Ordinary People
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Movie Reviews of Ordinary People
Movie Review: Profound no matter how you look at it
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen "Ordinary People" at least a dozen times over the past 17 years. I was 15 when I first saw it. It is one of a small handful of films that I have turned back to over the years as I've grown for new insight and meaning with profound results (others include "Midnight Cowboy" and "Taxi Driver"). Each and every time I see this, I see something new and am still deeply affected.People and critics throw out the phrase "works on so many levels". This is an ideal film to model that nebulous concept. You could ask 50 people to screen it and ask them what they think it is about, and you would get 50 different responses. You could ask those same 50 people to screen it again in 5 years, and then ask them what they think it's about. You would get 50 different responses again. And so on and so on. You would get "it's about suicide", "it's about [someone] that dies", "it's about a family tragedy", "it's about teen depression", "it's about a cold mother", "it's about a dysfunctional family", and on and on. These are all true (and then some) so it's nearly impossible to describe this film in a nutshell.
"Ordinary People" (the movie and the great book from which it was adapted) shows us how families can go on for years and years (and even generations) without ever realizing or having to assess how everyone feels about one another. Some families get away with it, for things run smoothly on the surface. But sometimes things happen to shatter that facade. Could be an illness, a drug problem, a divorce, a death, whatever. Sometimes something so terrible happens that a family is forced to face each other and speak the unspoken. But sometimes, the unspoken simply cannot be spoken, at least by some of the members.
That is the case with this family. The mother is so empty and emotionally sterile that it is clear she had never been a true part of that family. At least outside of her first child. ...The father struggled with his feelings, and wanted to share them, but probably felt unable to with such a cold, heartless matriarch in the family. And the... son didn't know what... he wanted, and was caught somewhere between his mother's sterility and his father's earnestness. He was always trying to please both, never realizing that it would never happen with his mother. At least until [something happened], for which the guilt mounted and mounted (with little help from his parents to relieve).
Watching these three characters (well, two, really, for the mother is emotionally arrested) cope with this tragedy and assess their positions in the family unit is so compelling and so wrenching that it's almost voyeuristic. Robert Redford's direction really does feel like we're peeking into the windows of a family that we "know" down the block. Little did we know (or did they) what was really going on.
This is a somber movie; it is not a simple TV movie-of-the-week. It shows that serious pain must be endured before pleasure can be found/regained. You can't sweep anything under the rug. And honesty is a must in any family or relationship; communication is vital to its survival. There's no way around it. Sometimes the communication will lead you to the worst conclusion--that you simply cannot get along--but the truth always prevails. Because only in truth can you even try to change/understand/improve things.
Technically speaking, this is superbly crafted. The acting is brilliant, the direction is penetrating, the dialogue ranges from exuberant to shattering, and everything else is perfect. I've seen a lot of movies, and it still amazes me that one of the most grueling, heart-wrenching pieces of acting I have ever seen was by young Timothy Hutton. The sight of his face and the sound of his voice will tear you apart. To me, that young actor carried the bulk of this heavyweight picture. He is nothing short of brilliant here. Donald Sutherland, definitely a great actor, hasn't been any better than this. To me, he is the ultimate portrait of the honest man struggling with his confusing role as a father and husband. And Mary Tyler Moore, of course, is frighteningly intense as the mother; it's impossible to link this woman to Mary Richards. Great support from everyone else, including the wonderful Elizabeth McGovern (with a character that receives much more development in the novel), and Judd Hirsch as the boy's psychiatrist (their scenese together are brilliant).
I can't stress this film's importance enough. It demands multiple viewings. It is a shining example of how much insight film (and art in general) can shed on our lives if handled with care, taste, and realism. It covers ground that is universal to us all, regardless of family background. Don't cheat yourself out of a profoundly moving experience. And it just might change your life. Now how many movies can you say that about?
Movie Review: Still powerful and relevant nearly 25 years later
Summary: 5 Stars
"Ordinary People" (1980) is one of those rare classic films that has lost none of its power and remains relevant and fresh nearly 25 years after its original release. Robert Redford's film debut, based on the modern classic novel by Judith Guest, packs the same powerful emotional punch on the tenth viewing it does on its first.
