Tender Mercies

Tender Mercies (1983) starring Robert Duvall, Tess Harper. Washed-up country singer Mac Sledge (Duvall) finds himself broke and staying at a motel owned by a young widow (Harper). One thing leads to another (and rather quickly), and they get married. It is only after they are married that she learns that he was once a rich and famous song writer and performer. It's alcohol that did him in, and he pretty much gives up drinking for her. This is a novelistic movie, with several interesting twists and turns in the script. For a low-budget production, it's really fine. Duvall won an Oscar for his performance. (Closed captions are available for the hard of hearing.) Grade: A-