Back Roads

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

40%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

35%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,566
User image

Tap to review this movie

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Back Roads Photos

View All Photos (1)

Movie Info

For his follow-up to 1979's Academy Award-winning Norma Rae, director Martin Ritt re-teams with that film's star, Sally Field, for this gritty romantic road comedy. Reportedly Ritt's homage to Frank Capra's films of the 1930s, Back Roads stars Field as Amy Post, a no-nonsense prostitute in the deep South struggling with the fact that she gave up her only child for adoption. When Amy first encounters the recently unemployed Elmore Pratt (Tommy Lee Jones), she is anything but fond of the drifter. But after taking to the road together with dreams of California, the two societal misfits find themselves falling for each other. Ritt and Field would team together once again four years later in another romantic comedy set in the South, Murphy's Romance.

Cast

Sally Field
as Amy Post
Tommy Lee Jones
as Elmore Pratt
David Keith
as Mason
Miriam Colon
as Angel
Michael Vincente Gazzo
as Tazio
Michael V. Gazzo
as Tazio
Dan Shor
as Spivey
M. Emmet Walsh
as Arthur
Barbara Babcock
as Rickey's Mom
Nell Carter
as Waitress
Alex Colon
as Enrique
Lee de Broux
as Red
Ralph Seymour
as Gosler
Royce D. Applegate
as Father
Bruce M. Fischer
as Ezra
John Dennis Johnston
as Gilly
Don 'Red' Barry
as Pete
Billy Jacoby
as Boy Thief
Eric Laneuville
as Pinball Wizard
Brian Frishman
as Bleitz
Diane Sommerfield
as Liz
Henry Slate
as Grover
Matthew Campion
as Stromberg
Lee McLaughlin
as Deputy
Jim Bailey
as Billy
Tony Ganios
as Bartini
Fred Baldwin
as Gordy
Cherie Brantley
as Ellen
Bill Holliday
as Isaac
John M. Jackson
as Merle
Richard Boyle
as Ernest
David Powladge
as Fight Announcer
Eliott Keener
as Willis
David Dahlgren
as Mel
John Wilmot
as Ed
Woody Watson
as Larry
Billy Jayne
as The Boy Thief
View All

Critic Reviews for Back Roads

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (6)

  • You come out of "Back Roads" feeling more familiar with the configuration of Sally Field's spinal column and chestbone than the character she's struggling to embody.

    May 10, 2017 | Full Review…

    Gary Arnold

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • Very good on local colour but a bit sugary in its attitude to the central relationship, it would have been better taking a bleaker cue from Tommy Lee Jones' admirably dry performance.

    Jan 26, 2006

    Tom Milne

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • If the movie had been willing to deal honestly with the plight of its characters, it wouldn't need to be clutterted up with eccentrics and hearts of gold.

    Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • Less a movie than an extended sketch, and it's to the credit of Mr. Ritt, his stars and Gary Devore, the screenwriter, that the movie is so much fun.

    Aug 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5

    Vincent Canby

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • Back Roads lacks originality and relies on the road trip movie genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

    Aug 27, 2019 | Full Review…

    Diego Galán

    El Pais (Spain)

  • It's a surprise to discover that this hackneyed, relatively dull road picture is the work of director Martin Ritt.

    Jan 11, 2008 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
    TV Guide
View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Back Roads

  • Dec 06, 2012
    There are a lot of good actors in this movie, but the story lets them down. It's boring, predictable, and disappointing in the end. I didn't care for it, and I wouldn't recommend it.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Apr 07, 2007
    appealing performers but the script isn't great
    jay n Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Back Roads Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features