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{{Short description|1988 film by Leonard Nimoy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Good Mother
| name = The Good Mother
Line 16: Line 18:
| editing = [[Peter E. Berger]]
| editing = [[Peter E. Berger]]
| studio = [[Touchstone Pictures]]<br>[[Silver Screen Partners IV]]
| studio = [[Touchstone Pictures]]<br>[[Silver Screen Partners IV]]
| distributor = [[Buena Vista Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]]
| runtime = 103 minutes
| runtime = 103 minutes
| released = {{Film date|1988|11|4}}
| released = {{Film date|1988|11|4}}
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}}
}}


'''''The Good Mother''''' is a 1988 American [[drama film]] and an adaptation of [[Sue Miller]]'s novel of the same name. Directed by [[Leonard Nimoy]], the film stars [[Diane Keaton]] and [[Liam Neeson]] in the leading roles. ''The Good Mother'' explores feelings and beliefs about children's exposure to adult sexuality and challenges society's growing reliance upon [[courts]] to settle complex private and ethical matters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1988-11-20/entertainment/ca-436_1_bad-mother |title=Commentary : Selling Out for the Sake of Expediency : 'The Good Mother'- What Rage? What Reason? - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1988-11-20 |accessdate=2012-07-03 |first=Mimi |last=Avins}}</ref>
'''''The Good Mother''''' is a 1988 American drama film and an adaptation of [[Sue Miller]]'s novel of the same name. Directed by [[Leonard Nimoy]], the film stars [[Diane Keaton]] and [[Liam Neeson]] in the leading roles. ''The Good Mother'' explores feelings and beliefs about children's exposure to adult sexuality and challenges society's growing reliance upon courts to settle complex private and ethical matters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-20-ca-436-story.html |title=Commentary : Selling Out for the Sake of Expediency : 'The Good Mother'- What Rage? What Reason? - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=November 20, 1988 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |first=Mimi |last=Avins}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Anna Dunlap (Keaton), is a Boston piano teacher, working part-time at a college laboratory who recently divorced her husband Brian ([[James Naughton]]) and has custody of her six-year-old daughter Molly ([[Asia Viera]]). Soon, Anna meets and falls in love with Leo (Neeson), an Irish sculptor who helps her to find true passion and fulfillment. He is a nice guy, and has a stable relationship with Anna. Molly is soon exposed to their sexual relationship. One day, Molly sees Leo naked in the bathroom. She points at his private part and asks what it is. He tells her and she asks if she can touch it. He says okay and she puts her little hand on it for a second. However, children being children, Molly talks to Brian about her experience with Leo. Brian accused Leo of sexually molesting Molly and sues Anna for custody of their daughter. Then, Leo starts facing charges of child molestation, and Anna learns that she may lose custody of Molly to Brian. Leo finally clears himself out after explaining the mistake, that he thought it was in keeping with Anna's parenting, since she had bathed with Molly and was very open with her. A counselor agrees that Leo should have known better but he believes that Molly hasn't been abused and is a very well adjusted and happy child, particularly with Anna and Leo. In the end the judge gives custody to Brian and Anna's relationship with Leo ends. She does not fight for her child although an appeal was an option. She only sees Molly on alternate weekends and holidays. One of her loves was taken away and the other she pushed away.
Anna Dunlap (Keaton), is a Boston piano teacher, working part-time at a college laboratory who recently divorced her husband Brian ([[James Naughton]]) and has custody of her six-year-old daughter Molly ([[Asia Viera]]). Soon, Anna meets and falls in love with Leo (Neeson), a sexually liberated Irish sculptor who changes her perspective on life. One day, Molly sees Leo naked in the bathroom, and she asks if she can touch him, which he allows. After Molly talks to Brian about her experience with Leo, Brian accuses Leo of sexually molesting Molly and sues Anna for custody of their daughter. Leo explains he thought it was in keeping with Anna's parenting, since she had bathed with Molly and was very open with her. A counselor agrees that Leo should have known better but he believes that Molly hasn't been abused and is a very well adjusted and happy child, particularly with Anna and Leo. However, Brian wins custody of Molly, and Anna and Leo end their relationship.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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==Reception==
==Reception==
The film received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maslin |first=Janet |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE7D71539F937A35752C1A96E948260 |title=Movie Review - The Good Mother - Review/Film; Passion vs. Parenthood in 'The Good Mother' - NYTimes.com |publisher=Movies.nytimes.com |date=1988-11-04 |accessdate=2012-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19881104/REVIEWS/811040302 |title=The Good Mother :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date= 1988-11-04|accessdate=2012-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=SHEILA BENSON |url=https://articles.latimes.com/1988-11-04/entertainment/ca-1269_1_anna-dunlap |title=MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Good Mother' Stuck in Ambiguity - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1986-04-14 |accessdate=2012-07-03}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 50% based on reviews from 12 critics.<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |title= The Good Mother (The Price of Passion) (1988) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_mother |website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref>
The film received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maslin |first=Janet |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE7D71539F937A35752C1A96E948260 |title=Movie Review - The Good Mother - Review/Film; Passion vs. Parenthood in 'The Good Mother' - NYTimes.com |publisher=Movies.nytimes.com |date=November 4, 1988 |accessdate=July 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19881104/REVIEWS/811040302 |title=The Good Mother :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date= November 4, 1988|accessdate=July 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=SHEILA BENSON |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-04-ca-1269-story.html |title=MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Good Mother' Stuck in Ambiguity - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=April 14, 1986 |access-date=July 3, 2012}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 54% based on reviews from 13 critics.<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |title= The Good Mother (The Price of Passion) (1988) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_mother |website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1988 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:1988 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Elmer Bernstein]]
[[Category:Films scored by Elmer Bernstein]]
[[Category:Films shot in Toronto]]
[[Category:Films shot in Toronto]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Leonard Nimoy]]
[[Category:Films directed by Leonard Nimoy]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]
[[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic drama films]]

