Review of The Prince of Tides (1991) by Jim H — 01 May 2014

When a man's sister attempts suicide, he moves to New York and consults with her therapist with whom he begins an affair.

Nick Nolte is a remarkable actor who has given some impassioned and compelling performances throughout his career, but The Prince of Tides is an exception. The restraints that a more seasoned director would've given Nolte would've helped him because this is a performance in which Nolte plays willy-nilly without a clear plan for his character or a clear character arc. It's acting without story-telling. Babs is there to a spectator and can't match or restrain her costar.

What is more, the story is weak. The reveals about the Wingos' childhood traumas surprise no one, and while I can suspend my disbelief about a lot of things, it's difficult to imagine any self-respecting therapist relying so heavily on a family member to treat her patient.

Overall, Streisand can do a lot of things, but I don't think directing actors is one of them.