Everybody's All-American
Released November 1988
Starring Jessica Lange (as Babs Rogers Grey), Dennis Quaid, Timothy Hutton, John Goodman, Carl Lumbly
Directed by Taylor Hackford
122 min.Box Office gross - $12.6 million
See complete credits at Internet Movie Database
This film was a big disappointment to Jessica - she said "It was one of the best scripts I've ever read. I went into it thinking it could be one of the greatest love stories ever put on film. Then to see the whole thing unravel...The rehearsals start and you think, 'No, they're not getting it.' Then the shooting , and you're thinking 'Uh-oh, it's off track. Then I see the final cut and I'm crushed. I felt like I'd been duped." Most critics agreed. Despite a very good cast and a talented director on board, the film turned out to be a rambling affair which tries to focus on too many characters. However, it is one of Jessica's greatest performances. There are many facets to Babs' character (she ages 25 years during the film) and she handles each nuance as only an accomplished actress can.
Critical Sampling:
"as she matures in this role, Lange comes close to embodying everything a modern woman hopes to see in the mirror her hard-earned self esteem". - Richard Corliss, Time
"Her range is enormous - from belle like sweetness, submissiveness as a player's wife, obsession with maternity as compensation, anger over Quaid's irresponsibility, growing assertiveness, and throughout, an alluring eros. She even manages to make a scene with Hutton sexy! With Quaid, she creates a sulky, sultry chemistry, a bittersweet symbiosis of love/hate. Because she is so radiant, what many miss in her acting is the craft." - Tom O'Brien, Commonweal