First and foremost, Rowlands gives one of the all-time great performances that you are ever going to see in a film. This role had to have been incredibly difficult to make it look authentic, and I believed every second that she was on the screen. And Falk was excellent in a role that - rather sneakily - required a lot of range as the movie progressed. What (partially) ruined it for me was the ending. Really? After all that we just saw, that is how it ends? follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or facebook IHATEBadMovies

Towering achievement anchored by one of the most remarkable performances I've ever seen. Rowlands' face conveys a universe of emotion. There are moments in this that will absolutely crush you, perhaps none more than "Dad, will you just stand up for me?" Peter Falk holds his own against this titanic performance, and I just thought the whole thing was superb.

This film feels like a true reflection of its time, from the family dynamics to the language used throughout. Gena Rowlands delivers a phenomenal performance, portraying a woman trapped by her husband's control in such a believable way. At the same time, her husband is also trapped by the societal expectations placed on him as the man of the household. While this doesn't excuse the way he treated his family which resulted in the situation he put them into, it offers insight into the social norms that shaped both men and women at the time. Even today, I still see traces of these societal stereotypes, especially among the older generations.