The Big Chill (15th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The Big Chill (15th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: Flashbacks
Summary: 4 Stars
I had missed "The Big Chill" when it first came out and didn't really get the chance to see it until the other night. I had expected a lot of excessive stereo-typing of the druggies, hippies, and the protesters of my generation. However, I actually saw a rather restrained series of characterizations. Oh, the stereo-types were ever-present; the protesters who had "sold out" in various ways but I appreciated that they were not as overdone as I had thought they would be.
The story takes place around a reunion of sorts. In a very impressive opening sequence of scenes, we come to discover that the old gang comes together for the funeral of a friend. It's been a few years since many have seen each other and this enables us to find out plenty as they update each other with their live's journey. The "selling out" has to do with how each of them reached their level of success. One married well, another became a TV star, another became a successful entepreneur, another a popular radio celebrity, another a respected scientist, etc. etc. Actually, one of the shortcomings of this movie is how everyone became a success by societal standards. There was a sense of guilt and loss of commitment that affected each person differently. As I understood it, it was likely the reason for the deceased taking his own life. As the different characters deal with these and other emotions over a long weekend, we begin to see some of ourselves in most, if not all, of them. Life involves compromise and some found that easier to deal with than others. In fact, the greatest cause for the compromising effects of maturity is almost completely missing from "The Big Chill"; children. There are occassional references to their kids but, in general, they are conveniently left out of the movie. After all, the writer and director wanted to focus on other things and, of course, the kids would've just gotten in the way.
Reunions are nice and the one in "The Big Chill" conveniently brought together everyone from the old gang (with the understandable exception of the deceased). The ones I attend usually leave me wondering where all my old friends are which leaves me looking forward to getting back home to those that share my present. The sadness in "The Big Chill" was the number of characters whose focus on the past seemed to have blurred their present.
Movie Review: Middle class, middle aged Baby Boomers, was this you?
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie probably falls flat for anyone not of the characters' ages...at the time of this movie(early 80's), about mid- to late-thirties. These were people affected by anti-war movements, race riots, the sudden availabilty of college to almost any comer. They have their faults, have stumbled and succeeded in life, or at least hung on for the ride. When one of this once tight-knit group commits suicide, the gathering of the survivors (and an occasional dragged-along spouse) leads to increasingly deeper insights, into themselves, each other, the world around them. With such a large, strong ensemble cast, the movie can't probe too deeply, but overall the deep, abiding friendships that brought these people together in the first place, during their college years, works its magic again. For a weekend, anyway, they reconnect & circle each other in ways based on their past but tempered by the passing of time, when they became "responsible" (said like a four-letter word!). They play & replay their lives & relationships against the canvas of Meg Tilly's character, a much younger 20-something who had been living with the deceased friend. The gang constantly look to her for clues to answer the question, "why did he do it?", but in the end, their answers come from within themselves.
The great soundtrack is perfectly aimed at people coming of age in the sixties & crystalizes that moment in time so well. The cast is superb, most having become recognized as well-toned rising stars at the movie's release.
Anyone who was influenced by and was growing up in the sixties & seventies, who hung out with a group of friends who included: an egghead, a nerd, a macho guy, a cool dude, a sexy girl, a hippie girl, a gearhead, a druggie or alkie, or some combination, can relate very much to this great movie. All others need to understand that, like many retrospective movies, much has been glossed over & certainly this represents only a certain group of these Baby Boomers.
Movie Review: Chilling moments when idealism freezes over
Summary: 4 Stars
Idealist and radicals who not only seem to think humankind is God's (ha ha) special project but that these self-absorbed, affluent career graduates should be insulated from the ills and bumps of the real world. They can't understand why things haven't turned out as they were suppose to, after all, they were all so committed to solving the ills of "humanity". These educated, beautiful spirits are joined at the hips in friendship and comeraderie, consoling one another in their grief and broken dreams. They gather for a friend who has died, one of them is filthy rich and they all conveniently stay there, to cry and laugh and fight and be supportive of each other. The scary thing here is that I saw parts of me strolling across this widescreen. I knew it already but it really struck home, again, when I saw this for the first time on DVD. At first you think this story is sympathetic to the plight of these characters, then you realize the real point is the sappy, sentimental silliness of these characters who can't get past their "high ideals". They're filled with guilt and unfulfilled fantasies. They walk through this weekend in the worst kind of denial, constantly needing sex and support from one another. I hadn't seen "The Big Chill" for a couple of years. For me, it only gets better and more relevant with age. The acting and the actors are terrific. What a powerful cast of then unknowns who would go on to be superstars. If you're looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking movie, this fits the bill. I highly recommend it as your next DVD purchase.Movie Review: Attack of the Yuppies
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw "The Big Chill" for the first time when I was about 16 and considered it to be one of my favourite movies. Watching it again, more than 10 years later, I realize that the reason why I loved this film so much was because of the soundtrack (this was the film that instilled in me a love for "classic" rock and roll, especially The Rolling Stones, a love which still remains with me today). It was most certainly not for the plot or characters.
The plot centres around a group of yuppies who gather for the funeral of a college friend and then spend the weekend reminiscing about "the good old days" (this plot was, in fact, borrowed from "The Return of the Secaucus Seven", which was made three years earlier, but on a much lower budget). None of the characters in the film have a single redeeming feature and to put it bluntly, they are a group of narcissistic yuppies. Still, in a morbid kind of way, they are fascinating to watch. I don't identify with these people, I don't want to be like them, and yet, when they dance around the kitchen to old records, I find that I can't take my eyes off the screen.
After the music, the next best thing about this film is the cast. Just about every actor in this film went on to bigger and better things (even Kevin Costner, who is the corpse that you see in the opening scene).
Overall, the film is worth seeing, if only to say that you have seen what is often considered to be a minor classic, and after you've seen it, go out and buy the soundtrack.
Movie Review: Get CHILLED Again ... But DVD is Whiter Shade of Pale
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw THE BIG CHILL in high school. I loved it. Strange, considering my age, but it helped me imagine my high school friends and I getting together at age 30 and having a good time. I just watched it again this weekend on DVD, and still consider it a good movie. Don't let the big budget and big names fool you. It's a small film about interesting characters. The only "action" is when Sam tries to jump into Nick's car "J.T. Lancer"-style. Mostly, it's character study. And Mr. Kasdan cast an incredible group of actors. It's a good film.Now ... for the DVD ... I think the picture is good. For instance, this is the first time I noticed the mint-green walls of the church in the opening scene. But, the rest of the DVD pales in comparison to others on the market now. Like another reviewer said, the "Trailer" included is for SILVERADO (? ). Where's the BIG CHILL trailer ? The documentary is very well done -- lots of current interviews with cast members (Glenn Close reveals a lot). The cut scenes are interesting too. ** BUT where are the flashback scenes filmed in Atlanta of the cast in their 60's clothes ? I thought for sure we'd get to see those! Nowhere to be found ... Disappointing.