The defence The Prestige Tourist
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
The Bridges of Madison County
Drama · Romance · 1995
Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson for four days in the 1960s.
Movie details
The Bridges of Madison County
“The path of Francesca Johnson's future seems destined due to an unexpected fork in the road...”
1995 Drama · Romance 2h 15m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.7 / 10
Community rating
Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson for four days in the 1960s.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Bridges of Madison County?
For the defence
The Prestige Tourist
“You like your greatness pre-approved.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
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Forever First Love
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Paul travels the world to capture the perfect photographic moment. Amid the colour and chaos of a crowded Filipino market, destiny intervenes when Paul’s first love, Anna appears in his lens. The travellers spend the day exploring the beauty of a 16th century town and whilst passions reignite, their principles on relationships, religion and morality clash. The night they spend together will change everything.
Elena Undone
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The wife of a pastor who preaches against homosexuality embarks on an affair with a female writer.
It Ends with Us
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When a woman's first love suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with a charming, but abusive neurosurgeon is upended, and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Clint Eastwood
Written by
Richard LaGravenese
Meryl Streep
Francesca Johnson
Clint Eastwood
Robert Kincaid
Annie Corley
Caroline Johnson
Victor Slezak
Michael Johnson
Jim Haynie
Richard Johnson
Sarah Zahn
Young Carolyn
C
Christopher Kroon
Young Michael
Court is in session
Put The Bridges of Madison County on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.