The Way We Were (1973)

“You think you’re easy? Compared to what, the Hundred Years’ War? ” – Hubbell Gardner

Number of Times Seen – Twice (18 Dec 2009 and 11 Nov 2019)

Brief Synopsis – Two college friends try to find a way for their relationship to work despite the various differences between them that keep pulling them apart.

My Take on it – This is a film that I had seen almost a decade ago and was quite curious to see it again in order to refresh my memory.

The premise of this film is excellent and is enhanced by the great performances by Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford.

The two of them are electrifying together and the chemistry they share helps make this story feel even more realistic.

The movie does a great job trying to accentuate the fact that these characters have similarities and differences that help shape who they are even when they might not always agree on everything or the way to do them.

This idea helps establish how relationships can be built on such complexities and can be both good and bad for the couple while also showing the beauty of healthy debates between couples.

Streisand was deservingly nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her work in this film yet I must admit that it surprises me that Redford didn’t receive enough recognition for the kind of work he did with this character.

The film’s dialogue is so much fun to listen to because it is able to get both sides of each argument just right that we can understand the disputes that arise between these characters as well as why they are also so much in love with one another at the same time.

The title song by Marvin Hamlish is superb and says so much about the lives and loves of these characters and was a very deserving winner for Best Original song at the Oscars.

Listen to it here:

Bottom Line – Great premise that works quite well largely due to the great performances by the two leads. Redford and Streisand are superb together and have great chemistry in every scene that they share The way that the film tries to accentuate both the similarities and differences between the characters works quite well in establishing some of the complexities of having a relationship while also showing the beauty of it. Streisand was deservingly nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her work here, yet I’m a bit surprised that Redford didn’t get one because his character is just as complex. The dialogue is written in a very intriguing fashion which allows us to understand the characters and their personal convictions so much more. Amazing theme song by Hamlish that also deserved its Oscar for Best Original Song. Highly Recommended

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Despite their differences, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford had a deep respect for each other and worked well together. They were both opposite in many ways, just like their characters, and they used those differences to the benefit of the film. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10)