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Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem

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Thelma & Louise

Thelma & Louise

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: what really happened in texas
Review: the special edition dvd from mgm is great, a lot of work has gone into it and it shows! the movie itself is just as amazing nowadays as it was back in 1991 and the screenplay continues to be a landmark, insofar as it was the main movie we studied at screenwriting class when i took film at university.

there are two commentary tracks on the dvd, one with ridley scott which is very informative regarding the technical side of directing the movie (and even talks a lot about his previous movies, especially blade runner), and the second track features susan sarandon and geena davis together with screenwriter callie khouri. this track is a combination of the three sitting together and monologues of the three regarding their aspect in the filmmaking process. khouri does go on and on about her script (deservedly so) though the real jem here is geena davis who is just so funny to listen to, it's like watching the movie together with her, and her chemistry with sarandon is great.

the deleted scenes are great fun to watch though inconsequential to the plot (therefore they were deleted) and the famous alternate ending which we've all heard so much about is finally presented in all its glory, though safe to say scott made the right decision by choosing the ending in the film itself. scott also has a commentary for the 3.5 minute long alternate ending.

the documentary is thorough and is extremely well produced (especially the way it introduces the brad pitt section, who made his film début on thelma & louise) and the music video for the forgettable theme by glenn frey is also present, as well as a storyboard for the final chase scene, which is about as exciting as storyboards get (they're not). there are also a few (horrible) trailers for the movie and a look into how the movie was marketed back in the day, really interesting actually.

ridley is a great director and this is another in his long run of fabulous movies (i ever like 'legend' a lot!) and the dvd is a top-notch production from mgm! it's a flipper with the movie on one side of the dvd and most of the extras on the other side, a great mgm idea that's more practical than 2-dvd sets. highly recommended! now all that's left to do is release a cd of the entire amazing film score by hans zimmer.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Missing the point...?
Review: "Thelma and Louise", first off, is a near-copy of a 1976 Roger Corman film, "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase", right down to the Brad Pitt character in a white cowboy hat. It's shocking there was no plagiarism issue involved in making this film.

No question, most of the men in this film are scum. Complete, total, absolute scum (Harvey Keitel is the lone exception).

But Susan Sarandon's character? Does this woman ever think maybe not only are many men scum, but she herself is an incredibly unappealing person as well? Her decision to blow the would-be rapist away because he makes a sarcastic comment as they escape is telling. She did not HAVE to put a bullet in his heart...she chose to do so.

Does Geena Davis learn anything in this film? Flirting heavily with one guy leaves her near-raped, and flirting heavily with Brad Pitt leaves her robbed. Both times, her actions lead to a major crime (the murder and the armed robbery). Does she get the point?

Davis is cute and Sarandon is far from it, but both women have precious little in the area of brains in this film.

Worst of all, the film deplorably glorifies suicide. Irresponsible cinema from a guy who should know better (Ridley Scott).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: an often comedic tragedy of a film
Review: A film by Ridley Scott

One thing that I have never understood is that "Thelma and Louise" has been marked as this huge feminist movie (which happens to be directed by a man) that is taking aim at men and shows them all as pigs. I don't get it. On one hand this is a comedy (a lot of things are funny in this movie). On another hand, "Thelma and Louise" is a western that has a car instead of a horse, and two women rather than two men. It is a buddy movie, and a road movie. Most importantly, this film is a tragedy (with all that a tragedy entails). I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who has not yet seen the movie, but considering the journey that these women go on and how it concludes, I don't see how it can be viewed as this feminist male-bashing movie.

Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) need a vacation away from their men. Louise just needs some time away from Jimmy (Michael Madsen) and Thelma is in a fairly miserable marriage where she is emotionally abused by her husband Darryl (Christopher McDonald). Thelma leaves without telling Darryl, which she believes will get her in trouble when she comes back. Thelma and Louise are off to a cabin owned by Louise's boss and they are going to have some fun (and for Thelma, this is a change). On the way to the cabin they stop at a roadside bar to have a couple of drinks and dance. Thelma dances with a guy who seems to be very sweet, but when she gets drunk he helps her outside and tries to rape her. Louise comes out in time to stop the rape, but ends up shooting and killing the man. Rather than go to the police, they go on the run not thinking that the police would believe their version of what happened (many witnesses would have seen Thelma and Harlan dancing cheek to cheek).

This begins what is really the heart of the movie: the women on the run. Some have said that having the two women end up on such a crime spree (from the murder to armed robbery) is glorifying the crimes and celebrating the women, but I disagree. We have to look at why Thelma and Louise did what they did and what happens to them because of those actions. There is no celebration here. Yes, there is release and a sense of freedom for the two women, but there is also resignation. They did their best to get out of a bad situation but they were never able to get their lives back on track and while Thelma is finally having "fun", she also says late in the movie that "something snapped inside me and I can never go back". This is tragedy.

Men do not come off as poorly in this movie as some critics have said. Yes, Harlan the rapist is a horrible man, and he got his just reward. Thelma is married to a real dirt bag of a man. J.D. (Brad Pitt) is a mixed character. He is smooth and charming, but ends up being a thief. Yet, he is still a likeable and mostly sympathetic character. To move to the other end of the spectrum, Louise's boyfriend Jimmy is an entirely positive male character. So is Hal (Harvey Keitel), the FBI agent who is trying to bring Thelma and Louise in alive and as easily as possible. He is trying to protect these women as well as apprehend them, but even Hal can see things spiraling out of control.

