Paul Newman stars in, co-writes & directs the father-son relationship drama Harry & Son. Newman is Harry, a quiet, unemotional construction worker whose son Howard (Robby Benson) is an aspiring writer who works odd jobs but never seems to hold on to one for very long. Harry’s health is failing, causing him to lose his job, and Howard is asked to pick up the financial slack, with little success. This causes much familial strife, in addition to Harry’s daughter’s estrangement and his inability to move on after the loss of his wife. Newman and Benson both give stellar performances, at times steely and other times emotive. They have great screen chemistry as father and son and play well off each other. Though this is Newman’s fourth of only five feature directorial efforts, he always shows a sure hand at eliciting great performances, be it from leads or supporting actors, the latter in this case including his wife Joanne Woodward, Ellen Barkin & Wilford Brimley.
“Well acted and elegantly photographed” – Time Out London
