Thelma & Louise

Good movie. Arrived in good shape.

This is undoubtedly one of the best movies ever about two women driving a car across America with the wind in their hair and the cops on their tail. Not that they have real tails or anything. I mean they're not some kind of human-horse hybrid. When I say 'on their tail' I mean following closely behind, like you do when you invite your friends over and then walk around the house pretending to be sardines... maybe I'm the only one that does that. Anyway, this is a damn good movie in an even better damn good kind of way that will keep you on the edge of your seat, until you fall off the edge of your seat and then have to sit on the edge of the floor (have you ever tried to find the edge of the floor? It can take a while). This movie has everything... except jam. I didn't see any jam in it. Not even in the restaurant scenes, but if you can forgive that – and if you're a Christian the bible says you should – then there's very little wrong with this movie and whole lot right with it. Both Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are superbly wonderful and will make you laugh, cry and blow marijuana smoke into the trunk of your car. The movie also stars a very young Brad Pitt. I will now give you an official warning: There are a few scenes, with Brad Pitt, that will make women - and probably some men - swoon. So, if you're watching with someone who has a history of swooning then you should have your emergency swoon kit at the ready (smelling salts, brandy, megaphone, electric cattle prod, etc). You will need it on more than one occasion.The story itself is brilliantly written and executed. Though no one actually gets executed. It's not that kind of movie. If you want to watch someone being executed watch 'The Green Mile' or 'The Godfather' or something like that. Meanwhile... back at this movie. I don't want to give anything away – because I'm not that generous – but I will tell you that the plot has more twists than Chubby Checker dancing down a mountain road and there are several iconic scenes, (not to be confused with ironic scenes which are not allowed any more because Alanis Morissette owns the copyright of that word).Trust me, after watching this you will want to make a road trip yourself. Just remember to avoid Texas.

That would be me watching this movie. Because I didn't attempt to see it through some ideological filter. Of course it's not a "feminist" tract - bear in mind that that's merely how some PR types tried to market it. Which goes to show how absurd marketing is. If it's anything even remotely relating to "feminism," it's a cautionary tale advising women not to leap blindly into something they don't understand. But of course it's not about that either. It's a movie about two women who make a series of disastrous choices that literally brings them to the edge of a cliff with nowhere to go but over. It's also a movie that shows the dark side of "freedom." Yes, Thelma and Louise attain a level of carefree freedom most people will never experience. And they pay a terrible price for it. And it's a movie about contrasts, showing men as callous users (via the Brad Pitt character) and also as caring helpers (via the Harvey Keitel character). But above all else, it's a movie about two humans getting caught up in a maddening spiral of events that have taken on a life of their own - a perfect parable for what's happening all over the world, day in and day out. You set something in motion and from that moment on it's beyond your control. Thelma and Louise's only "triumph" is their acknowledgment that they have done this to themselves. They don't say so of course; but their final action says it for them. In that sense, this movie bears some resemblance to one of my other nominees for greatest movie of all time - The Bridge on the River Kwai, wherein the Alec Guiness character finally realizes his great mistake; but realizes it too late to save himself. Just like Thelma and Louise.

I'd echo some other reviewers' comments -- why does this listing, and why do some reviews, describe a documentary and cast interviews and trailers and other bonus features to this edition when I and many others don't have these at all? How is it that some people get fully functional or complete discs and others do not? Caveat emptor. I'm very disappointed to not have access to bonus features that I paid for.Apart from that, which is my main reason to speak up, there isn't much remaining to be said in this space about "Thelma and Louise", a movie full of wit, heart, intelligence, and great cinematic style. The audio commentary tracks are far above the norm -- Scott's is very informative and revealing, and the comments of stars Davis and Sarandon and scripter Kourie are by turns droll and perceptive. It's like watching this film with a bunch of good buddies. Davis suggests at one point that she and Sarandon ought to maybe go out together and drive around and surprise people -- what a terrific lark that would be!An amazing and powerful movie that is every bit as relevant and emotive as it was in 1991. (And this is a guy writing.)

Altho fictional characters, "Thelma and Louise" have become legends and cultural touchstones since this film was released in 1991. The writing and performances are truly outstanding. The themes of friendship and freedom for women are still relevant today (and may always be). The musical soundtrack that backs this great road picture enhances the story so much. I also loved the commentary track on this DVD featuring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and the writer Callie Khouri sharing some of their thoughts and adventures in making the movie.