The Bridges of Madison County

Clint Eastwood in Bridges of Madison County is incredibly old (65!) and Meryl Streep is no spring chicken herself (she's 46). But I repeat, Clint is 65! And though his face shows his age, he does look like he's been staying fit, lifting weights and working out. His character -- National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid -- is also quite charming and self-confident. Clearly, Streep's character, housewife Francesca Johnson (an Italian immigrant), is attracted to him despite his age and gray, thining hair. But what exactly does she have to compare him to? Her husband, I suppose. He's a simple, plainspoken Iowa farmer whose idea of a good time is entering the family hog in a state fair. Hmm....not the most romantic thing in the world.

This modern verison of "Brief Encounter" keeps the viewer's attention in the first half of the film, as the lovers discover their feelings for each other and realize that they will have to give into their passions. But then....this romance has only so far to go. And since Kincaid is more myth than man and Francesca's unhappiness is much less interesting than the film would have us believe, one eventually becomes bored and contemplates how the inevitably sorrowful conclusion will play itself out.

The question is, is the movie more interesting than living on a farm in Iowa? Don't know, that's a toughie.