Table for Five

source: Table for Five

I can guarantee that ninety percent of my readers here have not seen this tear-jerking melodrama 1983's Table for Five, yet alone heard of it. Hopefully after reading my kind words, you will be somewhat intrigued by this movie. When doing my research for the film, I was shocked to see how vastly underrated the movie is. There are only a few reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, hardly any information on Wikipedia or Google-hardly anything out there in this vast Internet landscape. Then, why on earth is this movie so good? Sure, maybe some folks will say the movie is just a predictable Lifetime TV movie, but honestly it is much more than that. There are some elements that makes this film seem destined for the television at times, but to me it is much more than that. I consider the movie to be an honest, emotional portrayal about fatherhood and family. Directed by Robert Lieberman, this film is about a man named J.P Tannen (Jon Voight) who fails at being father and has not been quality alone time with his three children in over four years. He is given permission by his ex-wife Marie (Marie-Christine Barrault) and her new husband, Mitchell (Richard Crenna) to take the kids on a cruise in the Mediterranean. J.P loves his kids, Tilde (Roxana Zal), Truman-Paul (Robby Kiger), and Trung (Son Hoang Bui). However, it is clear that fatherhood is not one of his strong points. During the cruise, an emotional, life-altering tragedy strikes. This tragedy will allow J.P to figure out what went wrong and how he be a better father in the future. The performances in the film are honest and extremely realistic. Jon Voight gives a fantastic, heart-breaking portrayal of a father who means well, but cannot express that sentiment in a believable manner. For an actor of his caliber, his performance definitely goes under the radar. I was very impressed with the children actors. Casting children without any experience can often be problematic, but I was relieved that is not the case here. These children gave their best, especially Roxana Zal. Credit needs to be given to Richard Crenna as well. The actor, known for his role in First Blood, gives a steely performance as the stepfather. The movie tries to show how hard being a stepfather is, especially in the wake of tragedy. Also, a fun note, but keep an eye out for Kevin Costner-who portrays a newlywed on the cruise. I really did not know what I was expecting with the movie. On paper, this seems like an overly sappy Lifetime movie with the design to force tears out of you. As expected, those tears did come. What was unexpected were those natural tears. The movie hits you hard, much harder than I came to anticipate. Although my first thought was Lifetime movie, I knew it had to be more than that. Jon Voight in his prime, cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond, editing by Michael Kahn-who has edited most of Steven Spielberg's movies. Luckily, their talents are not wasted here. I also liked how the film was only shot on location-in places like Rome and Egypt. This is a movie that no one knows about, so go ahead and check this movie out. It's an emotional, hard-hitting drama with an underrated Jon Voight performance. My Grade: A-

While this may not initially seem like a movie that would draw audiences (the one liner/high concept of an absentee divorced father left to care for his children after his ex-wife is tragically killed sounds like a downer), the versatile David Seltzer has written a poignant, compelling, dynamic and very real film. Everything about the film seems credible and Voight really turns in a fantastic performance, as does the supporting cast.

If you grew up in the early 80s and had HBO, you probably caught a showing of 1983's Table for Five. If you didn't, there's always a chance to YouTube this epitome of a family drama that plays out innately and avoids the fall in, TV feel. So yeah, Table for Five is a talky film but there's a lot of globetrotting cinematography that compels it to rise above the norm. I mean never have I seen something cinematic-ally, that had grand production values to compliment all things dialogue-driven. The sense of time and place as well as the locales are in abundance here, with director Robert Lieberman placing his actors in scenic foregrounds and letting them naturally emote. Egyptian pyramids and the Colosseum and the Ruins of Athens, Greece oh my! Vista views aside, Table for Five is also a rough around the edges character study starring Jon Voight, Richard Crenna, and some unknown child troupers. With almost perfect casting, elegant tenor, and empathy for its otherwise WASPY subjects, "Five" has the usual helping of domestic back and forth until it takes a darker turn (which I won't reveal). The standout performance in "Five" obviously goes to Voight, who relishes his disciplined role as former golf pro and estranged dad, J. P. Tannen. Table for Five's story involves Tannen taking his kids (who he rarely sees) on a Mediterranean cruise to reconnect with them. "Five" is well, edited effectively as its events have a very sequential feel to them. So OK, what can I say about Jon except that he anchors "Five" (no pun intended). His persona is equal parts confident, likable, slightly fused, and flawed. You watch him in other stuff like Deliverance, Heat, Runaway Train, and the aforementioned and you just can't tell it's the same dude. Voight and Table for Five are both able to be veritably protean. "Life table".

I enjoyed this movie overall. It took a while to really get into the flow of the story but it represented well what absent parents endure as children become distant and alienated. Especially if you've ever been unfortunate enough to experience a heartbreaking divorce you should pay close attention to the pyramid scene where John Voight speaks to the children about what causes families to break apart. And if you've also lost regular contact with your kids the pyramid scene as well as several other scenes will likely bring tears to your eyes. But it's not all about sadness and a broken home; it's also about how one can restore relationships through determination and should never give up hope.

