Review of Ordinary People (1980) by Harry W — 18 Feb 2013

Ordinary People doesn't pack the same emotional punch that it did back in 1980 because many films have mirrored the themes since then, and actors such as Judd Hirsch and Mary Tyler Moore are relatively unknown to today's generation so their branches-out performances don't seem as surprising to audiences, but since it's an exploration of emotional frailty amongst a "normal" family and is constantly realistic, it succeeds as an emotional venture into the psych of various family members.

Robert Redford's directional debut is beautifully made with great film editing, proper cinematography and am unforgettable musical score. The story begins with shots of an ordinary neighbourhood while an emotionally rich song plays over the background, and from there we know that its going to be a simple and sad story. His direction elevates this story above mere melodrama and makes it artistic. He did an excellent job as a first-time director with a budget of only $6 Million, and he provided a front for actors to launch their careers or branch them out which is one of the best things a film can do for it's stars. His creation managed to give new meaning to the term "Ordinary People".

Donald Sutherland takes the lead as the supportively unstable father of the Jarrett family and really plays the part convincingly, never overdoing anything or trying to be anything more than a caring father. His chemistry with various characters is what holds them together as a convincing family.

Timothy Hutton however, is the man who steals the screen. In his film debut, he displays the ability to act as if he has been working in films for years, but in actuality it's all new to him. He brings tremendous strength to the role of a psychologically damaged teenager attempting to cope with several issues as if he is really still a boy that has gone through all of this and is being forced to relive it in Ordinary People. His performance displays raw talent that's difficult to find in film youth, and the fact that his career has been low profile since then is a terrible injustice, because I also loved his work on Taps.

I've never seen The Dick Van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore show do my understanding of Mary Typer Moore is nothing, but her performance here as an emotionally fragile mother is a depiction of one that we all feel as if we have at one point in life. The facade Beth Jarrett puts up for her family is a difficult thing to deal with for her family, and it just brings a whole new level of drama to Ordinary People. Her performance was great.

Lastly, straight out of Taxi is the talented Judd Hirsch in an unexpected dramatic turn which is the kind of performance that can only be described as redefining. For once, a film features a psychiatrist in a more positive light as a friendly person, not just one trying to crack open someone's head for $200 an hour. Hirsch supplies great strength to his role as Dr. Tyrone C. Berger and is really the only consistently friendly character throughout the film which makes the tone a little lighter.

Ordinary People is a difficult film to watch if you're emotionally weak, especially because of the emotional trauma of the characters and the ending, and since there's a constant sense of realism it may be found to hit a little close to home for some people, but it appeals to others for these same reasons, so Ordinary People is a very emotional venture that I wish I had seen when I was young so that I could learn more from it than watching it today.