Robert Duvall Movie:

Editorial Review:
This overrated period comic-drama, set in Georgia in the 1930s, featured the first mother-daughter team to be nominated for acting Oscars in the same year. Laura Dern plays a free-wheeling young woman who is taken in as a domestic by an upper-class family, headed by Robert Duvall and Diane Ladd (Dern's real-life mother). Rose, who tends to let her sexual urges get the best of her, scandalizes everyone in three counties (including Duvall and Lukas Haas, who plays his son) with her willing spirit. Do those kind of loose morals warrant court-ordered sterilization? Or does this young woman just need a guiding hand? While many fell for this cornpone shtick, directed by Martha Coolidge, it's a hard movie to cozy up to because Rose is such a caricature and the rest of the characters (with the exception of the always exceptional Duvall) are such sticks. --Marshall Fine

Rambling Rose [Region 2] Reviews:
Very likable film due to a great cast
2009-12-03 - The plot of this film is probably its weakest aspect. However the actors make up for it, especially the wonderful Robert Duvall. He outdoes himself here with his great humanity. Diane Ladd is his equal as the eccentric but lovable Southern wife. Their performances were memorable.

Laura Dern, an actress I admire a lot, doesn't quite measure up to the others here, in my opinion. Her performance is a bit too much, which tended to make me agree with the Duvall character, after Rose's (Dern) marriage, "Well I'm glad we finally got rid of her."

Lukas Haas was wonderful as the young teenage boy. I always enjoy seeing John Heard, although his part is small here and he really doesn't do a very good job in the final scene.

The script is not particularly memorable, but it does serve as a nice vehicle for the actors and the delicious atmosphere of the Old South.

The Amazon reviewer must have been in a foul mood when he watched this film. I think most people will like it a lot.

Duvall Dern
2009-08-05 - Hear a bit about these two actors and this film in a cable review and was curious to see some of their "old" movies. The price was right.

Appealing In Its Own Way
2009-04-11 - I have always found this an intriguing film, something different and appealing even though some of the subject matter is "inappropriate."

I saw the last word because it involves a 13-year-old boy whose hormones are raging and his brief relationship with a grown woman. There is one sex scene that may make people squirm a bit, so be forewarned. Other than that, I don't remember anything else objectionable.

I like the photography and always enjoy seeing the old days - here it's the 1920s and 1930s - portrayed on today's films with the great cameramen and directors of today. Also, the South has some beautiful scenery that is eloquently on display here.

The story is well-acted with real-life mother-daughter Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, along with Robert Duvall and Lukas Haas. The latter plays the young man and was already somewhat of a star after playing the young Amish boy in the 1985 film "Witness." Duvall is one of the finest actors of his generation so you always get a good performance out of him.

This is a pretty low-key story but never puts you to sleep. Modern day feminists might like this film was Ladd plays that role to the hilt. Dern also delivered, making a very believable "Rose."


A perfect movie!
2009-02-04 - I remembered how much I liked this movie when it was first released, but upon rediscovering it recently, I was so entertained and impressed that I watched it five times in three days. It's simply a brilliant movie with fabulous acting and directing.

Great Movie
2008-11-10 - This movie is set in my hometown area. It is quite believable from the setting point of view. Good performances.