5/5 Timeless classic
  by EugeSchu (WI USA)
Deeply romantic and alive, and touching on a subject manner of two souls misplaced, contented in daily life, but open to a deeper mystery and moment of profound sharing and release. Madison County, Iowa is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a long summer day, visiting the bridges and other elements from the movie, although sadly the home was damaged and no longer accessible. Streep and Eastwood are nothing short of magic in the dialogue and dancing that they share. The scenes of her two children's reaction are at times campy, yet effective in framing the moment in the larger picture of Francesca's life, and also the important ramification any affair has on family (usually disastrous, but the touching manner of the characters and specific context of how things unfold in Madison County make it work). Timeless classic, most of the movie is set in 1965.

5/5 Subtly Powerful Film With Unforgettable Performances by Eastwood & Streep
  by Peter (East of Los Angeles)
To be honest, I have never been a big fan of Meryl Streep's obsession with perfecting foreign accents for her film roles. It takes the focus away from her performances, which sometimes leaves me a bit "cold" and "detached". But in "Bridges", Meryl is a wonderful Francesca, so earthy and REAL, which Meryl is not known to bring to her her roles. This is before her Miranda role in "Prada", but that's another story.

Streep is so present in this film, you literally can reach out and feel the deep passion these two people have for each other. As Francesca and Robert get drawn more to each other, so is the viewer toward their relationship. In the film's climactic scene in the pickup truck in the pouring rain, when Francesca must make a split-second decision that will make or break her for the rest of her life, she chooses family and duty over her own heart's longing and desire. Each time the film comes to that heart-wrenching scene, I am left sobbing like a fool, and I am not easily moved by films.

"Bridges" is so well made, so quietly intense that it slowly draws you in with its power and passion. Before you know it, you are caught in the web of the love affair between Robert and Francesca. Eastwood's spare direction and understated portrait of Robert reflect the wise decision not to overdo it. But it is Streep's performance that really drives the film home. Some criticize her decision to play Francesca without a pronounced Italian accent, but I think that's a smart move not to take the focus away from the heart of her performance.

A role that every actress in Hollywood wanted and sought, Eastwood made the right choice to go with Streep. For once, I felt she should have won the Oscar for "Bridges", but the Hollywood community was still bent on the feeling that Streep was "over rewarded" for her past roles. Streep was an unwilling victim of her own perfection, she was being penalized by a distorted image drawn by her peers in Hollywood. The Oscar that year instead went to Susan Sarandon for "Dead Man Walking". But Streep should have won. "Bridges" is a movie that sticks with you for a long, long time, even with repeated viewings. The film is like fine wine, it gets better with time. Simply unforgettable!

2/5 Bridges of Madison County
  by Seattle Sunshine (Seattle WA USA)
Two amazing actors but not particularly believable together in a romance. A slow plot that doesn't gather much momentum. I couldn't imagine their relationship working anyway (seemed much more like an unrealistic fling on both parts) and so couldn't really get into the romance, which is the basis of the film. And this is coming from a totally sentimental, cry out a box of Kleenex gal. And what was to stop her from adding a little spice to her own marriage? Her husband wasn't an entirely unlikeable guy. When he asked her why she was crying in the end, that was a chance to offer up something to him. Overall unrealistic, which dampened any attempt to get into the movie and characters. And the "Italian" accent seemed more Eastern European.

5/5 The Quintessential American Love Story
  by Joshua Miller (Coeur d'Alene,ID)
Clint Eastwood shows a more sensitive side in The Bridges of Madison Country based on the novel by Robert James Waller, Eastwood walks into romantic territory in a love story I enjoyed even more than The Notebook.

The bulk of the story is told in flash-back as two adult children read their recently deceased mother's journal detailing her love affair with a National Geographic photographer.

Francesca (Meryl Streep) is a bored Italian housewife, whose husband and two children leave home for four days. Within minutes of their departure, she meets Robert Kincaid (Eastwood), on assignment from National Geographic to photograph covered bridges in Iowa. The two are almost immediately drawn in by each other and embark upon a four day love affair.

Eastwood proved, once again and not for the last time, that he's one of the best director's Hollywood has no matter what material he's given. Not only that, he broadens his range as an actor here too. It's hard to doubt Eastwood's skill and emotional range as an actor after Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino but he takes a completely different direction with Kincaid. He's very romantic and charming with a big disarming grin.

Streep scored her 10th Oscar nod with this film and deservedly so. I've never paid much attention to Streep, but she's wonderful here and completely disappears into her role, flawlessly hitting all the right notes.

I can't imagine anyone besides Eastwood and Streep in these roles, they both bring something so vivid to them, it is absolute magic.

For me, the weakest (and really sole weak) sections of "Bridges" are the scenes involving Francesca's grown children. The acting (especially by the actor playing Michael) is really sub-par.

Overall, in my opinion, The Bridges of Madison County is the quintessential American romance story. It's a timeless story that should appeal to a broad audience, young and old. The story is very beautiful, very moving, and packs a whole lot of emotional poignancy. This is required viewing for anyone wanting a love story with both depth and beauty.

GRADE: A


5/5 A love story
  by David Mynott (Victoria, Australia)
This version of 'Bridges' is widescreen and includes a feature on how the film was made which gives insights by the actors, producer and technical people. This is a wonderful love story told in a special way under Clint Eastwood's direction. It focuses on sounds, expression and mood rather than dialogue. Bridges is a very powerful movie for anyone who has had a 'once in a lifetime' lovematch which did not result in an on-going relationship. Beautifully acted by Streep and Eastwood. The additional information provided, including interviews with Sreep and Eastwood, adds to a very emotional and enjoyable experience.