Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Brad Pitt, Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Hollywood have lit a bright spark as powerfully as Brad Pitt. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Pitt has become a icon. Whether it’s detectives seeking to investigate murders, Formula 1 drivers or fight club owners, Pitt has played several strong characters. Arguably, Pitt’s strength as an actor has always been his commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has often had talent for stealing the show in supporting roles with limited screen-time. Even when he is not the main focus of a movie, Pitt has left an impression. Despite reaching age of retirement, Pitt has never lost his passion for making engaging entertainment. A movie-star with charisma, Pitt has been an icon in Cinema. Throughout his strong career, Pitt has made many bold movies that are definitely worth absolutely talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Pitt and adore all the films which he has made in his career. However, “Thelma & Louise” is definitely my favourite. Released in 1991, Ridley Scott’s film offered a bold portrait of female friendships. Packed with breathtaking production, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best crime films ever made. At centre of it all is an incredible performance by Brad Pitt, who embodies a drug addict with a bad life habit. Ultimately, what makes “Thelma & Louise” a classic is bold appeal. Unlike most movies about female friendship, it discusses powerful themes that everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing crime masterpiece, there are several strong reasons why “Thelma & Louise” is a classic movie that is absolutely worth watching.
“Thelma & Louise” follows a pair of female friends which embark on road trip journeys. Susan Sarandon portrays Louise, a fierce woman with a strong interest in discovering her identities. Louise has always shared a strong bond with her friend Thelma (Geena Davis), a close companion whom she loves dearly. However, Louise’s life dramatically changes when she embarks on a weekend trip with her friend causing disaster. Thelma and Louise encounter several fugitives upon their road trip such as J.D. (Brad Pitt). J.D. is a drug addict that faces adversity. As they discover the harsh realities of living in small town America, Thelma and Louise are soon forced to question whether it’s possible to find happiness in a troublesome era. Faced with tension, Thelma and Louise soon find their lives caught in a trap in a destructive profession.
Ridley Scott has often been fascinated with fascinated with theme of female friendship. A fantastic filmmaker, Scott has often made engaging films both female friends that face disaster. His iconic movie “Alien” provided a strong portrayal of women seeking to work together to defeat an alien. With “Thelma & Louise”, however, Scott created his first ever feminist drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture friendships between pair of women on a road trip but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Scott captures the friendship between pair of women facing adversity. Evoking Herbert Ross’ “Steel Magnolias”, Scott captures a pair of female friends facing catastrophe using montages. For instance, montages enhance the road trip scene. During this unforgettable scene, Thelma and Louise embark on their first road trip together in happiness. Through captivating montages, Scott creates a portrait of female friendship that’s compelling. Montages are complex techniques. As Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” proved clearly, montages elevate films about Hollywood. Nevertheless, it works. Using breathtaking visuals, Scott captures tensions that a pair of female friends are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Thelma & Louise” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Scott effectively uses cross-cutting to capture tensions that a pair of female friends are facing. For instance, cross-cutting elevates the fugitive meeting scene. During this unforgettable sequence, Thelma and Louise have chance encounter with a fugitive causing disaster. Using bold montages, Scott captures the tension that female friends are facing. Furthermore, the musical score is marvellous. Hans Zimmer’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burdens a pair of female friends bear. Using bold production, Scott captures female friends facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Thelma & Louise” is a crime movie which is engaging. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the lives of female friends that are heavily impacted by violence. Inspired with James L. Brooks’ “Thelma & Louise”, Scott effectively employs silence to capture the lives of female friends that endure tragedies. For instance, silence enhances the farewells scene. During this unforgettable scene, Thelma and Louise bid emotional farewell to one another as their paths in life diverge. Through silence, Scott creates a portrait of female friendship that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in most movies. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” suggested, silence often enhances crime films about psychotic serial killers. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Scoff captures struggles of female friends facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Brad Pitt delivers one of his greatest career performances as J.D. Pitt first earned praise for playing owners of psychotic fight clubs in classic cult films. With “Thelma & Louise”, however, Pitt took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody personality of a drug addict facing adversities but he succeeded. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. Pitt has always excelled at playing emotional heroes under pressure, and “Thelma & Louise” exhibited his strengths as an actor. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest movie-stars in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Brad Pitt, the supporting cast is also great and worthy of praise. Susan Sarandon is spectacular, capturing compassion of a woman seeking to embark on road trips along with her companion. Geena Davis is dazzling, bringing charisma to a woman which seeks to embark upon adventures across America. Lastly, Harvey Keitel is worthy of appreciation. As a tormented fugitive, he is unforgettable.
Finally, “Thelma & Louise” would achieve appreciation of everyone for capturing the lives of women enduring adversities. Unlike most movies about female friendships, it tackles strong themes that everyone will relate to. It discusses bold themes such as identity, mental health and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Thelma & Louise” is one those rare films about the complexity of female friendship everyone will adore.
Fans of Brad Pitt will appreciate “Thelma & Louise” and so would movie-goers seeking riveting entertainment. A captivating crime thriller, it honours an actor with charismatic nature.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a pair of female friends embarking on a road trip which is life-changing, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated movie-star that has built a lasting legacy through his abilities to play compelling characters in engaging movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 