Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Don't Believe the Hype

A Major Disappointment

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Driving Miss DaisyThe writer; Alfred Uhry, has spent a lot on the bonding of the lead characters which is clearly visible and thoroughly moving and entertaining, that clearly stands alone and becomes the highlight of this subtle dramatic feature. Bruce Bereford is decent on executing the scene and offering the appropriate tone to it but a better editing and cinematography would have changed the whole course. Morgan Freeman holds on to his part tightly along with Jessica Tandy who overpowers Morgan completely with her genuinely moving performance. Driving Miss Daisy is a slow pill that is effective to its core but it sure tests one's patience along with it which in the end is worth the drama.

An interesting award-winning drama about an old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South, in which their relationship that grows and improves over the years, as provided by IMDb. Some great acting and a nostalgic and touching tale of life and overcoming the odds. There a touch comic relief here and there, and a steady plot that you will find entertaining.

Springtime in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. Elderly and self assured Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy) takes her car out for some errand and instead puts the car in the wrong gear and almost drives her car off a ten foot embankment into her neighbors yard. Concerned Son Boolie Werthan (Dan Akroyd)who runs a successful family textile business tells his Mother that her driving days are over and her insurance premiums are through the roof. Enter Lanky, bespectacled and retired Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Boolie hires the retired Milk truck driver as he watched Hoke conduct the men of the textile plant in an elevator crisis. Boolie in the interview laments the fact that his Mother is difficult and has her own ways of doing things. Boolie insists that his Mother no matter what she says she can't fire you. Your job is to drive her around town. Daisy is totally against having a chauffeur right from the start. Despite the cold shoulder from Miss Daisy, Hoke keeps it positive. Even there first meeting Daisy says to Hoke, "What are you doing?" Hoke replies, "I'm trying to drive you to the store." As Hoke left Daisy's home after the first day, Hoke wishing Daisy a Good night saying, "I'm going Miss Daisy." Daisy in a cold tone replies, "Good!". Daisy has a cook/maid Idella played by Esther Rolle who has some classic remarks in the film as well. One morning Boolie came to his mother's house for an inquiry over a can of missing salmon which Daisy insisted that she was one can short in her pantry. Sort of like a scene out of The Caine Mutiny. Daisy was certain that Hoke stole the salmon. Idella and Hoke noticed Boolie's Car in the driveway as Idella quipped," I wouldn't be in your shoes if the Good Lord Jesus come down and asked me himself." Over time Daisy in her difficult way gets used to the fact that Hoke is her personal driver. They have there spats in the car throughout as Daisy would remark and Hoke would let it pass. There relationship grows as the film continues. But I wonder if Daisy's words were sincere or out of convenience. Anyone who had a Grumpy Grandmother,Nagging Mom ,Quibbling Mother-In-Law,Sourpuss Sisters or a craggy Aunt or even an old Blood and guts Human Resources manager can relate to this unfolding companionship. I was pleasantly surprised by the solid performance of Dan Akroyd as a southern businessman. Jessica Tandy indeed deserved her Oscar as the retired school teacher Daisy Werthan. The cinematography and music score complimented the driving scenes. In life, some people you can never please. Rest In Peace MOM!

Bruce Beresford's adaptation of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer prize winning play (which takes place between 1948 and 1973) about an old Jewish woman named Daisy Werthan (played by Jessica Tandy in an Oscar winning performance) who is in a car accident and then her son Boolie (played by Dan Aykroyd in an Oscar nominated performance) who then hires a chauffeur who can't be fired by Daisy named Hoke Colburn (played by Morgan Freeman in an Oscar nominated performance) who at first the two of them were not getting along too well, and then in the end of the film they got along very well and were considered to be the best of friends. the film is a wonderful character study between both Daisy and Hoke and as well as the fact that both of the performances by both Tandy and Freeman bring their characters to life in this 1989 film version, as well as Dan Aykroyd as Boolie. The thing about this film that I loved the most was the relationship between Daisy and Hoke because it was to me just flawlessly perfect, as well as the story, the screenplay because it demonstrates such a nice story, the warm hearted direction for the film, as well as the perfect acting and the Southern U.S. accents. This movie is arguably one of the best dramas ever made, that tels us how important it is to have friends that support just Hoke did for Daisy during their 25 year relationship.