Thelma And Louise Reviews

What colour are my eyes?

It seems odd to me that, given my fondness for Ridley Scott films, I'd never seen Thelma & Louise. Unfortunately, I already knew the ending, thanks to it - like the 'girl' in The Crying Game - becoming a cultural reference point for the 1990s. That reminds me; I've not seen The Crying Game either. Should I bother, since I know its big secret?

Well, it looks like I wasn't missing much. It's an entertaining enough adventure, I suppose, but it's entirely unnecessary. They didn't have to run away after Louise's killing of the would-be rapist; Thelma's bruises would have borne witness to what happened when giving testimony. 'They'll think I was asking for it,' is a pretty weak excuse to run away. Thelma's later actions didn't have to take place either; it was still possible to go back. Unhappy relationships aside, there was nothing which really explained why the two women went off the rails. Louise's past in Texas was alluded to, but that was still insufficient reason. Hailed as a paean to women's power and emancipation it's anything but. Look at how it ends, dammit! Yup, ladies, you kin have yore freedom, but this is the price you'll pay.

All told, the movie felt contrived. Okay, so all movies are, by their very nature, contrived, but at least some of them make an attempt at a natural, plausible progression to the story. Perhaps I'd have been more sympathetic to it if I didn't already know how it was going to end. Maybe if I'd seen the film ten years ago, before the renaissance of the Bad Girl clich? hadn't taken place, it wouldn't have seemed quite as hackneyed.

Still, it was an enjoyable enough ride and, plot holes aside, pretty slickly put together. The cinematography was gorgeous, particularly when the story moved out west, towards the Grand Canyon. It certainly beats that execrable Biker Boyz. Anyone want to hand me the keys to a 1966 Thunderbird?

go get em'

Thelma is too young to be stuck where she is. Louise is a motherly figure to her. When they take a trip together they find themselves embroiled in a nasty view of a man's world. They try to flee - thinking their friendship will be enough to get them through.

There are some great scenes in this film and although I wouldn't call it a feminist movie I know very few men who actually enjoy this. Perhaps it's the scene with Brad Pitt.

Watch it if you've had a bad week, you'll find all your worries will wash away.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Women's Weekend went Wrong

I watched “Thelma and Louise” at the cinema in the early 1990s and remembered it as being a very different kind of road movie. Not having seen it since then I thought that this would be another suitable title to hire. I thought so much of the use of Country & Western music at the time that I bought the soundtrack, but never got a copy of the film. I suppose that all those Peugeot adverts on the TV reminded me of it anyway.

Actually it was watching a rerun of the French & Saunders spoof remake on Dartmoor that triggered me to add it to the Tesco wish list and I do not regret that decision.

Classed as offbeat and feminist at the time, I thought that it was well made, enjoyable and well worth the Oscar nominations that it received, although only the screenwriter Callie Khouri received an actual Award.

With this film Ridley Scott lifted the benchmark for Police Chases in the same way that “Alien” and “Blade Runner” improved the status of the Science Fiction Genre. The girls’ story was believable and both Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis acted their socks off with their performances as two happy country girls descending the path into hell.

I had forgotten how well Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen and the young Brad Pitt (in only his fourth film) had supported the plot together with the cuckolded, cheating and controlling husband of Thelma, played by Christopher McDonald.

If you do not know the story then I am not going to spoil it for you, but even if you do it is worth watching all those little cameos again as the two unfortunate ladies spend their weekend break creating a trail of mayhem and destruction.

If you want the condensed Readers Digest version of this iconic chick flick of the naughty nineties then I can recommend the French & Saunders production.

Well worth the money, you all!

Road and Movie?

Although I feel as a woman I should be biased to love this movie there are some aspects that stop me from ranting and raving. I will not deny that the cinematography is excellent but do the main chracters deserve the feeling deserved from the audience? This question can only be answered by those that can say if they like Susan Sarandon and Geena Davies. Worth a watch, especially if you do not know the ending!

I can finally see why the world loved this girl power fest of a film extremely enjoyable.

Despite what people tell you, you don't have to be woman to enjoy Thelma and Louise. It is a story of extreme feminism, but that doesn't matter because by the end, you pretty much hate men too - except Harvey keitel and to an extent Michael Madsen. It's a fun film, with Brad Pitt as the overly-charming, cowboy hat wearing, southern hitch-hiker J.D. And before you get confused Gina Davis is Thelma.

Sit back and get ready for the ride of your week

This is a fantastic film you will want to watch over and over again. An explosive combination of themes: definite lesbian undertones, an abusive husband, an attempted rape, the futility of the american gun culture, fantastic scenery and overall wonderful acting. Go for it!

The best film in the world ever!

This is my favourite film in the whole wide world and no one is going to convince me otherwise. It is funny, exciting, beautiful and brilliant.

[Highly rated reviewer]

five stars ++

This film contains two of Americas finest actresses.Susan Sarandon and Gina Davies give amazing performances as the runaway friends.Its about real friendship and you realy come to care about the characters.Brad Pitt shows he is a star in the making in his role.This film appeals to both male and females and for me it cannot be faulted.Excellently directed,well acted,thought provoking brilliance.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Essential viewing...

I find it almost impossible to imagine the landscape of American cinema without the Nevada promontory which we see at the beginning of this film. I watched it so many times as a student that I feared I might find it rather tiresome this time around. Not so. What I think I missed in my (no doubt cringe-worthy) analysis of the film's imagery all those years ago is the strength of the script. This is a film that was dynamite on paper. Add to that an A-List cast and a director at the height of his powers and it's no surprise 'Thelma and Lousie' picked up a few gongs. I was actually expecting to find a strand of unchecked machismo lurking somewhere in this film, given Scott's recent penchant for overblown and reactionary narratives. I wasn't disappointed. The machismo is there - and it provides the perfect counterpoint to Thelma and Louise's plight. Essential viewing.