1979--Kramer Vs. Kramer, Robert Benton

 

1979--Kramer vs Kramer—Robert Benton

Nominated: All That Jazz, Apocalypse Now, Breaking Away, Norma Rae

Should have won: Apocalypse Now

Be sure to see: Alien, Being There, The Brood, The Jerk, Phantasm, Prophecy

“How much courage does it take to walk out on your kid?”--Ted Kramer

     Based on the novel by Avery Corman, Kramer vs Kramer wastes no time getting the ball rolling. Right away we know Ted Kramer is a workaholic and Joanna Kramer wants to leave him to raise their son Billy on his own. Ted is so immersed in his career he tells his boss he'll give his job 110% eight days a week right after telling his situation, and admits to his son's teacher he doesn't even know what grade Billy is in. Quickly, Ted and Billy bond and nearly a year passes since Joanna left. We think she has disappeared (deadbeat mom?) yet she is close by, watching. I wonder if she is watching Billy, longing to be with him again or glaring at Ted, angry at their closeness.

     The latter part of the film deals with what the title implies, the court hearing about custody of Billy, but the film is no doubt about the relationship between Ted and Billy. Both are adjusting to this new way of life. Ted, a gifted advertising executive, has been laid off a the worst possible time, and is juggling this stress with raising Billy. I feel Billy carries the movie. Justin Henry gives one of the finest child acting jobs ever and he was rewarded for his efforts with an Academy Award nomination. The movie is obvious about him. It is about custody, not a divorce.

     Ted hits the theme perfectly in his testimony when he says “My wife used to always say to me why can't a woman have the same ambitions as a man. I think you're right...but by the same token, I'd like to know what law is it that says that a woman is a better parent simply by virtue of her sex?” I've always felt mothers do get more leniency in these types of cases, even today 36 years later. As for the case in the movie, it it interesting because both parents have flaws. While Joanna has a higher paying job, Ted's lawyer is quick to point out the obvious: Can you side with a mother who walked out on her son? A scene that frustrated me is in the trial when the lawyer wouldn't let Ted's witness finish a sentence. I've never been on trial and admit I don't know much about court proceedings but isn't a witness entitled to answer questions fully? The lawyer kept interrupting her after a few words. Can't Ted's lawyer object to that? Kramer Vs Kramer is a gripping story with drama and a heart. Who the final verdict of the case goes to I'll let you discover, but the verdict isn’t the point I took from the viewing. It was about the growth of the relationship of a father and his son who both lost a big part of their lives.

   The fact it won over Apocalypse Now shows a common theme about the Academy Awards. Incomparable movies will be compared. They must be if they are in competition with one another. Did it deserve its win? I don't think so. It beat one of the best war movies ever made, but did Hoffman deserve his win over Martin Sheen? Perhaps; he is in virtually every scene, but I've always had a problem with Dustin Hoffman. I've read on a number of occasions he is considered among the best actors of the last third of the twentieth century. I don't know, he always comes across as hammy to me. Everything I've ever seen him in, I feel that he is acting the part not being the part, and the same goes for this role. But seeing as how respected he is by his peers, I'm clearly wrong. But this is a good movie, though a little frustrating at times. It isn't even close to Apocalypse Now in its greatness and also isn't Hoffman's best performance. Look at Rain Man (1988) and Marathon Man (1976). Kramer Vs. Kramer is worth a look but mainly for Justin Henry. If nothing else, the movie is a great reference on how to make French toast.