The Whole Wide World

This is Americana. The oddball at odds with the world and desiring to vent in a healthy way, falls for a local school marm, and she him. Robert E. Howard's biography is one of tragedy. A father who didn't understand him, a mother who was sickly all of her son's existence, and an inner self that saw injustice come to a sleepy little agricultural town when oil was struck.This is the America that I've often seen depicted in films and heard about, but know little of other than what my adopted family, history books, and documentaries tell. Crossplains Texas, for all its greenery, is an arid and warmer version of the Midwest. A place where ladies wear print dresses, men dress in overalls, guns are commonplace but not abused, and people speak their minds all the while putting on a pretense of being polite. Dan Ireland catches the look, feel and taste of Depression Era rural Texas, and what an emotional ride it is.I came late to Robert Howard's work. Oh sure, I knew of it by way of the scifi and fantasy magazines I read growing up, and had seen Frank Frazetta's rendition of Conan as well as the comic book adaptations, but I wasn't intrigued by barbarian characters nor circumstances. Knowing as little bit more of what Robert Howard faced in his hometown, I now understand his true inner barbarian, and this film conveys a lot of that through the main character.I don't really have too many nitpicks with this film. It's shot in a very traditional mid to high budget recent history style, and gives that warmer climate feel through the visuals. I guess if I were to call fault to something, and I'm not sure that I do, it's that we experience Howard's rancor with the world by way of his venting on his love interest, but we don't see examples of him at odds with hucksters, swindlers and all manner of mercenaries who descended upon Cross Plains when the oil industry boomed. We just hear about it second hand through him, and see the result of his anger in his attempt to defy the frauds of civilization as he saw it. That, and we don't really understand why Howard himself took the actions that he did, other than he fell in love with a local girl who loved him at one time, and if you believe the film, still did.I've said it in other reviews, I'm not a Conan fan as such, and find the character to be a miscreant outlaw at best, but Howard's mastery of the English language puts him up there with the likes of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) or Edgar Rice Burroughs. Truly his writing style stands out, and it's from the heart as he unleashes his self upon an ancient world filled with deceit for the only answer is physical violence by way of the sword.The film does depict Howard as over the top. Whether he was really like that I can't say, but his picture and ability to discipline himself to write tells of a man who may have been a bit more comported than we're lead to believe. Though only truthful eyewitness accounts can truly testify to his behavior, whatever it was.Truly a fine film that I think deserves to be recognized more. Whether you're a Robert E. Howard fan or just love a good touching story, this film is for you.Give it a shot.

20 years ago I went to this with my best friend. We loved movies and at the time, she had the biggest crush on Vincent D'Onofrio and I had never seen him in anything until this movie and since then I've seen almost everything he's been in, some more than once. But I realized I hadn't owned this movie so I finally got my grubby mitts on it and am so happy I was able to throw myself into this world again and will do so over and over now that it's in my collection.This story is just lovely. I really enjoy the time period of the 30's and 40's and my grandparents had a farm so I feel that this movie has it all: romance, a hot guy, a sweet girl and a beautiful story in an amazing time in America. I love that it is based on Robert Howard's real life (he was the author of stories like Red Sonja and Conan the Barbarian) and his love of the heroic and larger than life stories of fantasy.You can easily tell that the main actors, Vincent and Renée really do have a lovely chemistry and it is nice to know that through this they formed a nice friendship. I remember that when Renée Zellweger won Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for her part in Cold Mountain she thanked Vincent for "teaching her how to work" In her acceptance speech.If you like sweet movies that will make you look at the world in a more loving way, this is the movie for you.

I couldn't understand why the lead woman (Renee Zellweger) fell in love with this man. She seemed so enamored that he was a published writer, but he seemed to behave like a 15 yr old, and I got tired of the dialogue, so I fast forwarded through chunks of it.

I had never really given any thought to the author of the Conan the Barbarian series let alone the other writings of this man even though I was well aware of the series of books because they were a staple read for one of my college boy friends. Years later, I saw the movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan. This movie was an eye-opener. Robert E. Howard was a fascinating, multi-talented complex man with many aspects to his personality that resulted in tragic consequences. I've often wondered why so many exceptionally talented individuals possess these elements within themselves especially those who are: Artists, poets, writers, musicians, dancers, actors/actresses. Their abilities to communicate with their audiences through their work seen as extraordinary. Although this movie is much more an Indie film than a mainstream one, I recommend it.

I like Renee Zellweger, and I like the period of this film...thus the two stars. Other than that, I didn't find one character in this film likable in the least. Too much loud and nasty arguing and fighting between the two main characters and why those two stayed around each other is a mental health issue that is disturbing to say the least. There was very little if anything that was interesting or exciting or watchable in their relationship. I kept waiting for it to be over, hoping there would be something worthy of the torture for watching until the end.

