Tender Mercies

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Tender Mercies

PG,

1983,

1h 30m,

Drama

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83%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Down-on-his-luck country singer Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall) has nowhere to turn when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the kindly widow who runs the place. Mac begins to fall for Rosa, who helps him confront his drinking, and also finds an unexpected bond with Rosa's young son (Allan Hubbard). When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, Mac must choose between his new life and the life he let slip through his hands.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by a deftly understated performance from Robert Duvall, Tender Mercies is a quiet character study that leaves a lasting emotional impact.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 19, 2023

I kept waiting for Tender Mercies to get started -- to get into something. I was still waiting when it was over and I was back out on the street.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jun 20, 2018

4/4

Tender Mercies won Robert Duvall his only Academy Award in six nominations. It contains one of his most understated performances. It's mostly done with his eyes.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Mar 31, 2026

4/4

... an unhurried meditation on prodigal singers and profligate love.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Mar 7, 2026

83/100

Robert Duvall’s tender qualities shine as he navigates a complex middle age man seeking redemption. A perfect showcase for Robert Duvall’s capabilities.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12, 2025

Coupled with Foote’s screenplay, the natural chemistry that blossoms between Mac and Rosa Lee as a result makes Tender Mercies more than live up to its title.

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Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Feb 13, 2023

4.5/5

If you’re looking for an inspiring movie that has an unusual sense of authenticity, heartfelt drama, and a good splash of romance, you can do no better than “Tender Mercies.”

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Poe W

Jun 6, 2017

The story of a country singer's recovery from alcoholism and finding tender redemption in a young family is also an understatedly moving ode to country songs and some of the stories they told.

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Hermione W

Mar 20, 2017

Another one of those movies where the characters wander around, mumble incoherently and mope endlessly, and yet their 'deep' and 'meaningful' behaviour is lauded as genius, Tender Mercies features Robert Duvall at his most sedate; an over-the-hill, drunken has-been singer who is given very little to do and even less to say. Many moments which could be pivotal to the story and alleviate the monotony, such as the wedding between the 2 leads, is completely omitted, which only adds to the frustration. It's massively overpraised, has aged terribly, and doesn't in any way warrant repeat views. I love Duvall, but he's so much better in so many other movies that it boggles the mind that he won the coveted Oscar for this one. Boring, plotless and without any reason to care, it's a solid waste of an hour and a half.

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Leia M

Mar 18, 2017

Redemption, faith, loss, country music, a screenplay by Horton Foote, and an Oscar-winning performance by Robert Duvall -- definitely one of the top movies ever made

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Rey W

Mar 9, 2017

With a plain yet harsh script, Tender Mercies succeeds in bringing out raw emotions to the screen, thanks in part to Robert Duvall's solid work.

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Luke S

Feb 23, 2017

It may seem today like a Hallmark movie, but for 1983, this rural Texan drama dominates with strong characters, fine performances, and expansive direction.

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Draco S

Jan 20, 2017

Tender Mercies does have sparse dialogue, overly simplistic approach at first and the characterization should have been stronger, but Robert Duvall is very good in his Oscar winning performance, the direction is also strong, the film's soundtrack is excellent and it is a story that seems too simple and uneventful at first, but when you think about, it actually has a lot of deep themes in it such as love, death and religion plus the ending is quite satisfying and moving.

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Bruce Beresford

Director

Robert Duvall

Mac Sledge

Tess Harper

Rosa Lee

Betty Buckley

Dixie

Wilford Brimley

Harry

Ellen Barkin

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Synopsis

Down-on-his-luck country singer Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall) has nowhere to turn when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the kindly widow who runs the place. Mac begins to fall for Rosa, who helps him confront his drinking, and also finds an unexpected bond with Rosa's young son (Allan Hubbard). When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, Mac must choose between his new life and the life he let slip through his hands.

Director: Bruce Beresford
Producer: Philip Hobel, Mary Ann Hobel, Horton Foote, Robert Duvall
Screenwriter: Horton Foote, Horton Foote
Production Co: EMI Films Ltd.
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 2, 2009
Runtime: 1h 30m

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