Simply A Masterpiece

Absolutely Fantastic

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

A suburban housewife in desperate need of emancipation is given her chance after the accidental death of her husband, forcing a relocation to (of all places) beautiful downtown Baltimore. After overcoming the usual obstacles she inevitably learns, together with her two sons, how to love again, with lots of not unpredictable bonding: mother to new boyfriend; teenage son to older girlfriend; mother to son; son to mother's boyfriend, and so forth. Director Paul Brickman's second film in almost a decade (after 'Risky Business' in 1983) shows he maybe should have stayed more in practice, and perhaps shared some of the attention given to visual symmetry and prettiness (courtesy of cinematographer Bruce Surtees) with the screenplay instead. The acting is excellent (nobody demonstrates an emotional breakdown quite like Jessica Lange), but all the offbeat characters and arresting images don't add up to anything more than a simple Home Sweet Home greeting card advertisement.

I have been waiting for this Gem to come out on DVD since the 90s and finally it's here. It's available only through Warner Bros. Archive Collection at $17.99 plus tax & shipping and unfortunately it is a bare-bones DVD with NO Extra Features. It was worth it to me as this film is so great. I agree with the bulk of the reviews here that: the acting is superior and riveting, the script and dialog are spot on, Paul Brickman (Risky Business) co-wrote and directed with aplomb. The story takes us through so many emotions but in the end we are rewarded for "taking the ride." Jessica Lange is always good but this is one of her finest performances. Arliss Howard is an unlikely "hero" and Chris O'Donnell and Charlie Korsmo are perfect as Lange's sons. The always quirky but dependable Joan Cusack is excellent as a care-giver nurse. Kathy Bates has a small role as Lange's boss and as always she makes the most of her performance. This is a very moving, emotional film and one of the Best of the 90s films.

A true sleeper; a heartfelt drama with an odd title that isn't really 'about' any one thing, but ends up more truthful about life than most higher-profile Hollywood product.It's a movie that's rather slow and low-key, but stick with it. There are many wonderful moments along the way, both funny and poignant, conveyed with remarkable verisimilitude by a skilled cast. We've grown accustomed to the excellence of Jessica Lange, convincing here as a recent widow trying to make a new life for herself and her boys, but she's ably supported by Arliss Howard, Joan Cusack, and especially Chris O'Donnell and Charlie Korsmo, who play her sons.Director Paul Brickman hasn't made many films but this is surely his best; he also collaborated on its quietly-observed, slice-of life script with Barbara Benedek (THE BIG CHILL). Thomas Newman's spare, haunting score reveals why he's one of the finest film composers working today.Also, despite other user comments, this is not a 'tearjerker.' MEN DON'T LEAVE comes by its emotional impact honestly, with restraint and subtlety. Other filmmakers could learn a thing or two from Lange, Brickman et al. Highly recommended.

"Men Don't Leave" is a bittersweet light drama with the emphasis on sweet and light. This slice-of-life Hollywood melodrama is a Lang tour-de-force which tells of a window's struggle to get her life back on track after the death of her husband. On the upside, the film has a kind of freshness to it even though it walks it the footsteps of some very ordinary weepers. On the downside, it's obvious, predictable, and a typical Hollywood commercial product. An enjoyable watch, particularly for Lang fans, but best saved for broadcast.