The story is simple but deals with incredibly complex emotions that take its characters and the audience into some pretty dark places. On first look, the Jarretts are an ordinary, upper-middle class family consisting of businessman father Calvin (Donald Sutherland), homemaker wife Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) and teenage son Conrad (Timothy Hutton). But something is definitely wrong. Conrad has trouble sleeping and has slash mark scars on his wrists. Calvin seems overly concerned with his son's health, while Beth is obviously in serious denial about something. Then there's the bedroom at the end of the hall that is filled with another, absent son's possessions--an older son named Buck, whom we gradually discover has recently died in a tragic accident in which Conrad had some part. It's not until Conrad starts seeing a psychiatrist named Berger (Judd Hirsch) that the circumstances of the accident, and the fragile state of the Jarrett family's emotional health, starts to unravel.
"Ordinary People" is a perfect movie. Not one scene, line of dialog, characterization or camera shot is out of place, wasted or unnecessary. Redford directs with the sure hand of an old pro, and screenwriter Alvin Sargent (who recently wrote the superior script to "Spiderman 2") has accomplished something unthinkable: he's actually written a script that improves on the original novel, which is pitch-perfect in its own right. And the performances are phenomenal: Hutton won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his brilliant turn as a suicidal teen simply crying out for his mother's love, while Moore deserved one (but lost out to Sissy Spacek's equally deserving work in "Coal Miner's Daughter") as a mother who buried her heart with her favorite son and cannot bring herself to give her surviving son the love he needs. And Hirsch is a tower of strength as the understanding psychiatrist who forces Conrad to unlock the keys to his memory and understand why he has lost the will to live. But the truly unsung hero is Sutherland, in an atypical role as a loving father who is supremely concerned about his son but simply can't crack through the surface of either wife or son to get to the root of the problem. M. Emmett Walsh (as a swimming instructor), Frederic Lehne (as a concerned friend) and Elizabeth McGovern (as Conrad's potential girlfriend) add key support, while Dinah Manoff is simply a knockout in her one scene as Conrad's obviously unstable mental patient friend.
But the real genius of the film is in the casting of Mary Tyler Moore as the coldest, and most hated, mother since Angela Lansbury in "The Manchurian Candidate." That Redford saw this character in the actress who previously was best known as the bubbly heroine of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" has to rank as one of the riskiest, and ultimately most insightful, casting decisions in cinema history. Mark my word, in a film filled with haunting imagery, you will never forget Moore's last scene, in which she pathetically struggles to maintain her composure when she realizes her whole world has come crashing down on her.
"Ordinary People" won the 1980 Best Picture Oscar, as well as awards for Hutton, Redford's direction and Sargeant's script. Critics have maligned the choice for over two decades because it beat out Martin Scorsese's masterwork "Raging Bull," which is admittedly an outstanding film. Maybe this really is one of the all-time Oscar tragedies like many say. But one thing is for sure. "Ordinary People" is the rare film that has the power to not only change lives, but save them, too, if people take its message to heart. "Raging Bull" is simply a vivid biopic of a heinous man. I'll take the former any day.
***** (out of *****), although the DVD is a typical bare-bones, extras-free (except for the original trailer and 1:85:1 widescreen format) Paramount package. Next year is the 25th anniversary, so here's hoping Paramount DVD opens the pursestrings and presents the extras and cast commentary this classic film deserves.