If only for the performance of Vincent D'Onofrio, this movie is well worth-watching.The "kiss scene" is worthy of the writer portrayed in this movie. Imagine the soul of a Titan surrendering to an earthly kiss? D'Onofrio's kiss appeared in the trailer, and that was enough for me. I had to see the movie. Now, after the kiss follows a moment of disillusionment. Somehow D'Onofrio reminded me a dragon's flight when his body shies away while his longing spirit still lingers for a moment. Beyond this, his acting is daring, fresh and convincing. I knew his face but never remembered him from previous movies. Now I will remember this actor. I recommend this movie.

Occasionally, amid all the explosive blockbusters, trivial romcoms, kids` films, and endless follow-ups, there escapes from Hollywood a film of quiet magic, heart, soul, and attentive truthfulness. The Whole Wide World, from 1996, is one such rarity.Who would you say is the greatest male screen actor of the last twenty years or so? Pacino? Nicholson? Bridges? Philip Seymour Hoffman? Viggo? Any of those would be a good choice. But I`m more & more inclined to mention the name Vincent D`Onofrio, known mainly - at least here in the UK - for his subtle acting in Law And Order, but a man who has by now made quite a number of not always easy to find films. This is one I urge anyone who appreciates superb acting, a touching story well told, and unobtrusive direction, to seek out. You will surely not be disappointed.D`Onofrio plays Robert E Howard, 1930s pulp novelist and creator of Conan the Barbarian. Renee Zellweger, just before fame rightfully claimed her, is his sparky,intelligent, on-off girlfriend Novalyne, who went on to write a memoir called One Who Walked Alone about their friendship, and on which this film is based. Both actors play together beautifully, and the scenes of what can only loosely be called their courtship (Howard is an awkward, moody, Oedipal man of a certain sensitivity but few social graces) are exceedingly moving. You get the feeling the actors are `wooing` each other too, in a way. It`s riveting to watch. Not explosive, did I say?Explosions aplenty, in fact.Zellweger is always worth watching, even at her most mannered. Here, her trademark pout present and correct, she is adorable, in a role which might have been written for her. It helps that she`s from Texas, where the film is set. She looks every inch a Depression-era Southern belle, albeit a slightly unorthodox one.D`Onofrio is a complete revelation. His acting is so spontaneous, so mercurial, it reminded me of both the confrontational younger Brando and James Dean at his most self-consciously gauche. He wrings the heart, and I imagine he must be the most astonishing actor to share scenes with. A truly great performance. It is eternally shaming that both film and actors were totally overlooked for all the major awards, gaining a few nominations and one or two wins at just a handful of festivals and the like.I haven`t talked very much about what actually happens, as to do so would give away something of the plot, such as it is. Truth to tell, there isn`t really a `plot` but rather a sucession of scenes, almost all between the two leads, as their strange romance gathers and loses momentum. There are also telling scenes with Howard`s sick mother (a lovely portrayal by Ann Wedgeworth) and his distant, withdrawn father (touchingly played by Harve Presnell) as well as one or two brief scenes with her mother and various relatives and friends.But this modestly wondrous film belongs to its two leads. I hope they, along with its director Dan Ireland, are still proud of what they gave to this heartbreaking and intensely satisfying picture.Vincent D`Onofrio is one in a million, and so is this film.

I bought this, not because I'm a big romance fan, but because ti is a fictional account of the romance between Robert E Howard and Novalyne Price, which casts a different light on Howard's tragic suicide after the death of his mother. For romance fans there is enough to keep you happy too.

It may have had a 24 day shoot, and a $1.3 million budget, but it's a beautifully crafted film, with superb performances from Vincent D'Onofrio and Rene Zellweger. Based on a true story, ignore the Mills and Boon blurb on the cover of the newly-released Region 2 version - it's not like that at ALL - sit back and enjoy. Even more glorious is the Region 1 version, which has the bonus of commentary by Vincent and director Dan Ireland. A worthy addition to any collection

This is an excellent little film, which shows Renee Zellweger at her delightful best opposite the commanding Vincent D'Onofrio. Apparently, it was shot in only 24 days, & this shows perhaps in the exterior shots, which have to stand in for all the seasons over about a 3 year period. However, our interest is firmly on the characters & their on-off love affair. There are one or two moments of 'magic realism' (the wolf, Howard as Conan etc) which add an almost supernatural feel to what is basically a low-key, socially-realistic presentation of 30s Texas, & which likewise occasionally counterpoint the somewhat cliched romance narrative. The book from which the screenplay came, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Price Ellis, is also a great read!

This is a story about two friends one of whom wants to become more and the other can't. Lovely story of friendship and love. Excellent characters and acting. Sad ending.