Thelma & Louise (1991)

 Thelma & Louise (1991)

Thelma & Louise takes the road trip genre to a whole new level. Rather than follow the simple formula, Ridley Scott took the story and gave it an empowering, feminist angle that shows what women go through on a daily basis. For a film released in 1991, it is way ahead of its time. There are familiar beats (we meet the usual road trip types such as state troopers and Adrian Biddle’s strong visual interpretation of the West), but Scott never allows the story to grow stale. We are taken on a journey that not only empowers, but also makes you laugh with some comedic dialogue gems and will also break your heart. The ending is now iconic in film history. For me, the ending was unexpected. As the Thunderbird was hurling itself to the cliff as Hans Zimmer’s score swelled, a pit grew in my stomach. I grew to care about the two ladies that are the heart of the film. They are put into impossible (and downright criminal) situations, but the audience has no choice but to feel empathy for them. I understood what they went through and why they took this road trip in the first place. Some people complain that the film is a hit piece against men and then it makes all men look bad. I have a different view. Often, women are treated no better than housewives and are hardly given their own identities. This movie is about women finding themselves and can live their lives however they want. It is about taking control away from men. I say this as a man myself and a supporter of women rights. This film remains one of the strongest films that champions women.

 

Ridley Scott was coming off a bit of a dry period with mediocre-to-solid movies like Black Rain and Legend. His last truly great movie was 1982’s Blade Runner. Nine years later, he can add another one to the “great” films that will be remembered. His production company was involved with the film early on, but he felt reluctant to direct even though he loved the script. The script was written by Callie Khouri that was inspired by her own experience and friendship with country singer Pam Tillis. She meant to have the film shot as a small, independent film but the involvement of Scott proved otherwise. Her script is incredible (as it did win an Academy Award for original screenplay) because she has a gift with dialogue. My favorite line is when Louise claims, “in the future, when a woman’s crying like that, she isn’t having any fun!” This line was meant to be hilarious (as it was) but also a stinging truth (also which it was). The screenplay was a match in heaven for Mr. Scott who directed it with love and compassion. The visuals are very strong, which should not be surprising for a road trip movie. The Western United States is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The film was shot on location in Moab, Utah which is close to some of my favorite places seen in the film such as Monument Valley and Arches National Park.

 

Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon) are best friends from Arkansas. Thelma fits your typical description of the housewife whose sole purpose is to make sure that her rug salesman husband, Darryl (Christopher McDonald) is happy. Yet, he terrifies her. Louise works as a diner waitress who is fed up with her love life as her musician boyfriend, Jimmy (Michael Madsen) is always on the road. The two women decide to take a fishing trip for the weekend. As they try to have some fun, things go very bad when a man tries to rape Thelma and Louise murders the man in the process, putting the two women on the run as they head west. They encounter many different people on the road including young drifter J.D. (Brad Pitt) who is able to satisfy Thelma’s sexual desires. Still, they seemingly have no choice but to enter a life of crime. Hal (Harvey Keitel) is a detective empathetic to the women’s plight. With everyone after them, including Thelma’s crazy husband, what will happen?

 

The performances throughout are incredible. Without a doubt, this has to be the best performance both Davis and Sarandon have done. They were able to feed off each other’s energy which is important in a high-octane road trip movie where many things go wrong. Both women were able to deliver the powerful dialogue. Their characters are highly developed. When the end of the movie came, you feel for these women after getting to know them very well. They just wanted to be treated like a normal human being. They are surrounded by an incredible supporting cast. Brad Pitt is a major find. His role is not large, but he stole each scene. Christopher McDonald is also a great find playing a role of a crazy husband searching for blood. They were great, but its important to know that this is the Davis and Sarandon show.

 

Thelma & Louise joins Alien and Blade Runner as one of the great films in Ridley Scott’s filmography. I had no qualms…maybe some minor ones. The pacing can be slow at times but that is only a minor issue. Scott’s film is one of the strongest, message-driven films about women and their livelihood. Many films that tackle these important issues are not as impactful. Davis and Sarandon gave us strong, female characters. To all the haters, try and understand that this is not 1950 anymore. Scott’s movie is way ahead of its time and set forth the notion that female characters don’t have to be a Ripley-type persona to be considered strong. That idea in itself broke conventions. If you were to subtract the feminist messages, the movie works very well as a road trip and a buddy movie.

 

My Grade: A-