This movie is probably one of the best to come out of the nineties. I mean, the storyline is fresh, the characters are endearing and sympathetic, and the interactions between the two leads and you the viewer is just perfectly conducted. The title makes you suppose it is this vast tale about a physical journey, when in fact it is a journey of the heart and mind. And one that is a very dangerous undertaking.Renee Zellweger has the rare talent of formulating chemistry with any of her co-stars, but here with Vincent D'Onofrio it's so much more natural. You feel the sizzling sexual tension between the two from start to finish. The characters are a match for each other in every way and it just breaks your heart when the ending comes upon you. Vincent D'Onofrio was the perfect choice for Robert E. Howard, you could see, hear and feel his emotional conflicts and mental instability. He brought a kind of charming hopelessness to this person who needs to be taken care of by taking care of someone else. Zellweger was (as usual) wonderfully cute in this role. She falls for the wild, uncertain pulp fiction writer and has the means to help him, but tragically is unable to.The pacing of this movie was flawless. The movie just flies by and by the end you want to put it on again it was so delicious. This movie doesn't look like much on the outside, but beneath the cover and strangely misleading title is an illustrious tale of two beings destined for greatness and each other.

Set in 1930's small town Texas are two unlikely characters: one who is an accomplished writer and one who "wants to be". Their journey is a rare story these days (writing this in 2009) in writing or on the screen. Not since watching "84 Charring Cross Road" have I applauded such realism. Bob Howard, famed author of "Conan the Barbarian" is seen as he was in real life through the eyes of an unusually brave woman, Novalyne Price (the story taken directly from her book "One Who Walked Alone").Howard (played by Vincent D'Onofrio) was a real loner who found himself in love; an impossible situation for any recluse, let alone a perhaps misunderstood misanthropic one. Price (played by Rene Zellweger), carries the other hard end of the bargain, a sociable yet independent single woman in 1930's Texas who's burden of loving him is even more unimaginable to bear, but not in any of the trite ways one might think. Most of us cower from those who do not "behave" as society dictates, or to be more blunt, as our loved ones dictate; Price does and doesn't, in a classy yet grounded blend of grace. Both characters are surprising and totally human. Shot in only 24 days, this "little" movie is a buy-to-own keeper. No wonder Zellweger went on to movie stardom after this role.To quote Rene, her performance is in part "Many thanks to Vincent". An amazing portrait of the best of both actor's range of talent. Recommended highly.

I love listening to the audio commentaries after I've watched a film. It shows me how much the actors or crew members felt making the film. There is a big difference between a film and a movie. A film holds you to your seat because of the quality of the writing and acting. A movie is usually exciting, but it may or may not have persons who can or cannot act in it's line-up. I consider "The Whole Wide World" in the former category. I can't say enough about this film.The story is simple enough. Vincent D'Onofrio plays Robert E. Howard, arguably the greatest pulp magazine writer of all time. He is the creator of the Conan series of magazine and movie fame. Howard falls in love with Novalyn Price, a woman who wants to be an author, but has no talent. She is played by Renn' Zellweger, who brings fire to this "mousey" character. Price realizes her destiny lays in teaching and pursues that course in her life. Zellweger's performance is exceptional as her 5'5" frame faces down the 6'4" frame of D'Onofrio.D'Onofrio's performance in this film is beyond exceptional. He kept me emotionally attached to the character of Howard through out the film. I cried at the end.As one of the producers of this film, D'Onofrio was able to keep the film on track. But something tells me that he believed so much in the film that he took on the problems himself and protected the project. I loved the Greyhound bus, by the way. It was one of his additions.This film was Dan Ireland's first major film and he did exceptionally well. He knew the caliber of actors he was working with and let them do their job. The actors also let him do his job as well. Surprisingly in the commentary I could tell that he watched his stars and learned from them Like I said, I can't say enough about this film. I rented it from Netflix and have watched it several times. It is definitely a keeper and my order on Amazon is already in the works.

The setting was wonderful, and the way small-town life and attitudes were portrayed were also wonderful. Zellweger showed enormous emotional range in this film. D'Onofrio was somewhat irritating, and he was a producer of this film, and I don't know if was his acting or the direction that made it that way. In the end, since he committed suicide, it was right to portray him as someone who was really high-strung. The movie certainly showed women as very independent, or at least as having independence if they really went after it. As having a career. And that was the crux of the plot: feminine independence versus male dominance. Of course, for Bob, it was his mother that dominated his life and on whom he was totally dependent, could not leave home, and Ann Wedgworth played that part very well.