I first saw this movie when I was 15, and just saw it again over 20 years later. The movie still resonates with me after all this time. Children of a divorce who are trying to get to know their distant parent, and parents trying to get to know their children can appreciate the emotions each character is going through. I can also appreciate that the father is trying to be a good father but doesn't know how. His intentions are well meaning. The relationships between he and his children are realistic. For those of you who rent from Netflix and read that the co-star is Kevin Costner, you will either be disappointed or happy to see that he has only an extra part, barely recognizable today! I recommend this as a good family film, especially for divorced families.

Jon Voight is an actor whom I have never quite decided about. And, in this film he demonstrates why. There are occasional scenes I just don't buy, and other scenes where I think he is quite remarkable. This film and "Conrack" are my two favorite Voight performances, and I think it's because in both he plays against the character we usually think of him being. I enjoyed this film when I first saw it back in 1983, and was pleased to see it out in Blu Ray now (in 2017) from Kino-Lorber Video. However, the film suffers a bit from deterioration, and it is particularly noticeable in the most dramatic sequence in the film. That is not to say that you shouldn't buy or watch the film...it is still very enjoyable...but you may find it a bit distracting. In this film a "part-time father" (Voight) decides to take his 3 children (2 are biologically his, the third is adopted) on a trip to Egypt and other places via a cruise ship. He learns (once again) that maybe he doesn't have what is needed to be a real father. During the cruise he learns that the children's mother (his former wife) has died in a car accident. Should the children go back to their step-father (who loves them; played by Richard Crenna), or should he try to gain custody of them? Key here are the performances, particularly of the children. Ronana Zal as the daughter is superb. As is Roby Kiger as the young son, who suffers from a learning handicap. Son Hoang Bui is the adopted son, and he seemed a little stiff here. Richard Crenna, who was generally quite a good character actor in his more mature years, wasn't as impressive here as I have sometimes seen him. However, it's a very controlled performance and he manages to not come across as the heavy. French actress Marie-Christine Barrault as a sort of combination love-interest and friend-life-coach does nicely. I still like this film, just as I remembered liking it 34 years ago. Recommended.

You'll miss the point if you dismiss this as another Lifetime soaper. There is authentic truth, feeling and heart in this film if you watch it from the top and stick with it. Table for Five is an intelligently paced and structured story both men and women will relate to. A failed divorced father (Jon Voight) has been replaced in the lives of his ex-wife and children by a more well-heeled step dad (Richard Crenna). The biological father (Voight) is allowed to take a two week Mediterranean cruise with his three pre-adolescent kids - the first time he's spent an extended period with them in four years. His failings as a father soon become apparent days into the cruise, but tragic events transpire that challenge him to ante up for his kids in ways he could never emotionally risk before. A powerful film about fathering, Table for Five contains two of the ten best hours of Jon Voigt ever released on film - an outstandingly nuanced performance. The kids, especially Roxana Zal and Robbie Kiger are precociously honest actors. And dig the talent on the other side of the lens. Vilmos Zsigmond (Deer Hunter etc) is director of photography, Michael Kahn (editor on almost all Spielberg pix since Close Encounters) did the cut. The screenplay by David Seltzer (Lucas) gives the actors and the audience everything they could want from each character. Robert Leiberman's patient blocking and direction allows all the principal actors time to develop each scene. Professional all the way. A 9.5 out of 10, with only a half point deducted for a few somewhat slick TV-ish shortcuts in the production and a hammy helicopter dolly up. But, make no mistake. This one is not to be missed. Enjoy!

Table for Five is a sweet, nuanced melodrama that flies under the radar and offers a heartfelt depiction of a man who is trying to set his life straight in the eyes of his children. Some people may dismiss this film as another Lifetime film, while others may find this to be a moving tear-jerker. I seem to be in the latter category. The film is edited and written well, thus making for a good, intelligent film. This film is about a father named J.P who is seen more as the friendly uncle. In order to change that view, he gets the permission from his ex- wife to take his three kids on a Mediterranean cruise where he finds out if this will be the best thing to happen to him.....or the worst thing to happen to him. Jon Voight delivers a heartfelt performance as J.P as the father who means well, but doesn't live up to expectations of his family. Richard Crenna delivers a good performance as J.P ex-wife's new husband. I also like the performances out of the children whom as first-time actors, were actually worth rooting for. Overall, Table for Five may not be the best drama film you'll see, but it still is a powerful piece of work that rings a true message about change and love. Like the movie itself, all the performances are heartfelt and meaningful. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly a film that flew under the radar and one that needs to go over the radar. My Grade: A-

TABLE FOR FIVE is a superior example of overlooked filmmaking. The story is poignant and compelling, Jon Voight ia terrific in a role prior to his character stage. His portrayal of a far from perfect father, not wholeheartedly trying to change his demeanor, is realistic and sensitive. Richard Crenna, far from the Walter Denton of "Our Miss Brooks" days, gives an excellent performance as a less charismatic, but especially decent man in a difficult position. The three child actors are equally empathetic and effective. This is a type of movie some critics mistakenly dismiss, but the rest of us appreciate..