Ordinary People (1980)

Ordinary People

I thought this was an excellent movie that showed the raw emotions of a family going through a crisis. January 6, 2009

Ordinary People - brilliant

Since this movie was released in theaters in the '80's, it has been one of my all-time favorites. Each time I watch it, something new strikes me. The truths are not always obvious, "new" details strike at each viewing. This movie stands alone in its quiet truths about a family's difficulties: following a series of tragedies involving their two sons: the accidental death of the older son, and the attempted sucide of the younger son Conrad, played by Timothy Hutton. The story opens when Conrad is desperately trying to move past his self-blame. The various reactions to these events are what the story is about; subsequent emotions are either slowly revealed or more stubbornly squelched as in the case of the mother, played by Mary Tyler Moore. High school friends are also grieving and relationships are so realistically altered forever. That is real life. The character studies are absolutely brilliant, as is the web of relationships as they are also revealed and further developed. The acting is convincing and I would even say, in my opinion, perfect. While all is superbly handled in this film, to me, from the first time I've seen it, above all this is Timothy Hutton's movie. His portrayal of young Conrad is heart-wrenching and so incredibly sincere. How he expresses in voice, facial expression, and posture his emotional turmoil is nothing short of genius. His character has been dealt a cruel hand to play and he is having much difficulty, but as he faces his own emotions, this has a chain effect in every direction, from his relationships and activities in high school, to his relationship with his parents, inadvertently causing them to also deal with their own emotions (or not). The kindness and insight of his psychiatrist is played beautifully by Judd Hirsch. There are times in my own life that this film is too painful to watch, but in general it has become a seasonal tradition to launch autumn and the following holiday season. The visual effects of beautiful fall colors, warm lighting, stark emptiness of that overly tidy house, and the normalcy of high school activities all work together to round out the ordinary surrounding of these "Ordinary People." December 31, 2008

Using Ordinary People in the college classroom

I used Ordinary People in a course I teach in Abnormal Psychology. The movie does an excellent job of showing that the person in the family who seeks mental health care isn't necessarily the person who needs helps most. It also shows that sometimes, "going crazy" is sometimes the most normal thing a person can do. The clothing is late 70's and some of the language is dated but overall the movie does a great job of showing a family in crisis after a tragedy. I highly recommend this movie! December 8, 2008

A True Classic

I don't usually buy movies but this one I bought.

I've seen this movie several times over the years and never got tired of it. The story is heartbreaking, and the acting is among the best ever. As another reviewer wrote, this movie deserved all the Oscars it received.

I believe this movie will always hold up through time because when tragedy strikes in families, oftentimes the true character, whether good or bad, of some people who are going through such grief comes out, as this movie shows. December 2, 2008

Whiny

Like watching a bunch of 4-year-olds throwing temper tantrums about early bedtimes. The main characters in this film spend their time either sulking petulantly or delivering semi-coherent, self-indulgent speeches.

The movie is nonetheless well-shot, with some superb scoring to Pachelbel's Canon. Indeed, the opening montage, in which scenery shots dissolve to the choir performing, is great. It also gives interesting insight into its era. But Ice Storm revisited that kind of material with less emoting, as did Stand By Me. If this movie had been cut by an hour, with the talking/whining elided, it could have been great. October 1, 2008

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