I was astonished by the brilliance and beauty of this film. Before coming across this film on TV, quite by accident, I had never heard anything about it. I knew who Robert E. Howard was, because my husband grew up with his Conan stories, but I knew nothing at all about his life. I feel very fortunate to have thus stumbled onto this remarkable little gem without any prior expectations, the pleasure of discovery adding even more to what would have been, in any event, a delightful experience.
Vincent D'Onofrio is an amazingly gifted actor, completely different in every role but always intelligent, fascinating and compelling. This film is no exception and may be his best work to date. His performance is brilliant, filled with subtlety and nuance, fire and ice, joy and pain, madness, profundity and beauty. It is utterly mesmerizing. The depth and complexity of his portrayal is astonishing, from the flick of an eyebrow to the quiver in his voice to the awkward stride as he walks down a dusty street. He creates a character so unforgettable and so unique that it is difficult to believe he was a real person.
Renee Zellweger is a perfect balance to D'Onofrio. Her talent is well known, but I liked her better in this film than in anything else I've seen. Again, her characterization was complex, full of intelligence, sensitivity and intensity. The interplay of these two talented actors is a thing of beauty and a joy to watch. The script is literate and intelligent, the direction is perfect and the cinematography is stunning. For reasons I'm not sure I can explain, I found it reminiscent of "Shadowlands," another film of rare intelligence and exquisite beauty.
"The Whole Wide World" is altogether a wonderful and unusual film. I plan to own it and expect to watch it many more times in the future. I think a rating of 10 out of 10 is obligatory.