Our Souls at Night (2017)

ridiculous rating

Expected more

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I found the movie, drawn out and boring. Even though Jane Fonda's character lived on the same street as Robert Redford's character for 45 years they really hadn't much in common with the exception of being a widow and a widower , so when Jane arrives at Redford's door late one night and asks to talk to him, he is even surprised and seems a little more than awkward when she suggests that he share her bed at night (sleep only) as it is so lonely being on their own . Maybe both Fonda and Redford thought this would be their "On Golden Pond" moment, I really don't know , but for me it was tedious to get through. Some may find it endearing or even romantic, it was just flat without the fizz. I'm not a great fan of Fonda and seeing her face stretched to capacity from plastic surgery didn't help the experience.

'OUR SOULS AT NIGHT': Three Stars (Out of Five)The new drama marking Robert Redford and Jane Fonda's fourth film collaboration together. In the movie they play a widower and widow, that have lived next to each other for years, but have had very little contact with each other. Then they decide to form a strong platonic relationship, in the later years of their lives. It was directed by Ritesh Batra (who also helmed the 2013 critical darling 'THE LUNCHBOX'), and it was written by Kent Haruf, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (Neustadter and Weber also previously co-scripted such critically acclaimed hits as '500 DAYS OF SUMMER', 'THE SPECTACULAR NOW', 'THE FAULT IN OUR STARS', 'PAPER TOWNS' & 'THE DISASTER ARTIST'). It's received mostly positive reviews from critics, and it was released by Netflix through their streaming site. I found it to be very mildly enjoyable. Louis Waters (Redford) and Addie Moore (Fonda) are a widower and widow that have lived next to each other for years, but they've never known each other very well. One night Addie shows up at Louis's door and asks him if he'd like to sleep with her, platonically. After giving it some thought, Louis agrees to her proposition, and the two begin sleeping together and just talking, on a regular bases. Other people in town assume it's a sexual relationship though, but the new friends don't care. They're relationship slowly builds into something much more.The movie is really sweet, and somewhat rebellious (towards society norms). It's about two older people that don't care what anyone thinks of them, they're going to do what makes them happy regardless. I really like that about the film, and the two leads are good in their roles. It's really slow-paced though, and it feels pretty uneventful by the movie's end. The setup is good, but there's not much to it after that.

Is there anything more depressing than geriatric sex? Yes. Geriatric actors who just Won't. Go. Away. Look, there is nothing wrong with retirement. I know. I'm a retiree myself. And retirement in the case of these two Norma Desmonds would be even better. It would be dignified. You can't play Salome if you're past 17. At least Norma Desmond was 50. These two old farts are 80, for goodness sake.Jane, Bob. You were once gorgeous and sexy. Now you are just old. Sex at age 80 is one of those things that everybody knows (may) happen, but nobody wants to hear about. Like Alzheimer. So please, stop embarrassing yourselves. And us.

This movie is a long way from Barefoot in the Park, made in 1967, when Robert Redford and Jane Fonda were both 30. Now 80 they play two ordinary people, Addie and Louis, who live alone in a small town and decide to spend their nights together to ease their loneliness. As Fonda put it, nights are the worst. The two had only known each other as acquaintances. So, when Addie knocks on his door with the proposal that the two sleep together, without sex, Louis is totally confounded but not scandalized. What I found interesting is how these 1960's sex symbols seemed to fit into these roles so naturally. The movie is slow and it takes a while for the two to get into the groove of being sleeping partners; however, it does pick up when Fonda's grandson comes into their lives. These 80 year olds take on all the energy and dedication of first time parents. The townsfolk were standoffish when they first found out about them but Addie was not bothered about gossip. Louis also adjusted to it. So what happens to spoil this bliss? Without giving it away, both Addie and Louis have acquired some baggage with their own grown children. They are able to face their own lives with a certain wisdom and honesty. The fact that these two actors, Fonda and Redford, can come together and star in a movie that breaks stereotypes is a positive note. It is refreshing to see a movie that treats older people as a loving, energetic couple. Thumbs up!