Ordinary People (1980)

Star Rating- 3
Length of Film- 124 minutes
Director- Robert Redford
Cast- Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Wash, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, Fredric Lehne, James Sikking, Basil Hoffman, Scott Doebler, Quinn K. Redeker, Mariclare Costello, Meg Mundy, & Elizabeth Hubbard
Oscars- Ronald L. Schwary (best picture), Robert Redford (director), Alvin Sargent (screenplay), Timothy Hutton (actor in a support role)
Oscar Nominations- Mary Tyler Moore (actress), Judd Hirsch (actor in support role)



4 Oscar wins for this movie? Yeah...I was intrigued. Especially since Timothy Hutton (age 20) still holds the crown for youngest winner for actor in a supporting role, and it was Robert Redford's directorial debut. This movie is drama. It has its slow parts, and it has very powerful scenes. I am very glad that Timothy Hutton won the Oscar, because the scene where he has a break through, is powerful. 

Conrad Jarrett is a high school student has just come back from being in the hospital for 4 months. You see, Jarrett and his older brother Buck were on a boat and they hit a huge storm and Buck died. Seeing his brother die, and not getting support at home he tried slitting his wrists. His father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland) cares for his son, and encourages Conrad to go see a psychologist, no matter how much it cost. The mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) doesn't give a rat's ass about Conrad; Buck was her favorite. The movie focuses on Conrad's journey to come to terms with what happened with his brother, and gaining strength.

We also see Calvin's character grow by realizing what kind of woman he married. In the beginning of the movie, Calvin and Beth go to a play, leaving Conrad at home. Over Christmas, Calvin and Beth went on vacation to Texas, and leave Conrad alone with Beth's mother. She also dragged Calvin to a party, which he would of preferred to go to the movies. She controlled him in every aspect. She even told him what to wear to their son's funeral (which became a fight later on.) A very selfish and uptight woman who only cares for herself.

One morning at breakfast, Beth made french toast, which is Conrad's favorite. Conrad says he's not hungry and Beth became irritated, grabbed the plate and carries it to the sink, where she stuffs it down the garbage disposal. The grinding roar of the disposal is a "symbolic embodiment of her anger and agitation." -Louis Gianetti "Understanding Movies"

Lets diagnose the photos below. We'll start with Beth and Conrad:

See the distance between the mother and son? You could fit a whole person in between them. Mothers should show tenderness, love, and comfort. Here's there tension and hositility. You can even tell in the picture how tense she is.

Conrad and Calvin:

Father and son have a closer relationship, because of their proximity. Conrad came and sat close to his father, the complete opposite of how he felt with his mother.


I wouldn't necessarily say this movie is worthy of being apart of the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" list, but I can see why it made the list; winning 4 Oscars is amazing, but this is not the kind of movie that you'd want to watch over and over again. I would compare it to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it's a great movie, but not a movie I'd ever want to see again, nothing memorable happened other than Conrad's breakthrough, and analyzing the characters relationship with one another. Again, this is my opinion, watch the movie and make your own.

P.S. Ordinary People was movie #270 that I've watched, so I am 27% done with the book. Woot, woot!