Thelma & Louise --- a uniquely poignant buddy road movie

© MGM


Title: Thelma and Louise (A-)
Release Year: 1991
Actors: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Brad Pitt
Director: Ridley Scott
Story and Screenplay: Callie Khouri
Editor / Music: Thom Noble / Hans Zimmer
Design / Photography: Norris Spencer / Adrian Biddle
Producer: Ridley Scott and Mimi Polk
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer

“I’m not sorry that son of a bitch is dead, I’m just sorry that it’s you who did it not me.”

Whew! What did I do??? Wahehe.. Such strong words ei? Believe me there’s to this movie than fierce words and female angst. It’s a story of friendship, love, but most of all self-emancipation.
It revolves around two friends. Thelma (Davis) , the naïve one, married to a bigot husband who treats her as a housemaid more than a housewife. And Louise (Sarandon), a highflier waitress with a dark Texas past. The latter decides to embark on a journey one weekend and convinced the former to come with her. Fed up with her husband and hungry for the world she rarely knew, Thelma decided to come with her. A bar incident forced the two to change their small trip to a hurried departure. As they drive their way to Texas, they meet a handsome young lad named D.J (Pitt), who caused Thelma some fun but ignited more trouble. The two women from Arkansas now became the modern Jessie and James of the Southwest.


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The beginning of the movie was a little peculiar for my taste. The acting, the direction, everything was unrefined and odd for my vision and feel. But as the movie went along, my senses went along with the ride. I prepared myself for the feminist outlook of it but I wasn’t ready for the whole 90’s flava of this flick. Man, those clothes! I see these characters look at the mirror, try to be pretty and all, when all they primarily need is a good set of new clothes. I mean c’mon, what were they thinking???

Seriously now, I love this movie. Despite being released more than a decade ago, the blow is still there. The beginning of the movie kinda felt a bit dull and ordinary, but as the movie progress you understand as to why it was done that way. Scott makes an incredibly emotionally affixing environment together with Adrian Biddle and his photography. Despite the good editing and brilliant capturing of the striking splendor of the West, the music sucks. Picking up form what Simon said, “There are good and bad country songs”, the ones featured in this movie were the cream of the CRAP.



© MGM

The story of this movie may bear a lot of resemblance to the buddy film genre but the approach Callie Khouri used in the movie made it look like its never been done before. A lesson to be learn by many writers, if you’re gonna write about something that’s already been dealt with, make sure you make it look like it’s never been done before. Now how do you that? By re-examining the faults, re-establishing advances and adding edge that the viewers will not expect. And I certainly did not expect that ending. I heard about it, but as I watched it, I was still convincing myself that maybe I heard wrong, but when they finally did it, man, I cried! It was the strongest moment of the movie and one of the best endings I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

Brilliant may not be enough of a word to describe the performances of both Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. This is certainly the pinnacle of their careers. Susan carried the character oh so well, especially during the brief transformation from being subtle to fierce on the parking lot scene. Geena Davis handles her character so well, her consistency with the way she conduct the progress of her character from tamed to unfettered. They both do exceptional jobs that asking who did better is like asking how one can put the whole sea in a drinking glass. Too bad they were up against Jodie Foster, probably if not both of them were nominated as Best Actress in the 1992 Oscars and one’s just a supporting role, they’ll both win. If I were given the chance to vote that Oscar year, I’d rather save myself from the burden of choosing between the two and give it to a performance just as great, in that case, Foster’s.


© MGM

Harvey Keitel gave a strong support and yup, that’s him, Brad in his breakthrough role as J.D. The role was so perfect for him. And man, the abs was there to make an impression. Michael Madsen looks really great in this movie. I never thought he's that goodlooking when he was abit younger. A good performance as well.

A brilliant script, a brilliant director and beyond brilliant acting. What more can one ask for except better music??? The ending alone makes this movie an absolute must-see. It’s a great part of the progress of filmmaking and dude, this is history here. If this movie fails to touch you, it is not the movie's fault. You’re simply incapable of feeling anything besides your loins. (why am I a feminist all of a sudden???)

Grading Sheet:
Story – 16%
Screenplay – 19%
Direction / Execution – 17%
Acting – 20%
Technical Aspect – 15%
Total: 87% = A-