Ordinary People

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:54pm

Was watching this movie last night. I had almost forgotten how affecting it is. It is, and has always been, one of the best movies I have ever seen. Some claim that "Raging Bull" was robbed. I beg to differ.

Timothy Hutton gives one of my favorite supporting performances of recent decades as Conrad Jarrett, a disturbed youth who is in the process of recovering from the death of his older brother, Buck. Mary Tyler Moore is, in a word, excellent. With every precise line delivery and facial expression, she brings home the emotional distance between her husband and her son. "Wait a minute... Did I take trig?"

Judd Hirsch is awesome (yay, "TAXI"!!!), as usual. The unsung hero of the film (the only member of the main cast who was ignored come Oscar season) is Donald Sutherland, who has some wonderful moments of subtlety. Dinah Manoff (Marty from the film version of "Grease") and Elizabeth McGovern are also good in their brief roles. Updated On: 3/1/05 at 04:54 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:58pm

Mary's the one who got robbed, my beloved Mary.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:02pm

Mary was robbed. She lost to Sissy Spacek's Loretta "Baloney makes you horny" Lynn.

The Oscars love people who can imitate other people.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:02pm

Never heard of or seen the movie.... :/

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:03pm

"Never heard of or seen the movie.... :/"

So why are you hanging around on the internet? Run out now and rent it. It's a great movie.

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:10pm

I'm happy that she at least won the Golden Globe.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:26pm

IMO Ordinary People is a perfect movie. Perfect in every possibe way and in every sense of the word. To this day it remains one of my Top 5 all time favorite movies. And Mary was DEFINITELY robbed!

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:28pm

CurtainUp-

I was going to say the same thing, but I was afraid someone would slam me for it.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:29pm

it's one of the few movies made that I feel one can look at and call "real".

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:33pm

I agree, Elphie. It is unafraid to show even the worst sides of people. Example: Beth.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:33pm

I've never gotten the chance to see the movie, but the book is wonderful.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:35pm

It's hard to argue that Sissy Spacek should have lost. She's quite glorious in COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER.

HOWEVER, Mary was simply breathtaking in ORDINARY PEOPLE. I think she suffered from the same problem Annette Bening did in 2000. Though both actresses were spectacular, their roles almost seemed supporting to the men's character arcs. They were up against women who had to carry their movies.

But that scene on the golf course still kills me.

God, I love that movie. Judd Hirsch is magnificent, Timothy Hutton is sublime, Donald Sutherland is heartbreaking (ROBBED of a nomination) and Dinah Manoff was simply there, which makes any movie better, imho.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:36pm

I want more movies like that. So few movies make you think, anymore.......
Sometimes I don't want to be entertained, but rather. I want to be engaged.........

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:37pm

On repeat viewings, this scene puts a knife in my stomach: "Conrad, let's have a great Christmas. Let's have... a great year. Let's have the best year of our whole lives."

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:38pm

One of my favorites ever made - and touched me deeply at an important part of my life. And I agree, Robbie, about the actresses involved. Both were stunning.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:54pm

I think Spacek's performance, while excellent (I've met Loretta Lynn), gets lost in imitation.

Moore's performance was brilliant acting.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:57pm

I truly loved Beverly as Patsy Cline

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 6:00pm

"I truly loved Beverly as Patsy Cline"

Beverly was robbed when it came time to make Sweet Dreams. Jessica Lange was a hack!!!

[hedwig14]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 12:18am

"On repeat viewings, this scene puts a knife in my stomach: "Conrad, let's have a great Christmas. Let's have... a great year. Let's have the best year of our whole lives." "

I completely agree. This movie gets me every time. Whenever it's on cable I have to sit and watch even though I know I will end up in tears.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 8:22am

Hedwig, I love your avator. I am a PufnStuf fanatic!

Re: Ordinary People. great movie, and Mary is amazing!

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 8:22am

Wasn't this the first film directed by Robert Redford? In the scheme of things, without "Ordinary People" there would be no Sundance Institute and Film Festival!

And yes, Mary was robbed. Very clever casting.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 8:33am

I like 'Ordinary People.' It's a good movie.

'Raging Bull,' though, is a chapter in film history.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 8:44am

RAGING BULL is the superior film but, Lord, I lived ORDINARY PEOPLE.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 9:07am

Having been in the exact same position as the Hutton character (I was 15 when it happened), I can say with utmost authority that this film is spot on. I didn't have Medusa for a mother, mind you, but the feelings of displaced guilt -- oh, yeah. I find it hard to watch this film, but I do love it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/2/05 at 9:53am

I'm glad to hear all this positive discussion of Ordinary People. I haven't seen it again since the early-80s, but I saw it a few times in the theater when it came out. Glad to hear that it still holds up for folks.