Latest revision as of 16:47, 28 September 2024

The Good Mother
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLeonard Nimoy
Screenplay byMichael Bortman
Based onThe Good Mother by
Sue Miller
Produced byArne Glimcher
Starring
CinematographyDavid Watkin
Edited byPeter E. Berger
Music byElmer Bernstein
Production
companies
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date
  • November 4, 1988 (1988-11-04)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million
Box office$4,764,606

The Good Mother is a 1988 American drama film and an adaptation of Sue Miller's novel of the same name. Directed by Leonard Nimoy, the film stars Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson in the leading roles. The Good Mother explores feelings and beliefs about children's exposure to adult sexuality and challenges society's growing reliance upon courts to settle complex private and ethical matters.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Anna Dunlap (Keaton), is a Boston piano teacher, working part-time at a college laboratory who recently divorced her husband Brian (James Naughton) and has custody of her six-year-old daughter Molly (Asia Viera). Soon, Anna meets and falls in love with Leo (Neeson), a sexually liberated Irish sculptor who changes her perspective on life. One day, Molly sees Leo naked in the bathroom, and she asks if she can touch him, which he allows. After Molly talks to Brian about her experience with Leo, Brian accuses Leo of sexually molesting Molly and sues Anna for custody of their daughter. Leo explains he thought it was in keeping with Anna's parenting, since she had bathed with Molly and was very open with her. A counselor agrees that Leo should have known better but he believes that Molly hasn't been abused and is a very well adjusted and happy child, particularly with Anna and Leo. However, Brian wins custody of Molly, and Anna and Leo end their relationship.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

The film received mixed reviews.[2][3][4] On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 54% based on reviews from 13 critics.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Avins, Mimi (November 20, 1988). "Commentary : Selling Out for the Sake of Expediency : 'The Good Mother'- What Rage? What Reason? - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  2. ^ Maslin, Janet (November 4, 1988). "Movie Review - The Good Mother - Review/Film; Passion vs. Parenthood in 'The Good Mother' - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  3. ^ "The Good Mother :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. November 4, 1988. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  4. ^ SHEILA BENSON (April 14, 1986). "MOVIE REVIEWS : 'Good Mother' Stuck in Ambiguity - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "The Good Mother (The Price of Passion) (1988)". Rotten Tomatoes.
[edit]
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