Director: Robert Benton
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Meryla Streep, Jane Alexander, Justin Henry, Howard Duff, George Coe, JoBeth Williamms, Bill Moor, Howland, Chamberlain, Jack Ramage, Jess Osuna, Nicholas Hormann, Ellen Parker, Shelby Brammer, & Carol Nadell
Oscars: Stanley R. Jaffe (best picture), Robert Benton (director), Robert Benton (screenplay), Dustin Hoffman (actor), Meryl Streep (actress in support role)
Oscar Nomination: Justin Henry (actor in support role), Jane Alexander (actress in suport role), Nestor Almendros (photography), Gerald B. Greenberg (editing)
This movie will pull at your heart strings. Ted (Dustin Hoffman) was just promoted to a big account as an advertising executive. His wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep) packs up her bags, and leaves her husband, and 5 year old son Billy (Justin Henry). Ted was in a whirlwind of emotions, because he is now the sole parent to a child that he doesn't even know. The first morning with each other, Ted decides to make french toast, but forgets the ingredients. He mixes the eggs and milk in a coffee mug, but ran into a problem when the piece of bread wouldn't fit. Ted was out of practice. He didn't know how to raise a child, because he was breadwinner, and Joanna was the one that took care of the child.
15 months pass, Ted and Billy finally have a routine down, and are happy! That's when Joanna comes back and reaches out to Ted. She invited him to lunch, they sit down, and she tells him how shes got her life back on track, going to see a therapist, and has a job. She tells Ted that she's taking him to court, to get custody of her child. He of course, doesn't take it well.
Ted gets himself a lawyer, and he flat out tells him it'll cost $15,000 and his chances of getting custody is slim, since the court usually sides with the mother. The court scenes are rough, intense, and emotional! I was Team Ted the whole time, and when the prosecutors brought up every negative thing about Ted, in his personal life, but nothing about him being a father. One of the sweetest and heart breaking moments, was when Ted had to tell Billy what was going on, and he started crying. Pulled at my heart strings! I come from a divorced family, so I know how hard it is, on a child, having two houses, and splitting your time between two parents. It was hard seeing a child of 7 years old, have to go thorugh that.
At the end of the movie, we get to see Ted and Billy, yet again in the kitchen making French Toast, but they work as a team, and you see the growth between the two individuals. It's a beautiful moment between a father and son.
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