KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979)

Director:
Robert Benton

Writer:

Robert Benton

Starring:
Dustin Hoffman
Meryl Streep
Jane Alexander and others

Kramer vs. Kramer is a stunning movie. Now my job out here would be to try and find mistakes with this movie and the only thing it can be faulted of is being spectacular in all walks of film making. The writing is sensational and the performances, well I don't have words in my limited dictionary to describe them.

The story starts with Streep (Joanna Kramer) leaving Hoffman (Ted Kramer) and going away. Hoffman buckles up and looks after their only son, Billy (played exceptionally well by Justin Henry). A year and a half later Joanna realises that she cannot live without her son so she fights for his custody. The end of the movie is not the most unpredictable but it is an icing on the cake.

This movie makes you smile, not because the scene is funny but the directors light handedness when it comes to showing emotional scenes. He does not shy away from manipulating our emotions but what he does is that he brings them out in the most sincere way possible and I truly respect him for that. Kudos to this movie, watch it for an unforgivable cinematic experience.

Pranit’s Rating: 8.5/10