Review of Thelma & Louise (1991) by James S — 09 Feb 2009

The iconic female road movie, that is Thelma and Louise.

Ridley Scott's visually stunning film is still a joy to behold, thanks in no small part to the fantastic performances of it's two leads, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. Both may have disappeared into relative TV obscurity now, but here we are reminded of what genuine talents they both were.The film is really the self journey that both these women find themselves upon. Davis' Thelma is finally cut free of her tyrannical husband and allowed to unleash her animal instincts with ferocious results while Sarandon's Louise is racked by the demons of her past which won't allow her to move on with her life. Both the women are greatly likeable and the transformation in both is played perfectly.

The on the run story is almost secondary and the film doesn't devote nearly enough time to Harvey Kietel's police investigator and it never really becomes clear as to why he sympathises with the women so much.

The stumbling block aside though, Thelma and Louise is nigh on a triumph. The locations, through America, look fantastic and the climax is certainly a genuine contender for the most unforgettable cinematic conclusion ever.