This film about a troubled Southerner who temporarily relocates to New York City in the wake of his sister’s suicide attempt and establishes a relationship with his sister’s psychologist aspires to a level of romanticism and psychological insight about families, romance, relationships, and more that it doesn’t quite achieve. I admire the ambition, the effort, and the beautiful music but just wish that it could have reached the heights of cinematic achievement that it was striving for.

The first hour or so was so slow I almost gave up on it but I'm glad I didn't. It was a good story with some over the top acting at times. It's worth the watch.

A solidly made US drama. All the usual techniques are in there from soppy music, love interests, family drama, a man whose life is transformed during the course of the film. Paint by numbers stuff and I'll have forgotten it all by next week. Reminded me of 'On Golden Pond', in that I don't remember anything about that film except there was some water in it. Watched on DVD as couldn't find anywhere else. Another of those Best Picture nominations that time has pretty much forgotten and that's understandable once you watch the competently made but unremarkable picture.

Even though I give this a movie a strong recommendation, I can't think of another film that makes me so angry! The first half or three-quarters of this adaptation of Pat Conroy's novel is fantastic - and often times close to extraordinary. I am fascinated with the practice of psychiatry and was captivated by the moments in this movie where Nolte becomes the memory of his twin sister (the wonderful Melinda Dillon) who has blocked out much of her painful past. I also loved the scenes in which Nolte shares the screen with Kate Nelligan as his mother and Blythe Danner as his wife. Both actresses are superb! As is Nolte, even if the Southern accent gets a little bit much at times. But then the romance starts with Streisand, and what started as a powerful dramatic motion picture turns into a treacly Harlequin romance with moments that could have been stolen from a feminine hygiene commercial. It's almost painful to watch at times and so disappointing when compared with what has transpired before this. The plot which has drawn us in up to this point becomes an afterthought. Once Streisand's husband makes his first appearance, it's all downhill from there. A subplot involving Nolte teaching Streisand's son (played by her real-life son Jason Gould) to play football could easily have been excised. Streisand is good as the psychiatrist, and I do appreciate her scenes with Nolte in the office piecing together the puzzle of his complicated childhood. A climactic memory involving a horrific event that has never been discussed before is particularly unsettling. And a special shout out to James Newton Howard's score, which is one of my all-time favorites. This could have been one of my all-time favorites if it hadn't lost its way. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)

A must-watch with guts to back up it's darker story beats and possibly a career-best Nick Nolte to back it up. Affliction's up there too. 9/10

Kinda awesome. Kinda mushy. Streisand directs and stars in a movie where she helps mend Nolte, who comes from a tragically broken home in the south.

One of the best romantic movies if not the best. Nick Nolte and Barbara Streisand are phenomenal and the story is sweet, compelling and interesting.

Love this film. It still makes me cry in all the right parts.

Between 2.5 and 3 stars. The music is OK, the acting is Ok, the direction is OK... It's just the different components of the story don't mix in a combined plot that gives sense to everything.

So melodramatic it almost becomes a comedy.

One of the best dramas in the '90s. Well done to Streisand for her immaculate storytelling and oscar-nominated performance of Nolte

It is a drama film and it is a very good drama film. Streisand proved she is a good director and Nick Nolte proved he is a good actor. If you are after a good lighthearted drama, don't miss it.

Didn't finish due to a certain sense of comfortable disingenuousness overwhelming the palate here.

