Hayden Kane
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Juana
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Logan
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
cinemajesty
Film Review: "Ordinary People" (1980)Based on a best-selling novel by Judith Guest, firstly published in 1976, then optioned by producer Ronald L. Schwary with an exclusive "Paramount Pictures" distribution deal, when actor turns to Academy-Award-winning directions by Robert Redford, with an immensely eye for character close-up and details in beat acting, sends his cast into a storm of emotions, where the center-theme between a relentless mother character, icely-cold as bare-to-the-bone, cleanly-sweeped portrayal by actress Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017), who will not forgive her younger on-screen son Conrad, featuring heart-breaking Acdemy-Awarded constant-beating scene work from 18-year-old actor Timothy Hutton, whose character mentally suffers "The Impeccable" due to an inter-familiar-conviction for an accidently-committed death of the mother's first-born favorited son in a yachting boat trip, skillfully intercut within psychiatrist-chamber session alongside Academy-Award-nominated Judd Hirsch, when the only stability to a fulminate simplistic story-line on a mother preparing to leave the past and family life behind in this "Best Picture" Academy-Award winner, ruling-out visionary late black-and-white cinematic masterworks as medical-drama "The Elephant Man" directed by David Lynch and "Raging Bull" directed by Martin Scorsese, when Robert Redford's brutally-honest picture gets conceived to all-around conventional establishments agreed on March 31st 1981 at the Oscars in its 53rd Edition."Ordinary People" is a tense drama on the human condition, when the only likable character comes along with solidly-life-excepting manner playing supreme actor Donald Sutherland, whose portrayal of a loving father standing by family members in crisis, no-matter-what, does not need any public recognition to an extent that some family conditions are bound, if not to say, must break to be one's solely-full-comitted self in a forever scared lively environment, which is not mend to heal but simply to be comprehended by the person next to you.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend
(Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)
dougdoepke
Though nothing much happens for 2-hours, I was still engaged with the crumbling family unit the whole way. Paradoxically, when it was over, I wasn't sure what it was all about. Quite a triumph for the crew to convert such outwardly tame material into a compelling result. Not once, I think, does the drama descend into soap opera, a temptation given the material. Still, I do think some tighter editing wouldn't have harmed the overall result.Looks to me like the film's about Mom (Moore) and Dad (Sutherland) living in their own little pretend worlds. Dad's enjoying his upper class life, protecting it by believing everything's alright at home regardless of reality. Mom's more complex. Looks like she stifles her feelings by putting on a deadpan mask. Clearly though, she favored older son Buck. So, once tragedy strikes and older boy Buck drowns, younger brother Conrad gets no help from them when he blames himself for Buck's death. In short, parenting flaws that had not been critical before Conrad's trauma, suddenly become critical afterwards, leaving the surviving son in a floundering, self-destructive state. Importantly, the family's prosperous, so the problems come partially from prosperity and not from poverty. The youthful Hutton richly deserved his Oscar. In years of movie watching, his ravaged teenage emotions are as realistic as any I've seen. And that's without overplaying. Perhaps a James Dean Award is in order. But is that really MTM. I can't believe it. Her sunshine has been traded for a lemon drop. Still, she shows her acting chops in a persuasive way. Anyway, if you like family drama, this fairly subtle entry is worth catching up with.
dominic velarde
This film deserves more respect! the comment of worst academy award winner is so fightable:)! Shakespeare in love people!!!!! Ordinary people is a ten all the way down the line. I have noticed that a lot of the very best perfect lil films out there really upset people, especially drama's. Is a film bad cause it's upsetting. The movie itself answers you "let me tell you something about feelings, don't always expect them to tickle." and also when Conrad says "i'm supposed to feel better, right?" and dr. berger answers "not necessarily." Also hated I feel are slice of life films which really this is not, but also most non fantasies are. Slice of life to me feels like when there isn't really much of a script perhaps and the pace is rather slow and it just shows day to day life. This story is powerful well written and scripted and yes scary, you have to climb into the Jarrets pain, which is ultimately left still unresolved, especially for Beth.I love this film it deserved best picture and Timothy Hutton deserved best actor.Timothy's father actor Jim Hutton had recently passed when the young actor took this role, I feel that has to be in there, also it is HUGE that actor Robert Redfords directing helped gets the amazing performances we see on the screen. The 4 main actors despite the heaviness which they tackle so bravely are a total treat to watch. It is my wish that this giant of a film reach at least an 8.1 in the near future. The book and the movie has helped so many people grow and heal. it is very special!
gavin6942
The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father, and the guilt-ridden younger son.Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton both won Academy Awards for their respective debuts: Redford as Best Director and Hutton, in his first film (he had previously appeared on television), as Best Supporting Actor. The film marked Mary Tyler Moore's career breakout from the personality of her other two famous roles as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Moore's complex performance was well-received and obtained a nomination for Best Actress. The film also won Best Picture for 1980.Roger Ebert gave it four stars, calling it "one of the year's best films, probably of the decade" and later named it the fifth best film of the year 1980. Gene Siskel likewise ranked it the second best film of 1980. Both of them ended up giving "Raging Bull" a higher slot on the year's list, which is probably correct. The movie is a bit dry, and maybe does not age as well as it could.
