Allan Watched "Ordinary People"
This is an entry from the Allan Watches Movies: Best Picture Project, where Allan will rewatch nominated movies from each year and choose who actually should have won. Ordinary People (1980) received six Academy Awards nominations, including winning Best Picture.
Brutally sad and brilliantly acted, Ordinary People is without question one of the best movies of the 1980’s, and one of the saddest movies of all time.
Gut Feeling Review
There has not been a single movie ever made that makes me cry more than Ordinary People. Sure, there are plenty of tears waiting for me when I get to 1983 and rewatch Terms of Endearment, but there is something about the regularness the surrounds the central family in Ordinary People that makes it hit so directly in your heart. Robert Redford’s directorial debut is so simple in its storytelling of a family dealing with an unspeakable tragedy, and all of the breakdowns that happen in an otherwise normal family because of it, that the impression it leaves is so real.
This film is remarkable for countless reasons, but the fact that so many firsts are baked into the final product make it even more of an accomplishment. For Redford, his first time behind the camera leads to winning Best Picture and Best Director. Mary Tyler Moore, who by 1980 was a comedic superstar, takes her first swing at a drama and delivers a heartbreakingly cold performance as a mother unable to come to terms with how her life and family will never be the same. Timothy Hutton is tremendous as Conrad, the surviving son gripping to what’s left of his humanity after watching his brother die, leading to a Best Supporting Actor win in his movie debut.
Equally wonderful is Elizabeth McGovern (Ragtime, Once Upon a Time in American) in her own film debut, playing Conrad’s girlfriend, a role that kick-started her great career. Also great in a change-of-pace role is Judd Hirsch, at the height of his Taxi fame, stepping into the dramatic arena with a home run as the psychiatrist trying to break through to Conrad that his life is worth living. The genuine results from such an unlikely combination of players adds to the greatness of this film.
The least surprising results of this film come from the great Donald Sutherland, who is full of heart and love as the patriarch of this untethered family who has come to terms with the tragedy, yet has no answers when it comes to piecing things back together. His warmth and intensity, particularly in the final stages of this film, lead to the most powerful moments of this tragic film. Sutherland not being nominated for an Academy Award is easily one of the most mind-boggling snubs in the history of any awards show.
Random Thoughts
Full disclosure, I watched, wrote about, and scored this film about a month ago, and decided against rewatching it because I don’t think I’m in the mood for such a heart-wrenching film considering out current state of affairs.
This film won four Oscars in total: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay for the script written by the great Alvin Sargent, who recently passed away. Sargent was part of many great movies, but you may know his most recent work the best: he wrote the Sam Rami Spider-Man trilogy.
I wonder how many people saw that Ordinary People starred Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch, and without knowing what it was about, went to see it thinking it had to be a great comedy movie.
The final scenes between Conrad and his father make me tear up just thinking about it, even a month after my most recent viewing.
It is always special to watch great comedians, particularly the true geniuses, take the mastery they have for getting laughs, and applying it to drama. It does not always go well, but Moore’s performance is perhaps one of the greatest examples of a comedic God turning in a world class dramatic execution of a role. She was already a legend, but this film solidified her as an all-around star.
Moore did win the Golden Globe for Best Actress, and whether her or Sissy Spacek should have won the Oscar would be a fun debate.
Redford would go on to direct eight more feature films, including some gems like Quiz Show, but Ordinary People is easily his greatest achievement as a director and producer.
You can blame this film for every time you’ve ever heard Pachelbel's Canon since 1980.
Quick Hits
How many times have I seen this movie?
Four or five times. Still cry every time.
Where was I watching it?
This time I was on my couch, with no other distractions. Just me, a glass of scotch, and my ranging emotions.
Favorite trivia about the movie
The psychiatric community praised the film and Hirsch’s performance because of the positive and accurate depiction of a psychiatrist. And to be fair, psychology is a lot more accepted and praised now than it was in the 80s. Today it does not seem so jarring, but 40 years ago, it was a fresh perspective.
Favorite part
The “do you love me scene” between Sutherland and Moore is so powerful and good. Along with a million other scenes.
Least favorite part
This may be unfair, but I tend to hate Adam Baldwin, and this holds true in Ordinary People. There’s just something about his face, and he always comes off very campy.
Would I recommend this movie?
You should definitely watch this movie, but maybe wait for the pandemic to end. Because, you know, the sadness.
So What Does Allan Give It?
Two Gold Thumbs Up! Overall, a score of 96. Tightly written with world class performances, Ordinary People has very few flaws.
