Eventually, they get a divorce.
Ted takes on the responsability of raising his young son, and juggling work, though he doesn't do a good enough job of it. Eventually, he looses his job at just the wrong time.
After what seems like an eternity, Ted's wife resurfaces only to say that she's in therapy, and that she wants custody of her son. So they go to court. (Hence the name of the film.) Ted must now proove to the judge that he's a better parent than Joanna, (who has been gone all this time mind you,) and that means finding a new job. Quick.
Although it is a bitter court battle, Joanna wins custody of young Billy Kramer, even though she was the one that left and went semi-crazy. Only days later, Joanna visits Ted's apartment to gather up Billy's things. Joanna, though, somehow see's the light, and gives custody of Billy back to Ted.
And the film ends.
The whole movie was based on the court battle, but even that only lasts twenty or so minutes. And, even after winning, Joanna gives back custody of the boy to Ted. There is no explanation of why Joanna does what she does; the movie ends too quickly, and make the court battle all-for-nothing! Why even go through that if she was just going to give up her son anyway?
Kramer Vs. Kramer was a decent movie, and although it had a lot of great potential, leaves you wondering and totally unfullfilled as the movie ends. the only high point to this Oscar-winner were the performances of Hoffman and Streep, who each won an Oscar themselves.
Plot: 
As it is, Kramer Vs. Kramer's plot is great: Women wants divorce, Woman wants custody of child, court battle to follow. That makes up the first
hour and thirty-five minutes of the film. Then it takes a turn for the worse.
Only days after the court battle, and after having won, Joanna gives up the custody she worked so hard to win. And the movie ends. Why does the movie end all of a sudden? Who knows. It seems like there was a lot more to be told in this film.
Because of the abrupt ending to the film, the rating for the "plot" was droped down by a point.
Visual Effects:
What visuals?
Sound:
A Couple songs. OK.
Character Development:
Joanna goes through a big change: She starts off fragile but becomes strong and caring as the film goes on.
Hoffman, on the other hand, realizes that there are more things in Heaven and Earth, my dear boy, than work, work, work.
Atmosphere:
This is a film that is hard to get into, and especially at the end when it abruptly ends.
Realism:
A realistic custody battle that ends not-so realistically.
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it beat out for Best Picture:
All That Jazz, (1979); Apocalypse Now, (1979); Breaking Away, (1979); Norma Rae, (1979)
4.43/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
5-04-03
Age at win: 43
Nominated for: Best Actor in a leading Role, Ted Kramer, Kramer Vs. Kramer
Nomination: 4/7 (acting), 4/7 (total); Win: 1st
Dustin Hoffman is a great Actor, and has show it by playing m,any varied role from a male prostitue in Midnight Cowboy to an autistic brother in Rain Man to Captain Hook in, well, Hook. In Kramer Vs. Kramer he plays a man who is about to loose his son if he doesn't shape up, get a job, and realize that family comes before work.
Hoffman's performance is slightly above average; the best of it being that he make the character of Ted Kramer becomes totally belivable. You see, Ted Kramer is an Everyman character, and one that many people can relate to.
Hoffman does a great job of portraying the anguish of Ted, and makes you want to side with him, and not his derranged wife, Joanna.
05-04-03
Age at win: 31
Nominated for: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Joanna Kramer, Kramer vs. Kramer
Nomination: 2/14 (acting) (!), 2/14 (total) (!); Win: 1st
Meryl Streep plays a women about to break down mentally if she doesn't get away from her family. Soon enough she discovers that she want's her son back, and will ahve to fight her husband, (Dustin Hoffman) for custody.
Streep's performance won her her second of an astounding 13 (!) nominations, and her first win. Streep is amazing as the ex of Ted Kramer, who tires valiantly to win back her son. Even though she succeeds, she has a change of heart and gives custody over to her husband.
This is not one of Streep's better movies, but it is one of her better performances. She really make you want to root for Hoffman, and not herself, as she tries to make like he is the bad guy and not herself, which is not true at all.
Meryl Streep has been called the greatest living actrees of our time, and for all the right reasons, this is exactly true. All you have to do is look at her performance in Kramer Vs. Kramer.
05-04-03
