Review of Ordinary People (1980) by Jun C — 15 Dec 2009

"Things happen in this world. People don't always have the answers for them, you know.".

"Ordinary People" is a film about the everyday struggles and emotions that we are forced to deal with. It's about love, grief, and pain. It's a depressing, gut-wrenching movie, but a moving one as well.

It's Christmas time, but everything is far from jolly in the Jarrett family. Ever since their eldest son Buck died in a boating accident, nothing's ever really been the same. Now an only child, Conrad blames himself. Overwhelmed with guilt, he tries to kill himself. He is checked into a hospital, undergoing further psychiatric treatment after his release. Despite this, he still blames himself for what happened, unable to accept the reality that what happened was not his fault. It just happened.

Beth, the mother, is no longer able to show love to her youngest son. It was easy for her to show love to Buck, but now her bitterness has robbed from her her ability to love. She can't hug her son without flinching and feeling awkward. She can't even take a picture with him. All Conrad wants is to know that she doesn't hate him, but she can't even do that.

Her husband Calvin is caught in the middle, trying desperately to keep the family together. At the start of the film, he's very optimistic about bringing his family back together. However, as the story progresses we find out that he is just as troubled as the rest of his family. In one of the many moving scenes in the film, he confesses to Beth that he doesn't know if he loves her anymore.

"Ordinary People" was Robert Redford's Oscar-winning directing debut, and it is just as possible today as it was 20 years ago. This is some of the finest acting ever committed to film. Donald Sutherland was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his role as Calvin, with the award going to Robert DeNiro for Raging Bull. In an interesting but thoroughly effective casting choice, Mary Tyler Moore is flawless as Beth. Then-newcomer Timothy Hutton, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Conrad, slowly earns our affection without overdoing it.

"Feelings are scary," Conrad's psychiatrist tells him. And sometimes they're painful. And if you can't feel pain then you're not gonna feel anything else, either.".

"Ordinary People" makes us confront our feelings, ones that have been buried deep inside. At times, they may be painful, but if one can take the path of Calvin and Conrad rather than Beth, then this movie will truly be rewarding.