Movie Review: "Ordinary People" - EXTRAordinary classic
Summary: 5 Stars
The subtle masterpiece and Academy Award winner for best picture of 1980, "Ordinary People", is a heartbreaking, character driven tale that evolves around the lives of an upper class, suburban family in Chicago. The troubled son, Conrad Jared (played by Timothy Hutton), must make an awkward and difficult transition into high school and home life after months in a mental hospital for attempted suicide, greatly due to the loss of his older brother. He is still haunted by his past and desperately longs for a connection with his distant and broken mother, Beth (played by Mary Tyler Moore), as well as a sense of belonging and normalcy, which he searches for during his weekly interactions with his psychiatrist (played by Judd Hirsch), who slowly unlocks the boy's inner pain and mysteries. The concerned father, Calvin (played by Donald Sutherland) tries frantically to assure his son and piece the family back together; however the emotional struggles the family must endure brings out each member's true colors and weaknesses, including the fathers."Ordinary People" is carefully crafted, incredibly honest, and touching. Each character is depicted with great depth and sincerity. Hutton delivered an intense, thoughtful and true performance, receiving a well-deserved Oscar for best supporting actor, although the title, best actor, would have been more suitable... the role was made for him, and he owned it with such care, often speaking more with his eyes and body language than words. Another highlight is Mary Tyler Moore, who tackled her first dramatic role amazingly, surprising audiences with her profound, Oscar worthy and most memorable portrayal. Hirsh (who was nominated for an Oscar for the film as well) and Hutton also had great chemistry together -playing off of each other very naturally - certainly a plus for fans of "The Sixth Sense", "The Prince of Tides" and "Good Will Hunting", and Sutherland gave a notable performance as the lost, but hopeful father - which led him to an Oscar nomination.
The characters of this film are surprisingly real and easy to relate to, even the adult friends of Beth and Calvin, as well as Conrad's friends are so believable -making "Ordinary People" one of the greatest character studies of all time. What I really loved about this movie is that it gave nothing away - it trusted the audience to figure out what each character's motives were and what they were thinking, a refreshing change from the regular, Hollywood movie of today - in fact another aspect which made the film so refreshing was that unlike other family dramas it was very unpredictable. Watching "Ordinary People" is a very inexplicable experience, not relying on anything but truth to get its message and entertainment across - its almost like looking into a mirror... bravo to the writers and actors who depicted each character with such layers and candor, possibly paying more attention to detail then the creators of "The Sixth Sense" and other acclaimed mysteries. And not only that, but this movie leaves audiences with a new perspective and a lot to ponder.
This is Robert Redford's directorial debut and by far his greatest. The winner of four Oscars, "Ordinary People", is a classic that cannot be missed, proving once again that the average person is more interesting than a love triangle or action sequence! It is a breakthrough, flawless film that is true to reality, yet is well balanced with comedic relief, suspense and a little romance between Conrad and a girl from his high school. However, we view this relationship realistically and we feel the anxiousness and nervousness between the two without the glamour and lines that could only have been created by a screenwriter or James Bond. Although the movie may appear to be simple on it's exterior, accompanied by only one instrumental piece, Pachelbel's "Canon in D", it has many heavy layers that are thrilling to explore. I feel this film, among other things, is about humanity; what regular people are capable of doing to others out of fear. This is a vital movie for every teenager and adult to see.
Movie Review: Redford definitely gets the North Shore
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a absolutely wonderful and convincing film about affluent middle America and how a family confronts a tragedy that is outside of its normal control. It is a story of change that is thrust upon people who are extremely secure in their environment, who are not used to things they cannot immediately master, dismiss, or anesthetize by a cushion of money and supportive relationships.
The story centers on a sensitive and gifted younger son, who is caught in an existential anxiety that he cannot control. Timothy Hutton delivers what I think is the finest performance of his career, his every gesture displaying the turmoil he is feeling inside. He cannot feel anything, he complains, and is heading for another breakdown. He deserved the Oscar for it. But Donald Sutherland is also great as his father, who is struggling to cope with issues he has never confronted. Finally, in perhaps her most subtle role, Mary Tyler Moore is the mother; afraid of genuine emotion, she had long been content to live in a comfortable predictability, long accustomed her role and milieu. They are all reacting to unspeakable pain in their own ways, revealing their strengths and capacities.
