Melvin and Howard
First screened in March 2005 / Most recently screened in July 2016
Director: Jonathan Demme. Cast: Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Pamela Reed, Elizabeth Cheshire, Chip Taylor, Michael J. Pollard, Robert Ridgely, Jack Kehoe, Charles Napier, John Glover, Rick Lenz, Gary Goetzman, Jack Verbois, Dabney Coleman, Gloria Grahame, Denise Galik. Screenplay: Bo Goldman.

 Twitter Capsule: Among Demme's eccentric, affectionate peeks at Americans who color outside some lines while others hem them in.

VOR: ④  Can you imagine structuring the story this way: so little Howard, so much Melvin, with this romantic trajectory, this much postponement of the will, and this outcome? Impressively offbeat.


Photo © 1980 Universal Pictures

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B+

(in March 2005: C+)
Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
★Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen
Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards
★Best Original Screenplay: Bo Goldman

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Best Actor (Musical/Comedy): Paul Le Mat
★Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen
Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards

Other Awards:
Writers Guild of America: Best Original Screenplay (Drama)
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Director; Best Supporting Actress (Steenburgen); Best Screenplay
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Supporting Actress (Steenburgen)
National Society of Film Critics: Best Picture; Best Supporting Actress (Steenburgen); Best Screenplay
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best American Film; Best Supporting Actress (Steenburgen); Best Supporting Actor (Robards); Best Screenplay
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