Kramer vs. Kramer

A wonderful, beautifully acted film about the meanings of love,friendship, and above all parenthood. This is the film where RobertBenton's complex humanism really comes to full flower.In a situation that almost demands taking sides - a sudden divorceleading to an unprepared father taking over childcare only to bechallenged for custody when the mother returns 18 months later - Bentonmanages to make everyone a complex human being, with strengths andweaknesses, trying their best to do the right thing in a painful, messysituation.Hoffman, who has been brilliant so many times playing characters farfrom himself is perhaps the most moving he's ever been playing acharacter that director Benton described as really, honestly playinghimself - perhaps the hardest character of all. Streep takes a womanwho could have easily come off as the villain of the piece, and makesyou understand her actions - - even abandoning her little boy. JaneAlexander is wonderful and subtle as the slowly developing friendHoffman makes as a single father, and young Justin Henry is utterlyreal in a way few child actors are as the 7 year old stuck in themiddle. It's also beautifully, if understatedly shot by NestorAlmendros.It's flaws are minor. Some of the supporting roles, while played byterrific character actors, are a bit more one note and characturishthan they need be. And some of the courtroom theatrics feel just a tinybit... well, theatrical. Also, there's a logic point that's always buggedme - why doesn't Hoffman - doing quite well on Madison Avenue, hire apart-time housekeeper or nanny to help him from becoming terminallyoverloaded by the combination of career and single parenthood? Lastfamily politics have changed enough in 31 years that no longer wouldthe climactic court fight stack up quite the same way - it's no longera rarity for a man to want custody of his children - but that's not aflaw in the film, just a welcome reminder that some things do getbetter.And none of the above are enough to detract from the fact that this isstorytelling and acting of the highest order.The blu-ray, while not a dramatic leap from the fine DVD, is stilla worthwhile upgrade. The additional richness and texture inboth the image and the sound gives the film an even greatersense of immediacy.

Movie 2 of 1979 and 62 overall in my journey through films of my lifetimeA lesson I've learned watching David Lynch movies is that things are so much better when they are juxtaposed to something else. If you want a funny scene you can make a joke. If you want a really funny scene make the same joke sandwiched between two dramatic scenes. The big laugh of "Kramer VS Kramer" got a harder laugh out of me than "1941" could have ever dreamed of. Spielberg said what he loves about "1941" is what critics disliked: that it was busy and loud - sensory overload. I would suggest that the critics were right and it's too bad Spielberg didn't learn a lesson from that. "Kramer vs. Kramer" makes you invest in a relationship between a father and a son and when a comedic moment happens it is not just hilarious it's a relief. Although far from a comedy this movie had me in the palm of its hand, they could make me laugh any time they wanted.Mark of a story teller that respects their audience's intelligence: The father, Ted Kramer, is advised to make a list of pros and cons to decide if it's worth it to spend more money than he has to fight for custody of his child. The scene shows nothing but cons and the pros list was blank. If this had been a Hallmark Christmas special one can only image the corny words that would have appeared in the pros list. As it was it was indeed blank and it was left to Hofman's acting to make the point. Excellent!Today so much is made out of connections people make in film school then have few real life experiences. They create caricatures of humans to score political points. This movie could not get funding today, it's way too real, it's about real humans.I liked the ending. I also wonder what it would have been like to end it not knowing the outcome of the court case. I just don't need conclusive answers to be happy with a story. This is a powerful film and timeless. It has enriched me having seen it. I'm greatful it was made.Pros-incredible acting-incredible storyCons-slow beginning