The Whole Wide World | Rotten Tomatoes

The Whole Wide World

PG

Released Dec 20, 1996

1 hr. 51 min.

Romance

Drama

List

76%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this fact-based film set in 1930s Texas, pulp fiction master Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio) is introduced to Novalyne Price (Renée Zellweger), a teacher with aspirations of becoming an author herself, and they begin a unique relationship filled with conversation and imagination. Although the possibility exists for romance, Howard's obsession with his work and dedication to his sick mother (Ann Wedgeworth) leads Price to look elsewhere for love, leaving Howard feeling betrayed and alone.

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Kristap B

A beautiful movie detailing the friendship and romance between Robert E. Howard (the creator of Conan) and Novelynn Price. Both Zellewegger and D'Onofrio's excellent performances pull you in to their world in 1930s Texas and leave you shattered by the end of it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

Fiona M

Slow burner about two very different people.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

Full Review

M. D

I liked everything about this movie. The acting was superior and the character study was executed in a very sensitive manner

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sometimes you don't need the whole wide world to be admired or loved, you just need each other Renee Zelwegger and Vincent D'Nofrio In Baconwood, Texas in the spring of 1933 Robert E. Howard was the greatest pulp fiction writer there was in America He meets a woman named Novalayne Price who's a teacher She too has a desire to become a successful writer like him The both of them start to fall for each other but other factors start to dwindle the relationship Howard is too buried in his work while also looking after his ill mother Price is then forced to seek solace elsewhere leaving Howard in a difficult position This has a beautiful score, two magnetic leads, and shows the insanely hard process of a writer perfecting his craft The passion is good but there is such a thing as being dedicated and being obsessive The movie nearly 2 hours which isn't necessary and there's a lot of talking back and forth with both leads conflicting ideals But the movie is a nice dedication to both Howard and Price, her book One Who Walks Alone inspired many future writers for which this story is based before her retirement at 76

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

ronald h

_The Whole Wide World_ is a 1930's drama that is made worthwhile by its two lead performances by Vincent D'Onofrio and Rene Zellweger. Both were young at the time (1996), and we can see their future potential. The film is based on the book by Novalyne Price, a Texas school teacher who had a sort of friendship / love affair with pulp writer Robert Howard, who came to fame writing the Conan the Barbarian stories. There is virtually no plot, just a slow unfolding of the couple's tenuous and sometimes contentious relationship. It's all very syrupy, with swelling violins on the soundtrack. But it gets under your skin. The camera work is gorgeous, with breathtaking Texas vistas. D'Onofrio is larger than life, a complex man, with his emotional outbursts and his unflinching cynicism, but he's also poetic and compassionate. He also has some kind of Oedipal thing going on with his ailing mother. Zellweger is the perfect foil to D'Onofrio. She's no shrinking violet, but she can't seem to break out of her conventional view of the world and go with him on his lonely walk through life. Howard committed suicide at age 30, right after the death of his mother. So don't expect a happy ending. But if you're in an introspective and sentimental mood, this movie is a good choice. Very well acted, with a strong sense of place. It made me want to time travel.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm glad I gave this movie a chance, since I found it incredibly slow in the beginning. I'm not a fan of Renee Zellwegger at all and I don't enjoy most of her movies, but she was very good in this. It was moving and I loved the scenes of my home state. I honestly didn't like either character but the acting was good enough that I could overlook that. Overall it was well done and I appreciated the absence of swearing that is so commonplace in movies today.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Dan Ireland

Director

Vincent D'Onofrio

Robert E. "Bob" Howard

Renée Zellweger

Novalyne Price

Ann Wedgeworth

Mrs. Howard

Harve Presnell

Dr. Howard

Benjamin Mouton

Clyde Smith

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

I felt like I was watching two different movies.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 16, 2017

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Jan 27, 2004

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 4, 2005

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 4/5

Aug 22, 2003

Full Review

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

It adroitly conveys author Robert E. Howard's slow disconnect from the world, and the effect that had on those around him.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 24, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this fact-based film set in 1930s Texas, pulp fiction master Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio) is introduced to Novalyne Price (Renée Zellweger), a teacher with aspirations of becoming an author herself, and they begin a unique relationship filled with conversation and imagination. Although the possibility exists for romance, Howard's obsession with his work and dedication to his sick mother (Ann Wedgeworth) leads Price to look elsewhere for love, leaving Howard feeling betrayed and alone.

Director: Dan Ireland
Screenwriter: Michael Scott Myers
Production Co: Kushner-Locke Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $330.2K
Sound Mix: Surround

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