Few female directors have achieved the success of Barbra Streisand despite her having only directed three feature films. Of the three this film could be considered her crowning achievement as it was a box office hit and earned critical acclaim in the form of seven Academy Award nominations including one for Best Picture. While Streisand was controversially not nominated for Best Director she did gain respect and this gave her the opportunity to produce the divisive The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996). I can't say that I see the film as being one of the best of 1991 as it is heavily flawed but the actors put in fine performances and the melodrama is compelling enough to keep you engaged over two hours and twelve minutes. Out of work teacher and American football coach Tom Wingo, Nick Nolte, is having marital troubles with his wife Sally, Blythe Danner, as he struggles to get over the death of his brother. When he learns that his poet sister Savannah, Melinda Dillon, has attempted suicide again he travels to New York City to be with her for several months. He meets her psychiatrist Susan Lowenstein, Barbra Streisand, who intends to use him to find out about the childhood trauma that has led to Savannah being so depressed. Their problems seem to lead to their abusive mother Lila, Kate Nelligan, who manipulated them all as children and left their abusive father for a wealthy man who also turned out to be abusive. Lowenstein and Wingo fall in love as he works through his trauma and coaches her son Bernard, Jason Gould, in how to play football. After Wingo reveals his dark past the relationship between the two deepens but Wingo ultimately decides to return to his family while keeping the memory of Lowenstein with him always. The tonal shifts in the film are awkward as in seconds the film will move between Nolte discussing how he raped as a child by intruders to him being hit in the head by a dictionary and falling backwards in a slapstick fashion. While I understand that Streisand was trying to blend light romantic comedy and dark family drama, in the vein of Terms of Endearment (1983), she is not successful as the moments of humor and romance feel forced and undercut what could have been emotionally impactful scenes. The flashbacks to the rape scene are included in a fashion that feels tasteful and honest and as the camera rests on Nolte's face we do get an idea of the pain that this man feels as a result of these events. It would have been nice if this could have been explored deeper. The film itself would have benefitted greatly from not having it's two main characters fall into a love affair as it causes us to lose respect for Streisand, who initially appears smart and capable. When this wealthy, educated psychiatrist goes all mushy for Nolte's folksy southern accent and encourages him to spend time with her ‘bratty' son it comes out of left field as before this point she has seemed calculating and emotionally removed. The introduction of the idea that Nolte is attracted to Streisand also feels ridiculous, if in part because we know Streisand directed the film, with shots of her legs and narration in which Nolte admits he is intoxicated by her perfume. Yes, Streisand is a beautiful woman but we never understand what it is about her character, beyond her looks, that entices Nolte to be with her and this left me confounded during the long scenes of them canoodling on the beach. The overwrought score doesn't help matters as it makes Nolte's traumatic childhood feel like it comes out of The Yearling (1946) and the feeling that we are constantly being told what to feel is disconcerting. This is a shame because Nolte, Streisand and especially Nelligan do give some of the best performances of their respective careers and it is easy to see why they were lauded. Nelligan is wonderfully weird as a mother so mixed up that she tells each of her children that they are her favorite and she hates their siblings. Her southern accent seems the most robust and the abandon with which she throws herself at any man who will take her is believable when portrayed by an actress full of so much vibrancy. Streisand is great when she is the consummate professional but less enchanting as the goofy romantic lead in part due to her lack of chemistry with Nolte and how unthinkable it is that a woman with this much chutzpah would go for such a nut. Nolte was the most successful of the actors in the film in terms of nominations but I was never entirely convinced by his performance as he plumbs the depths of a man's soul far more convincingly in Affliction (1998).

loved this movie. great romance, drama and surprises. nolte is great. never saw him as leading man before.

Powerful story, beautiful music, Streisand's best work.

Terribly contrived and insulting to victims of abuse.

I would have never watched this movie if it wasn't for my mum, who is the main reason I'm the movie enthusiast that I am today. And hell, I would have missed alot! The Prince of Tides is one of those 90s flicks that feels somehow aged, but has put enormous thought into its own story, making it relevant and timeless. The plot it one of those that cannot be spoiled, hence I'm not going to. But let me tell you that after some minor drama, some romance, and some 90s cringe, there's a huge revelation that will leave noone cold. Nick Nolte's performance is absolutely astonishing and Barbra Streisand (also director of this movies) does her part very well. What confused me at first was the fact that after solving the main conflict of the protagonist, the movie goes on for another thirty minutes, what turned out to be the right choice, because The Prince of Tides delivers an absolutely satisfying end that successfully manages to navigate through the cliffs of love movie clichés. Great!

Beautifully shot, with a strong performance by Nick Nolte, this might be Barbra Streisand's best picture as a director, as she takes the audience into the dark tale of a Southern family and a heartfelt love story and ending. Inspiring and moving. A must see.

A wonderful film. A personal alltime favorite.