Kramer vs Kramer (1979)

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Kramer vs Kramer (1979)

8/10

 

Starring

Dustin Hoffman

Meryl Streep

Justin Henry

Jane Alexander

Directed by Robert Benton

Kramer vs Kramer is rated as one of the best courtroom drama that there is, but in my opinion the best part of the movie happened outside the courtroom. The bonding between father and son after the wife just opted to leave, is something that we all should see and will come to appreciate.

The movie is a classic, and it went ahead to win five Academy Awards in 1979 in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

One high in the movie is that it didn’t put one side over another, from the get go we can see where both Ted and Joanna Kramer faulted in their marriage and in the courtroom you can also see that although separated they still cared for each other.

This courtroom drama is based on an adapted screenplay (adapted and directed by Robert Benton) from a book of the same name by Alex Corman. The movie speaks on the sad case of divorce and child custody, although the woman walking out on her husband led to a better future for all three parties involved, I feel it could have been avoided if both parties (well the husband) were patient enough to dialogue.

As far as acting goes, this movie was well done the actors were just too well suited for their roles that I had that feeling that hardly comes when you are watching the movies released now. The feeling I’m talking about is when you get sucked into a movie and for over an hour you forget yourself and your surroundings and you are totally in the world painted on the screen.

As said above the movie is about a couple Mr and Mrs Kramer (Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep respectively) who were divorced and were now fighting for the custody of their son Billy (Justin Henry).

The accolades that Kramer vs Kramer received are lengthy; the movie was both a critical and commercial success (making over $106 million compared to its $8 million budget) and was a launch pad for Meryl Streep’s career.

There is no reason that anyone who claims to be a movie lover should not see this movie again, the four leads were just wonderful and Justin Henry (who played Billy) was 7 years old at the release of the movie and was making his movie debut, acted like someone who has been doing this for years.

Kramer vs Kramer, a classic courtroom drama for all to see.