835. Thelma & Louise (1991)

Running Time: 129 minutes
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Written By: Callie Khouri
Main Cast: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald
Click here to view the trailer

Note: Here's the deal guys: I am not a movie critic! I say this because 1) it's true and 2) because I think some people out there think that I'm here, on this blog, trying to be the second coming of Roger Ebert and that couldn't be further from the truth. The reason I say this is because I've recently gotten a couple of bitchy comments submitted, from people (or actually I think it's one person) who seems to be really taking my opinions or comprehensions of movies to heart. First of all, if you're such a destructive personality that you take the time to not only read something that you dislike, but then turn around and take the time to make a nasty comment about it, I pity you. Realize people that OPINIONS are not facts and that just because I don't like your favorite movie doesn't mean the world is going to end, I promise. I say I'm not movie critic because this was never meant to be anything professional. This blog was only ever meant to be a diary, for me personally, to track the movies that I watched so that maybe I could remember them a little better years from now and why I thought what I did. I think it's awesome that a few of you have taken that personal diary and made it mean a little more, by reading what I've written, by leaving comments and by, maybe, taking my suggestions. I like movies. I grew up in a world filled with video stores where you could go and you could look at a wall with hundreds of choices and pick the ones that appealed to you. I've worked in three video stores and I'm proud of my taste in film. SO...before I get too winded here: to the persons (or person) who saw fit to come and leave comments that I didn't even care to finish, I say this: Relax. Next time you want to leave a comment that doesn't add positive discussion to the blog and only serves the purpose of making you look like a jerk, don't. Because 1) They will not be published and 2) You won't change my opinion or my comprehension (or lack thereof) of a film. Of course, maybe I should be flattered. I mean, if you're going to get THAT upset over something I wrote, then maybe you really do value my opinion. Is there a "thank you" that I'm forgetting to dish out? Seriously people, it would be different if I was posting this stuff on IMDB or some other open forum, but you're coming to my little corner, my little home base on the internet and your asshole attitude won't be tolerated, nor will it impact what I write. Now then....

GUYS HAVE TERMINATOR, GIRLS HAVE THELMA & LOUISE

So my wife has been hounding me for LITERALLY years about when I was going to watch "Thelma & Louise". Every time she'd mention, I'd tell her we'd get and then it would slip my mind and it wouldn't come up again for a while. Well, last night I finally got around to sitting down with her and giving this one a go - and not for the first time.

I have a hard time believing you guys & girls haven't seen or at least heard of "Thelma & Louise", but I'm a stickler for a little plot detailing before I get into the opinion sections, so lets go over the meat & potatoes of T&L. First you'll need to know Susan Sarandon is Louise and Geena Davis is Thelma. The two are best girlfriends and the film kicks off on a Friday, when Louise plans to take Thelma for a weekend away in the mountains - an all girl, weekend getaway. Louise plans for Thelma to run the news by her overbearing, controlling husband, Darryl (McDonald), but knowing he'll forbid it, she decides to skip the permission talk and just jet with luggage in tow. On the road, the girls stop by a small town bar for a drink and a bathroom break and get henpecked by Harlan, a local yokel, redneck who wants to dance with Thelma. However, Harlan's fun doesn't end on the dance floor, as he sees Thelma to her car and tries to get a little frisky. When Thelma cuts him off at the pass, Harlan gets a little cross and a would be rape is cut short by a gun toting Louise. The girls get away, but when Harlan makes one last snide comment, Louise flies off the handle and blows him away, killing him. Now the two gals are on the run, with next to no cash and a lot of land between them and Mexico - which is where they plan to hideout.

Oh I suppose that should just about do it for plot synopsis. My wife had actually seen "Thelma & Louise" multiple times prior to last night's viewing and only wanted to watch it because she liked it so much. After her latest showing last night, she's actually lowered her opinion of the movie, citing it as "too long" and a "bit too boring". I can't say I disagree with her, as T&L could've benefited greatly had they somehow been able to shave off about thirty minutes or else beefed up the plot a little bit, to justify a running time of over two hours. At times, I got the feeling that we were just killing time until we got to the next hurdle and all the stuff with Brad Pitt (as good as he was) and the stuff with the obscene truck driver, just seemed tacked on to give the film a few more "hoot & holler" moments. On a more serious note though, what the hell happened to Geena Davis? She was decent here - I mean she was no Susan Sarandon, but she turned in a fine performance - and she was certainly attractive enough. It seems like she may have taken a wrong turn somewhere and fell off the face of the Earth. I suppose I could go to Wikipedia or IMDB and just look it up, but I find it more fun to ask it here and have (probably) no one answer me.

Anyway, the film isn't all bad, that's for sure. The cast choices, for the most part, aren't bad, as you've got Susan Sarandon becoming a hero to women everywhere and Christopher McDonald tearing it up in a supporting role. I'd say that Harvey Keitel may be the oddest cast choice, as he seemed to more resemble a fish out of water, as opposed to a "Thelma & Louise" cast member. He was just sort of there and perhaps just as confused as the audience as to why he was onset. I mean, I realize he was the cop and his role was important, but...I don't know, he just seemed miscast. Likewise for Michael Madsen. If you're watching this for the first or even the second time, it may hold up just fine and provide you with a perfectly enjoyable night at the movies. But beware, it doesn't hold up against multiple viewings and after about ninety minutes or so, you may be the one wanting to drive over the Grand Canyon.

RATING: 5.5/10  That's about as good as it gets for T&L. I really expected this one to hold up too and be a contender for the next TOP 20. Oh well...

MOVIES WATCHED: 763
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 238

November 17, 2013  10:31pm