1980--Ordinary People, Robert Redford

 

1980--Ordinary People, Robert Redford

Nominated: Cole Miner's Daughter, The Elephant Man, Raging Bull, Tess

Should have won: The Empire Strikes Back

Be sure to see: Airplane!, the Blues Brothers, Cannibal Holocaust, Dressed to Kill, Friday the 13^th, Motel Hell, The Shining

“What do people have in common with their mothers anyway? It's all surface junk.”--Conrad Jarrett

     Things are tough on Conrad Jarrett. He's just out of a four month stint in the mental ward for attempting suicide. His brother had drown months earlier and he blames himself for not saving him. He is a member of his high school swim team but wants to quit. And his coach (the always great M. Emmitt Walsh in the second swim coach role I've seen him in) and team mates don't seem to care about his reasons why. Things at home are tough, too. He lives in a nice house with a caring father but it is obvious his mother doesn't love him as much as she loved her deceased son. The relationship between Conrad and his mother, Beth, is a struggle. He tries to reach out to her but she wants no part.

     Conrad begins seeing a psychiatrist and though there are not too many of the scenes with him, they are a strong part of the film. The doctor is played by Judd Hirsch in an Oscar nominated role. He lost the award that year for supporting actor to his costar Timothy Hutton who played Conrad. Hutton is another classic example of the obvious lead character being nominated for a supporting role (see Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, Ethan Hawke in Training Day and Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained).  Seeing Conrad and Beth's so-called relationship is difficult on his father, Calvin. Though it is no secret that his wife preferred Conrad's brother, Calvin reveals his feelings about Conrad in a moving speech to wrap up the film.

    Conrad and Dr. Berger's sessions reminded me a of the shrink scenes in Good Will Hunting. The difference is Conrad is open from the beginning. Berger obviously cares about Conrad, even meeting at the office late when a tragedy strikes.

     Ordinary People has taken a lot of flack over the years for snatching the Oscar away from Raging Bull. I am in the odd stance of feeling Raging Bull was not worthy because it was rather boring. It was very stylish but too long and not much going on. Perhaps I need to re-watch it. However, Ordinary People is completely worthy of winning best picture simply from the story, acting, and dialogue. I wasn't particularly taken aback by any technical aspects like editing or cinematography, and perhaps Robert Redford's directing win over Martin Scorsese was unearned as well. But all I ever ask of a family drama is to feel emotional when it intends its audience to and to feel for its characters. I did from beginning to end. It is very good.