze the tear ducts, the film earns those tears. --Marshall Fine

Sommersby [Region 2] Reviews:
Gere & Foster in a film for romantics only
2008-07-31 - Actor/producer Richard Gere seems to have a habit of translating successful French films into vehicles for himself. Some are successful, some are not (Intersection)--this film is probably one of his best. Based on the film, "The Return of Martin Guerre", which was also made into a Broadway musical, the story is about an Civil war vet who returns home after many years and resurrects his romance with his wife (Foster) who suspects he may not be who he really is, since before the war their relationship was at a stalemate. Also she was being courted by a long time suitor (Bill Pullman) who is warily suspicious of him being who he is. In the interim though he attempts to re-build the broken town by persuading the townspeople to plant tobacco rather than cotton. Of course, there is a plot reversal in the story which challenges his identity and integrity to the limit. I won't go too much into detail on this point but Gere & Foster deliver graceful performances as the ill-fated couple and Bill Pullman etches more than a portrayal of a villain but a man who drawn to extremes in his quest for the love of Laurel (Foster). This film was approriately released during Valentine's Day and if you're a romantic at heart--you will be entralled by this film. If you're cynic at heart, then stay away. This film is a worthy translation of the celebrated French film.

It will leave you wondering who Sommersby is indeed!!
2008-05-28 - Sommersby
Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, Jack Sommersby (Richard Gere) returns, after about six years, to the town of Vine Hill, Tennessee, to find his plantation and house devastated by the ravages of war. Additionally, he encounters his beautiful wife Lauren Sommersby (Jodie Foster), who is actually engaged to another fellow. Sommersby returns as a completely different, loving, working, and caring person, and makes everyone believe he is back. In fact, his romantic relationship with Lauren achieves its most sublime point. He convinces the town to grow tobacco to get out of the wreckage and devastation and is quite successful at that. He even sells pieces of land to dark people to work with.

Everything seems fine until the moment that he is arrested and sent to trail for supposedly killing a man. At this precise moment, his identity is utterly challenged. He is hypothetically not Jack Sommersby, but some other murderer called Townsend. Judie Foster does a superb job at trying to convince the Judge and the Jury that he is not in fact her husband giving away even intimate details. However, Jack himself does the contrary since for him his love for his children and wife and the honor involved are more important than life itself.

I am not about to convey the end of the story. I will only say that this is a great DVD to watch and will leave you wondering who is Jack Sommersby indeed.

By the way, the performances of Richard Gere and Judie Foster are both outstanding, and this is a DVD that you will never forget until the end of your life!


Is You Is Or Is You Not My Baby?
2008-03-23 - "Sommersby" is both about the cyclical nature of the universe, where matter can be neither created nor destroyed, only changed in state, and a demonstration of that law." Vincent Canby

I loved this film, hated the ending. A southern man comes home from the Civil War and re-enters his life as Jack Sommersby. His wife, thinking he was indeed dead after 6 six years has promised herself to another. Nothing is as it was, and it never will be again. The old Southern plantation has been looted, and there is not much left but the body and souls who inhabit the place. It appears that Jack Sommersby was not the kind of man one really liked unless you were into brutality, drunkenness and slavery. But this new Jack Sommersby is a changed man, "Got hit in my head" he says. The neighbors and the man who was to marry his wife think something is not quite right here. But Jack Sommersby offers his family and his neighbors something they have not seen nor heard in a long time, hope. Hope of making a living and living off the land. Jack Sommersby has wormed his way into their hearts, and they love them. He has also offered his black slaves their own land, and this does not go over well with some. Visions of the KKK. But this new Jack Sommersby is not what he seems, and a trial and the courtroom soon reveal what has been and what is to come.

Jodie Foster, as Laurel Sommersby, is forever more my idol-you know that with a smile or the flick of her eyes what emotion she is feeling. She is the epitome of a southern lady waiting to be undone. After two Academy Awards this may be one of her best performances. However, it is Richard Gere who steals the scenes in my opinion. This is, indeed his best performance, and he is believable as a man who wants to be someone he can be proud of. Bill Pullman who plays the man who wants Laurel's heart is a duplicitous man who will do or say anything to win Laurel back.

And what about the dog, Jethro?

Peter Travers has the best lines in his critique of the film,
"Of special pertinence right now is the new light the film sheds on marriage and the doubts it engenders. Who hasn't asked, What happened to the person I married?"

Highly recommended. prisrob 03-23-08

The Brave One (Wide screen Edition)

An Officer and a Gentleman (Special Collector's Edition)

Sommersby with Richard Gere & Jodie Foster
2007-03-31 - One of my very favorite romance movies that left me guessing "is he or isn't he her husband" until the very end!

Sommersby
2007-01-16 - I like it because of the mistery and sensibility of the story. Jodie Foster as always is one of my favorite actressess.