Ordinary People (1980)

Did you people see the same film I saw?

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

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.

I know that there's a lot of people who feel that the performances in this movie are brilliant etc. Honestly, I just found it kind of depressing, and not particularly entertaining or inspirational. I feel like there's enough misery in the world - on a Friday night I'm not wanting to depress myself even more with a movie like this. Just not my thing at all.

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!

In Illinois, the upper-middle-class family Jarrett is living a trauma in their lives, with the loss of their beloved son Buck followed by the attempt of suicide of his younger brother Conrad (Timothy Hutton). Conrad's father Calvin (Donald Sutherland) is a good man of few words and his mother Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) is a cold-hearted woman that loved Buck and has always been bitter and never supported Conrad, who is under therapy with Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch). The greatest concern of Beth is to live her perfect life, denying affection to her son. Conrad blames himself for the death of his brother since they were sailing in a bad weather and when one string jammed in the block, he was not able to release it, capsizing the boat. Conrad has difficulties to reestablish his relationship with his friend and quits the swimming team of his school.When Conrad meets Karen (Dinah Manoff), who was interned with him in the same psychiatric clinic also for attempt suicide, he feels better. And when he dates the gorgeous student from the choir Jeannine (Elizabeth McGovern), he begins to see the world with other eyes. But his problem of relationship with his mother associated to the death of Karen, who committed suicide, brings him back to the rock bottom and he runs to meet Dr. Berger. Will the psychiatrist succeed in helping Conrad? "Ordinary People" is a powerful and heartbreaking drama, one of the best American dramas from the 80's. This film is also a milestone in the career of Robert Redford since it is his directorial debut. "Ordinary People" has top-notch direction and performances; the screenplay is very well-written with powerful lines. The timeless story is well-resolved with the realistic decision of the shattered Jarrett family. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Gente Como a Gente" ("People Like Us")