Review of Norma Rae (1979) by Cheryl C — 23 Apr 2009
The movie's grace and humor really picks up about an hour in, beginning with a scene when Norma Rae confronts her preacher. It's followed by a roomfull of her co-workers testifying to their working conditions, and a sweet scene showing Norma's common sense parenting style. The rest of the movie leaves you wondering how much time this mother of two really dedicates to her children, and when she is around, her judgement could be questioned (especially when she looks her 5-year-old illegitimate son in the face and confesses, "I've made mistakes." That'll ruin a kid for life!).
Sally Field "is" Norma Rae, and it's easy to see why she won the Oscar. But the most powerful character in the movie is a recently widowed millworker who begins as a skeptic, but who's reaction to the union's success is unforgettable. She may only have three lines in the whole film, but is electric every time she's on screen.
Overall, a very ordinary movie lacking a cast of rich characters.
This review of Norma Rae (1979) was written by Cheryl C on 23 Apr 2009.
Norma Rae has generally received positive reviews.
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