The final character in the film is Chicago's North Shore, a community that must be experienced to be believed. Redford portrays it with a sensitivity that is astonishing and not in the slightest condescending in spite of his many comical touches. I grew up there and still feel it is more or less home, though I have long since left. The place is one of the most affluent yet least cultured places in the US. Its residents feel entitled to a natural continuation of their family patterns: get a good job, probably related to finance in Chicago, and live a comfortable life of local prestige and style. I do not mean to imply that their lives are superficial or empty, just largely unquestioned and unquestioning, preoccupied with the generation of wealth and perpetuation of their "class standing" (for want of a better term). However, if something disrupts this cocoon - personal tragedy, economic upheaval, or just not fitting in - they are forced to leave their comfort zone, often with devastating results but also with the potential to grow.
The plot of the film is about the son, Conrad, as he begins to see a wonderful psychiatrist, who is completely straight with him as well as caring. They develop a powerful relationship, a space where Conrad can be himself and experiment with a new way of being. While the father is open to it, the mother refuses to recognize Conrad's struggle. The results are surprising as the equilibrium of the family shifts fundamentally.
Redford's film raises all of these issues with perfect emotional pitch. I watched it with my daughter (14); our family had lived in the area for a couple of years - kind of a sabbatical from our home in Europe, to be near my parents. She saw places we knew, recognized the types of people, and also learned about psychiatry (my father was a psychiatrist). We were both moved to tears by the story and the outstanding acting and talked a lot about the film afterwards. It is true art about what I have long viewed as an artless place.
Warmly recommended. With the many subtleties in it, this film can be watched many times.
Movie Review: Rare is the movie that transcends our criticism--this one does
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen this movie well over 30 times (the movie has earned its place as an integral part of my approach to teaching interpersonal communication at the college level); and I suspect I will view it 30 more times. It affects me deeply each and every time I experience it. "Ordinary People" is an acutely (painful and difficult to watch, at times you will find yourself feeling like a voyeur) intimate portrait of a family torn asunder by tragedy, yet fighting in the only ways they know to ease the pain and remain sane, "Ordinary People" is the iconic, masterfully directed and acted picture of the genre. Disarmingly charming in its ability to capture (and then fracture) our culture's tenuous ideas about family, love, compassion and grief, "Ordinary People" goads us to question at a very deep level our abiltiy to care and be cared for, to love and accept love, to feel and validate feelings for what they are to us, and those around us. After many viewings, I remain in awe that my heart throbs during the desperate lows in this move, yet soars at the few moments of innocent discovery and hope depicted in joyous little moments between father and son, and teenagers groping for encouragement. Some scenes are just withering: I cringe and cry at the photograph scene, I emotionally collaspe watching Beth try to physically recover from Conrad's embrace. I've come to believe that this movie is not about Beth Jarrett (Mary Tyler More, in her best performance ever, playing the emotionally undone mother with ferocity), nor about Conrad Jarrett (Timothy Hutton, who won a supporting actor academy award for embodying the guilt-ridden surviving sibling of a horrific boating accident and the survivor of a suicide attempt), but about Calvin Jarrett (Donald Sutherland, in what is arguably the best and clearly overlooked performance of his career), the compassionate yet desperate father attempting to patch his family back together. His attempts are beautifully naive and genuine, his pain is true and heart wrenching, his failure is life altering and enlightening. "Ordinary People" was Robert Redford's directorial debut--he should be proud, The movie reflects a keen emotional eye, a rare sense of cultural norms, a measured and compassionate grasp of what makes us human. Some movies transcend time and circumstance--we overlook the dated clothes, long gone prejudices and antiquated behaviors because we see in its execution the larger, less time bound insights it offers the viewer. This is one of those movies: never a dull turn, a too slowly paced scene, a wasted use of the word in this movie. I give a copy of this movie as presents to the people I care for year after year. I give it knowing that their lives will change once they see this movie. Please give this movie your best attention, you will never regret the choice. This movie will become one of those moments you will wish to share with others. Judith Guest, the author of the book from which this movie was generated, should be proud that this movie is, I think, one of the few which do its original source justice. You can nit pick and whine about this movie, to be sure, but such will not diminish the transcendent jewel this movie has become.