Nobody's Fool 1995

In the quaint, snow-dusted hamlet of North Bath, New York, Donald “Sully” Sullivan (Paul Newman) - a spry 60-year-old wheeler-dealer with a penchant for getting into scrapes - ekes out a living as a freelance contractor alongside his lovable but dim-witted sidekick, Rub Squeers (Pruit Taylor Vince). Sully’s professional and personal lives are a constant juggling act, marked by ongoing feuds with Carl Roebuck (Bruce Willis), the town’s most prominent contractor. The animosity between them stems from Sully’s repeated lawsuits against Carl for unpaid wages and disability claims, which are consistently dismissed by his bumbling lawyer, Wirf Wirfley (Gene Saks). In a calculated move to rile Carl further, Sully openly flirts with his wife, Toby (Melanie Griffith), much to her delight. As the sun sets on North Bath, Sully can often be found holding court at the Iron Horse Saloon, swapping stories and playing cards with Wirf, Carl, Rub, and the town’s sheriff.

A recurring joke throughout the film is the cat-and-mouse game played out between Sully and Carl over a prized snowblower. The theft of this machinery becomes a symbol of their ongoing rivalry, as each tries to one-up the other. Carl eventually takes matters into his own hands by leaving the doberman pinscher guard dog at Sully’s childhood home, where it had been drugged earlier in the game.

On the personal front, Sully faces a series of complications when Peter (Dylan Walsh), his estranged son, shows up unexpectedly. A struggling college professor who is at odds with his wife, Peter is desperate to reconnect with his father and rebuild their relationship. As Sully navigates this complex web of family dynamics, he finds himself drawn to his young grandson, Will (Alexander Goodwin). Meanwhile, Rub remains skeptical about the sudden presence of Peter in town, but Sully reassures him that despite their familial ties, Peter’s arrival does not diminish Rub’s status as his closest friend.

As North Bath teeters on the brink of a major development - a proposed amusement park that would transform the sleepy town into a bustling destination - Clive Peoples Jr. (Josef Sommer), the banker son of Sully’s elderly landlord, Miss Beryl Peoples (Jessica Tandy), urges her to evict Sully from her property and sell the house. However, just as it seems like this deal is about to go through, the promoter behind the project turns out to be a con artist, leaving Clive feeling embarrassed and defeated.

As Sully’s tumultuous fate unfolds, his run of misfortune appears to be insurmountable. After a stint behind bars for a physical altercation with Officer Raymer (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), Sully is fortunate to have his son Peter bail him out, marking the beginning of a gradual thawing in their relationship. Moreover, Sully’s grandson starts to warm up to the gruff but lovable old man, paving the way for a newfound sense of connection.

The funeral of Ms. Hattie (Alice Drummond), an elderly woman afflicted with Alzheimer’s and frequently seen wandering the streets in a state of bewilderment, serves as a poignant reminder of Sully’s good deeds. His selfless acts of kindness towards her are a testament to his compassionate nature, and it is no surprise that he finds himself attending her funeral.

However, Sully’s fortunes take a dramatic turn for the better when his horse racing trifecta ticket yields a substantial windfall of several thousand dollars. This stroke of good luck coincides with Toby’s growing disillusionment with Carl’s womanizing ways, leading her to seriously consider abandoning him and starting anew with Sully in Hawaii. Though Sully is initially tempted by the prospect of leaving his worries behind, he ultimately decides that his grandson’s needs take precedence, graciously declining Toby’s offer.

As the curtain closes on Sully’s story, he finds himself back at Miss Beryl’s boarding house, yet a far cry from where he began. The accumulation of small victories has imbued him with a sense of contentment, reflected in his new role as a dog owner and his increased financial security. Though life is still full of uncertainties, Sully has emerged as a more introspective and at peace individual, having gained a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.