Thelma and Louise ***** (1991, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Keitel, Brad Pitt, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald) – Classic Movie Review 702

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon enjoy roles to die for as female buddies Thelma and Louise in director Ridley Scott’s rousing 1991 film, advertised as the first feminist, buddy-buddy road-movie.

A weekend break from the lives of everyday drudgery and their boorish and oppressive menfolk becomes a mythical journey of liberation for Arkansas waitress Louise and her housewife friend Thelma. Louise has problems with her musician friend Jimmy (Michael Madsen), who’s always away on the road. Thelma is married to abusive Darryl (Christopher McDonald), who needs her just to shut up in the kitchen so he can watch football on TV.

But the road to liberation is a hard one, and then the duo soon find themselves in deep trouble when Louise (Sarandon) takes the law into her own hands and shoots a nasty male who attempts to rape on Thelma (Davis). They take off in a ’66 Thunderbird, trying to dodge the pursuing husband and the law.

Callie Khouri won an Oscar for her incisive, invigorating, biting Best Original Screenplay, sympathetic director Scott captures America’s open spaces with a flashy commercials-experienced film-maker’s eye and the acting of the perfectly paired charismatic stars is infectious and impeccable. Plus Harvey Keitel scores very strongly as the FBI man in pursuit.

Thelma and Louise is a liberating, elating and poignant study of the redeeming power of female friendship in a male-dominated society. Perhaps it isn’t over subtle or deep thinking but it’s a great, crowd-pleasing, character-driven thriller and it captured the mood of the times perfectly.

Brad Pitt scores his big breakthrough in the movies with a memorable cameo as womanising cowboy JD. Alas, he doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but it’s an eye-catching, star-making appearance.

Originally, Scott and Khouri wanted Natalie Wood for Thelma and Tuesday Weld as Louise when it was first announced in 1981 for a 1983 release.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 702

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