Thelma & Louise (1991)
It still holds up almost 30 years later.
Thelma & Louise follows two women as they leave their boring lives to go on a restful vacation and get in way over their heads. I had heard references to this film many times over the years, but I had never seen it. And, honestly, it’s one of my favorite movies that I’ve seen so far this year. It was filled with action, humor, adventure, and was one hell of a ride.
One of my favorite things about the film is the honesty of the reactions to everything that was happening to these two women. Their decisions and responses to the events and problems in their lives feel genuine; these don’t feel like characters but real people. Both of them are complex beings, not one-dimensional stereotypes.
Louise (Susan Sarandon) is a hard-working, organized, take-charge woman. She is self-sufficient, is a planner, and a challenger of the status quo. She’s also suffered serious traumas in her life and has put up a guard because of her past. Yet, she isn’t stoic, gruff, or standoffish. She has moments of tenderness, fear, and even freezes up from time to time. She is not always in control, though it’s obvious that she likes to always be put together.
Thelma (Geena Davis), on the other hand, has developed an innocent exterior from years of being put down in unhealthy relationships. She longs for adventure and…
