Mrs. Soffel

source: Mrs. Soffel

Trailer—Mrs. Soffel

Mrs. Soffel

Continuing my plan to watch every Mel Gibson movie in order, 8 come to his second American movie of 1984 Mrs Sofel. Plot In A Paragraph: Kate Soffel (Diane Keaton) develops a friendship with Ed Biddle (Mel Gibson) a convict sentenced to death for murder, when she reads the bible to him. A movie like this won't have hurt Gibson with female audiences, even though it failed to make a dent at the box office. The movie almost seems like a showcase for Gibson at times, as with the exception of Keaton, nobody else (including Matthew Modine and Edward Herman) are giving anything to allow them to shine despite both being central to the plot. It's a sad movie, but despite being "a true story" it takes a lot of believing!! How much of it was true and how much was dramatised I have no idea, but I'd say give it a watch and form your own opinions. In my worthless opinion, I'd say it's worth watching once. Mrs Sofel didn't break the top 100 grossing movies of the year.

Diane Keaton is the warden's wife, and helps the Biddle brothers escape from jail. based on a true story. Keaton had already made a bunch of films with woody, and would make some more. Co-stars Mel Gibson and Matt Modine. The warden's wife falls for one of the brothers and runs off with them when they escape from jail. at the start of the film, she has strong religious beliefs, and uses that to comfort the prisoners, but along the way, she seems to lose her faith. so now the search is on! no big surprises. its pretty good. they paint the warden's wife as a little loopy, and they take some liberties. Directed by ozzie Gillian Armstrong.

It's been years since I've seen this film -- I remember it as being really beautiful but really annoying. But to the earlier poster who thought Mel Gibson's American accent was such an achievement: you are aware, right, that he was born in the US and lived here till he was 12 (till his father won on Jeopardy! and took the family to Australia?)

Mrs Soffel is based on a true story. It goes about a woman who falls in love with a prisonner who will executed soon. She helps him to escape with his brother... Mel Gibson and Diane Keaton give very thouching performances and it is a little bit like 'Romeo and Juliette'. I loved it very much and Gibson & Keaton are just wonderful. I hope that Keaton & Gibson will make other great masterpieces ... Rating: 8/10 or *** out of ****

Continuing my survey/reevaluation of Mel Gibson movies (well, somebody has to do it), I give this one 3 stars out of 4. If I were giving stars. Anyway...beautifully photographed, nicely-directed film of warden's wife (Diane Keaton) in 1901 Pittsburgh, in contact with death-row inmate brothers (Mel and Matthew Modine). Diane's in static marriage with warden Edward Herrmann and four kids; goes to death row to read Bible passages to cons...one in particular...! Mel's waiting' on a hangin' while the darling of local starry-eyed schoolgirls lamenting the handsome con's apparent fate. Diane and Mel strike sparks in this period romance. Film is slow-moving in first half, but stick with it.

"Mrs. Soffel", a movie much overlooked in the mid 1980s, deserves a reevaluation at present. With the advent of so many successful period films, "Mrs. Soffel" can be seen as a predecessor of sorts. The movie, a true story filmed on location in Pittsburgh, PA, is one of exquisite beauty and restrained passion. The emotions evoked by it are comparable to those produced by the more modern "The Age of Innocence" and "The Remains of the Day". The doomed couple, played by Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson have an extraordinary chemistry which smolders throughout the entire film. In addition, the cinematography is beautiful (for something filmed in 1984, it's almost remarkable how effective the atmosphere is!). Do not look towards this movie if you are seeking unbridled romance or breath taking action. The rewards of "Mrs. Soffel" are far more cerebral.

Mel Gibson's performance in "Mrs. Soffel" is superb in any event, but viewed in the context that it is the first time he played an American character on film, that his brother was played by American actor Matthew Modine, and that the film was based on a true story of two men from Pittsburgh, it is an even greater achievement.