KRAMER vs. KRAMER    4.0****

     This movie has nothing to do with the sitcom "Seinfeld" or its eccentric and hilarious character Cosmo Kramer. In reality, "Kramer vs. Kramer" is a fine family drama and,  without a doubt, one of the finest of its kind.  

At the beginning of the film, we are immediately aware that Ted Kramer (Hoffman) is not a perfect husband. His commitment to work means that he has largely neglected his stressed and lonely wife, Joanna (Streep), and, indeed, he isn't even listening to her when she finally announces her intentions to leave him. With Joanna having departed for California in order to "find herself," Ted is left alone to care for their young 6 year old son Billy (Justin Henry), during which time he must juggle both his work and son.. As Ted takes up this demanding task, we notice that, up to this point, he hasn't been much of a father, and starts off, blundering his attempts to make a simple breakfast and has to ask in which grade his son belongs. Eventually, however, though it damages his career, Ted and Billy build a truly touching father-son relationship, and, for the first time, Ted seems satisfied with his family life – until, that is, Joanna returns to demand that Billy be returned to her. A grueling but riveting court battle ensues for custody of Billy.

The word that comes to mind when describing 'Kramer vs. Kramer' is terrific. Benton's direction and screenplay are solid but what also seems to have worked quite well is that he gave his actors the freedom to improvise and was open to their suggestions. Not once, does the film lose focus.  It's very much a character driven drama with fabulous acting. Perhaps, it's the freedom the actors had which makes their performances looks  natural and their on screen interactions so real. I wonder how beneficial it was for the great Dustin Hoffman to play Ted Kramer at a time when he himself was going through a rough divorce. A brilliant Meryl Streep too was still in the grieving process of having lost her boyfriend.. Child actor Justin Henry was excellent and at 8 years old was the youngest Oscar nominee ever for Best Supporting Actor.

When I first saw this film in 1979 I was happily married but not a father yet.  Now, 37 years later, I watched  this beautiful character piece again but this time through the eyes of a proud and loving father, and it's messages and emotionally compelling performances touched my heart for I was truly blessed to have a loving father-son relationship with my son, Jim.

Clark