Robert Benton, director

                                                                 Part 2

    One column was not enough to cover the very good movies directed by Robert Benton. So, here are five more winners from his resume’.

Billy Bathgate (1991) successfully taken from E.L. Doctorow’s novel, seems to have the moral that crime pays- sometimes. The title character is played by Loren Dean. Perhaps you won’t remember him either. Anyway, he is a poor teenager with no prospects who casts his lot with the mob, headed by Dutch Schulz (Dustin Hoffman). Nicole Kidman is on board as Drew Preston, who follows the trends that develop in the various mobs, always landing on her feet. Though he witnesses a couple of murders committed by Schulz, Billy sticks around doing the odd job that needs doing. Schulz was a real person. Billy was not. 

Nobody’s Fool (1994) is successfully taken from Richard Russo’s novel and stars Paul Newman as the unforgettable Sully, a sometimes construction worker and full time character. This film is about him and really has little plot, nor does it need one. Sully’s adventures are low key, and they include stealing his part time boss Carl’s snow blower. This becomes a running joke, and Sully sues him early and often for unpaid wages and anything else he can think of. Bruce Willis is on board as contractor Carl. Sully’s pal Hub is part of a cast characters that hang out at the Iron Horse Saloon, play cards and drink. Benton also wrote the very clever screenplay which was nominated for Oscar but lost to the several writers of Forest Gump.

Twilight (1998) has a super cast: Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, James Garner and Liev Schreiber. Benton also wrote this screenplay. Newman is retired detective Harry Ross. He accepts what seems to be a simple job. He is to deliver a package for his host Jack Ames (Hackman). This works out to be a thoroughly bad idea. Twists and turns then begin. 

The Human Stain (2003) is based on Phillip Roth’s novel of the same name. As it unfolds we are shown how most of the main characters have a human stain in various degrees of gravity. Anthony Hopkins is Coleman Silk, chased from his tenured college teaching job for making an unfortunate remark. He asks Nathan Zukerman (Gary Sinise) to help him write a book defending his past. Silk’s affair with Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman) is becomes threatening because of her ex-husband Leseter (Ed Harris). Silk’s final secret is revealed at the film’s end. Nope, not telling!

Feast Of Love (2007) features four interlocking stories about love. Morgan Freeman is in charge as Harry Stevenson, a college professor who narrates the different stories about how love can affect your life. The cast includes Greg Kinnear, Rhada Mitchell, Billy Burke and Selma Blair. No big surprises, just a nice time at the movies. This was Robert Benton’s last directing effort before his death in 2005.  

All of the movies in this article are available somewhere, probably for a price. All are for adults. Next time, some of Robert Benton’s screen plays they he did not direct.