Robert Duvall first burst into the consciousness of moviegoers playing that mysterious Southern hermit, Bo Radley, in the ineffable To Kill a Mockingbird. Now, almost fifty years later, Duvall plays another enigmatic southern hermit in this wonderful film. I cannot begin to explore the riches of this beautiful act of cinematic art. To begin, there is the almost perfect acting. Even the smallest character is painted with precise brush - strokes. Duvall, Murray, Spacek, black and Cobb offer portrayals of subtlety and wit. The script - which never strikes asingle false note- is rich in human interest, while the direction is economical and assured. Finally, the film captures its tie and place with astounding accuracy. This is a superb film, a profoundly American parable of sin, confession, atonement and redemption. 9.5
