Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction) and Eric Roberts (Final Analysis) generate all kinds of crazy chemistry in this wildly offbeat tale of romance and redemption. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Crimes of the Hea... more »rt, Nobody's Fool is full of "lovable eccentricity" (Screen International) and "oddball charm" (Boxoffice)! Small-town girl Cassie (Arquette) has made a few big mistakes in love including an attempted stabbing! Labeled a kook by some,and largely avoided by all, Cassie wallows in shame and self-pity until a traveling Shakespearean troupe arrives and she falls for a hot backstage roadie (Roberts). Can she trust this stranger offering romance and a one-way ticket out of town? Or will she find that, in the words of the Bard, "the course of true love never did run smooth"?« less
Started out a bit slow, picked up and had a good ending!
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Michel D. (michelann) from WALNUT GROVE, MO Reviewed on 8/26/2012...
Eric “King of the Gypsies” Roberts has been a successful actor for decades now and is a much appreciated addition to any cast today (in my humble opinion), even when he joined the “cast” of Celebrity Rehab. So his appearance in this sweet little film only made it better when I first saw this movie back in a theater in 1986. I remember it to this day and that says a lot about the staying power of films! Rosanna Arquette and Mare Winningham may be two of the “plainest” actresses in movies but they can act and, especially in this one, they make the movie all the more enjoyable and memorable by there performances. Buy – rent - borrow – or swap this great movie and see for yourself how important it is to have a well written script and a cast that knows how to do their jobs!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Heather F. (8izenuff) from PHOENIX, AZ Reviewed on 3/17/2008...
80s movie, not well done, but Eric Roberts is hot. Rosanna is always some hat. It was really missing something, like plot, good acting I am not sure.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Sweet, offbeat romance
CT | Texas | 02/25/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I saw this film when it ran in NYC in 1986, and like the rest of the audience (who applauded when it was over), was totally charmed by it. I could never understand why it didn't do better at the box office - poor marketing, perhaps? I understand it's done very well as a video.The performances and the originality of the script are what stand out in this film. Rosanna Arquette manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Eric Roberts is so damned sexy and appealing in this film, it's hard to understand why he didn't get more romantic leads. When Arquette's character shouts at him, "Stop looking at me with those eyes!", every woman in the audience knows what she is talking about. He is magnetic, and gives great dimension to a somewhat underwritten part. The chemistry between these two is great. All of the supporting actors give first rate performances.Some of the quirkiness of Beth Henley's script could have been whittled down - she seems to delight in presenting odd characters for effect, such as the albino bride, schizophrenic cousin and the obese younger brother, who don't add a lot to the story, but seem like contrived distractions. These elements might work in her plays, but only take away from the development of the main characters and their relationship to each other.What she does get right is the complex relationship between love, obsession, humor and disaster. In Henley's world, tragedy exists right around the corner from happiness, and nothing is black and white.It was interesting to read the comments from Dean, an actor in this film. It does seem like editing might have done this one in. I could have used more development of the Riley character, a little more humor, and less parading of oddballs.But all in all, a worthwhile film for its performances and originality. It looks good too, with lovely shots of the outdoors, and attractive, appealing leads. All in all, one of the more memorable movies I've ever seen. Even if it stunk at the box office, those involved should be proud of it."
Thanks for the nice reviews!
Dean Ricca | North Hollywood, CA USA | 01/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hi, as one of the actors in this small film, I really appreciate the kind words about it. The screenplay by Beth Henley was very funny, infact, in it's original form, the script was a laugh riot. Somehow, either by cost cutting or by director and editing cuts the film was whittled down to a quirky romance, with a lot of the comedy missing. It's still a sweet and funny film. So buy it or rent it, but if you like quirky characters, you'll like this film. -Dean Ricca"
High level of maturity needed absolutely. Great movie!
Dean Ricca | 08/30/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Most people won't understand the heartbreak of being pregnant and abandoned. I never see any movies that try to deal with this type of personal tragedy. If you can imagine the pain that Rosanna Arquette's character is dealing with, you can enjoy this movie. The pain of giving a child up must be severe. This poor girl has no one to talk to but brainless idiots and a friend who tries to understand. Did she grow up with no one to care for her? The father of the child marries some rich girl while Arquette's character is still pregnant. OUCH! This type of heartache is something that young women should make it their business to avoid. Watch it and learn. Please."
Outstanding !
Randall Oelerich | Duluth, MN United States | 08/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Outstanding screenplay, direction, acting, and musical score. I have watched this film several times, it is an amazing feel good romantic drama/comedy (more drama than comedy, but very quirky and funny in many spots). Rosanna Arquette shines in this film as our hero seeking love, and escape from her small hometown, perhaps more importantly her character seeks to find her inner self. I wish they would have released a soundtrack CD for this film, or perhaps now they could at least distribute it as download as digital music (hoping). I give this film five stars as a romance drama-comedy, but of course it is drama, and independent film, so do not expect huge budget special effects. The film is shot in the New Mexico/Arizona region, with some nice backdrops. Note: The Amazon description of the DVD here says it is 1.33:1 (4:3 TV mode), but I already purchased two copies and the DVD includes both 1.33:1 as well as widescreen mode (which I have viewed off the DVD).
"
Romantic sleeper - wonderful character development
"A real sleeper - a quirky caricature town masks wonderful character development. Roberts is extraordinary as vulnerable, loner, insecure, long reformed bad boy from LA; Arquette tugs at heart strings as Scarlet Letter woman in small town, an outcast as much because she's an individual as because of what she's done. Watch for Roberts' scene with Arquette in the spaghetti dinner hall near the end - if you're not moved, you haven't loved. One of my all-time favorite movies, a personal discovery."