"Thelma and Louise" is a very good movie made by a talented cast of people. Geena Davis (The Accidental Tourist) and Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) are both Oscar winners, and Ridley Scott is a three time nominee for Best Director (Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down). Callie Khouri's screenplay did win the Oscar for this movie, and both Davis and Sarandon were nominated for Best Actress in this film. There is a strong Oscar pedigree here and it shows in the movie. It is a well told story of two women who in their attempt to break free from their lives end up going too far and become fugitives. While there may be a celebratory feel to this movie, I believe that would be a misinterpretation of "Thelma and Louise". It is an often comedic tragedy and simply is an excellent movie from start to finish.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pretty good movie
Review: Not worth watching, wouldn't pay a cent for it

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thelma & Louise
Review: Thelma & Louise is a great drama about the lives of two very different women. Released in 1991 under the direction of Ridley Scott. The movie is approximately 2 hrs and 10 minutes long. The two main characters in the movie are Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Geena Davis (Thelma). The movie begins as two women are going on a mini vacation for the weekend, However it turns into a journey of self-realization of their own lives. Both of these women have been held back by men in one way or another. The catastrophes are all caused by men and these women react in a way that they couldn't have done if they had stayed in their previous relationships.
Thelma and Louise are on an adventure to get away from their lives for the weekend. In a dramatic turn of events, the girls shoot and kill a man, rob a store, practice infidelity, blow up a truck, and discover a part of themselves in the adventure. The tragedy is, while the events that happened while on this trip were justified and morally understandable, they did break the law. The women run because they are scared of being punished without any understanding of their side of the story because these women have never been right when a man was involved in a situation. Thelma & Louise stick together through the whole ordeal until the very end.
I give this movie * * * * * stars. The ideals in this movie were great. It showed determination, self-discovery, and true friendship. This movie could make you believe something like this could happen, the events in the movie do take place in everyday life. These women could have stopped and explained their actions at any time, but they didn't because they were choosing their own path and doing what felt right to them.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GOOD, ALMOST GREAT.
Review: As a man, I was really impressed with the evoulution that the two lead characters go through in this movie, however, I feel the chauvanistic husband and truck drivers turned out to be simply, badly played cartoons. Had they been better portrayed perhaps the film would have been much better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A chick flick? NOT!!!
Review: This iconic movie starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in the title roles is definitely NOT a chick flick - or if it is, then I don't understand what that term means. Thelma and Louise is nothing less than one of the great movies of the 1990s. Louise is a smart-mouthed waitress fed up with men, and Thelma is a doormat who SHOULD be fed up with men. With minimal planning or forethought, they hit the road - and, following a nasty event at a bar that results in near rape and real murder, they descend into the world of fugitives, running from the law in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Brad Pitt puts in a super-memorable performance as a lowlife drifter who takes advantage of them in the usual ways. And Harvey Keitel plays a cop with a conscience, another memorable role for a great actor.
The most thought-provoking part of the movie is watching the evolution of docile and fearful Thelma into a Strong Woman (capitals intended). The final scene as the law closes in, they lock eyes, and gun the engine, makes viewers cringe and say, "No, no, no, pleeese...," but there is no other way this movie could have concluded. As a movie about feminism and freedom and free will, there's none better.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Thelma and Louise
Review: This movie was a breath of fresh air when it came onto the scene. Truly one of the best performances Gena Davis has shown us. Sarandon delivers as always. The interaction between the two and their growth as characters is truly interesting to watch.

This is also the film in which Brad Pitt came bursting onto the scene. His performance is a scene stealer and you can see even here, the promise he holds as an actor. The chemistry between his character and Gena's is visible.

Also worth mentioning is Sarandon's squeeze, Jimmy, who truly tries to help, be a stand-up guy, do the right thing. His performance as "still waters run deep" is right on the mark. Harvey Kietel also delivers a terrific performance as the detective interested in justice, truth, and fairness.

A good flick.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Two Words....GIRL POWER!!
Review: I first had the pleasure of seeing 'Thelma And Louise' at a friends sleep-over. We put it in the VCR, thinking it would be just an ordinary movie... How wrong we were!

This film is a classic and is made even better by the on screen presence of Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. The story line is strong all the way through until the surprising finale. I had first had the video version of this movie, so no special features. Then I bought the Special Edition DVD and now I like the film even better!

There are many extras on the DVD, all of them top quality. My personal favourites include 'The Last Journey', a documentary about the making of the film, and the audio commentary from Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, and the writer Callie Khouri.

'Thelma And Louise' will always be popular as long as there are women on this earth. And as long as 'Thelma And Louise' is on the earth, women will be happy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Sarandon Classic
Review: By far, her best film. Well written, tense and well photographed, Thelma & Louise is always near the top of my favorite films. The story might be a bit unbelievable, but you get past that quickly as we watch two middle class housewives set out on a weekend vacation that soon becomes a nightmare. Solid performances all around and an engrossing music score by Hans Zimmer give this one maximum 'stars'.


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