Norma Rae
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.07 You Save: $4.91 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.98 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Norma Rae
Movie Review: Fantastic Performance by Sally Field
Summary: 5 Stars
This film was released when I was very young. I remembered hearing all about it but never watched it until now. Sally Field's Oscar win was well deserved.
Unfortunately, the current industrial situation in the US has put a major damper on the feel good ending of this movie. There are almost no textile mills in the US now. It is sad watching Norma Rae live thru this incredible struggle only to know that in 10 to 15 years it will no longer matter.
As well as being about labor unions, this movie is also a love story. Sally Field has wonderful chemistry with her two male costars, Ron Liebman and Beau Bridges. Both of their characters fall in love with Norma and throughout the movie they fight for her attention. Bridges pulls out all the stops and proposes. Liebman's Reuben tells fantastic stories about his Union Job, life in the big city and is generally exciting, almost enticing Norma to leave her small town life. Liebman is great as Reuben and he embodies NY cool to the nth degree. He makes Reuben stand out like a peacock in the small town and Norma is fascinated by him. In one great scene, Liebman enters a local bar where Field and Bridges are on their first date. Field's Norma immediately becomes Flirty, flighty and giggly over the appearance of her NY crush. As Liebman turns on the charm, Bridges fades into the background, his face falling to the floor in defeat. My heart went out to Bridges' character and it reminded me of all the times I was in the same situation.
But this film is owned heart and soul by Sally Field. From the time she fights for her Mother's health to when she stands up with her Union sign, I was cheering for her.
I just wish the film was longer because I wanted to find out what Norma's next adventure would be.
Movie Review: A Working Class Hero
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a very simple story. Nor so many twists, neither an unforgettable love affair. So, why do people love this little film so much? Because it is very, very heartfelt and deals with a subjetc very interesting. Plus, Sally Field's performance is deeply touching."Norma Rae" is the story of a working woman who gets tired of being exploited by the factory she works for, which is one of the few companies in her town, where her whole family has been working for years, and in the future so will her children. After meeting a man from the Textil Union, she starts to get involved with the organization, and the fights for the workers' rights as well. Slowly she gets concious that union and Union make a whole difference.
What I think is most interesting in this movie is the fact that is very timeless and placeless. Even now, 20 years later of its releasing, the subject is still up to date, everywhere there are employees fighting against unfair employers. And even though, it is about political and social aspects of society, the film does not tries to give you a lecture.
As I aforementioned, Sally Field deliveries very good. The transformation of Nora from a party girls who only wants to date and drink into a working class hero is completely believable. Moreover, we stay by her side all the time rooting for her gets the rights they want. The supporting cast does also a very good work. Ron Liebman -- as the man who introduces Norma to the Union, and becomes a kind of mentor to her -- and Beau Bridges -- as her husband-- are very impressive. Martin Ritt's direction is very discreet and effective.
All in all, I highly recomend this movie. It is very entertaining and deep. People who are looking for some intelligent and touching film should go straight to this one.
Movie Review: One of the 10 Best Performances by an Actress Ever!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Norma Rae" contains the thrilling performance by Sally Field as a woman on the wrong side of the tracks of life who decides it's time to stand up for the rights of her co-workers at a small textile plant. She is offered and accepts a promotion when the plant's management tries to divert her, but a supervisory role doesn't appeal to her when her mother loses her hearing and she has to chastise her father for poor performance. Logically, inevitably she becomes more committed to fighting for a better life for herself and her loved ones and joins forces with a union organizer who came down from NYC. She ends up sacrificing all, including her self esteem, to give the workers more control over their working conditions.
Chills ran down my spine during the scene where she held up the "union" sign and another where she rebuked her husband for being non-supportive of her union efforts. I am not a union supporter, but I know good drama, strong performances, and a logical and interesting plot when I see it, so I recommend this fine film to all.
Hopefully they will give as much time and attention to dubbing and subtitling this movie into languages of third world countries because that's where this textile plant probably relocated a year after the events this film portrayed. A sad, sad outcome to an ideal.
No matter what the outcome, Sally Field delivers one of the finest performances in film history so "Norma Rae" gets only my highest recommendations!
Movie Review: TACKLING INDUSTRIAL ISSUES
Summary: 5 Stars
Norma Rae
I saw the film (from my Dad's Collection), in our home theatre. Granted the acting is very good, the production is excellent and the story relevant, there's still something irritating (for me) in the way a young mother, Sally Field, ignores her husband (Beau Bridges) and kids to spend every possible moment , day and night, with a slimy union official (Ron Liebman). They are trying to bring the bring the workers at a Southern Textile Plant into much-needed solidarity and director, Martin Ritt is obviously trying equally as hard to avoid the usual cliches of the hard-hearted, pig-headed, capitalistic boss and the passive severely put-upon workers. Sally Field succeeds more than Ritt does. On the one hand, the textile workers learn how to strike, get better wages and a little employer respect. On the other hand, there's a family crying out for their mother. Music and credits are superb. Sally Field won an Academy Award for her performance.
Movie Review: "Sally Field Is Outstanding"
Summary: 5 Stars
Sally Field proved to Hollywood that she was more than just "The Flying Nun" when she starred in Norma Rae. Winner of the Best Actress Oscar in 1979 for the film, Sally stars as an uneducated mill worker who struggles to form a union in her workplace. The picture also received the Academy Award for Best Song for "It Goes Like It Goes" sung by Jennifer Warren. The film co-stars Ron Leibman, Beau Bridges, and Pat Hingle. Martin Ritt did a superb job directing.
The DVD is filled with bonuses including the film being in widescreen format, scene selection, a 20 minutes backstory on the film, the original theatrical trailer, and subtitles in english and spanish.
New York Magazine says, "Sally Field gives a funny, tremendously affecting performance with moments of startling anger and power".