Blog: ‘Thelma & Louise’
This is something that should have been front and center on my movie list when I concocted that thing years ago. A film so epic, so thick with women empowerment that you could say it was a movie far ahead of its time. It makes watching it in these days of #MeToo hit home even harder.
Thelma & Louise is a 1991 Oscar-winning film starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. If you’re like me, you knew the plot revolved around Thelma (Davis) and Louise (Sarandon) on the run from the law. What I didn’t know is that it all started with a man who attempted to rape Thelma, but fails in his disgusting quest thanks to Louise and her handy gun. She shoots him. Boom he’s dead. Instead of going to the police, the two flee the scene and start driving toward Mexico where they plan to start new lives. The way Louise puts it, who’s going to believe two women with no evidence? There would be no justice for them; the law is not in their favor.
This movie is wildly entertaining and the chemistry between Sarandon and Davis is gold. Louise’s serious, tough demeanor is matched nicely Thelma’s lax, youthful attitude. Paired together, they complement each other perfectly and make a comical duo. It’s that whole deal about contrasts making for great comedy. It’s a concept as old as time. I previously brushed on that concept too in a previous article I wrote about Dead to Me (shameless plug). Anyway, you can’t help but root for Thelma and Louise in all their retaliation like shooting a man for his attempted rape or blowing up a truck driver’s gasoline tank because he won’t say sorry for his vulgar comments toward the two women. I mean, good for them. Imagine if every woman had retaliated for every repulsive comment and/or act they’ve received from a male. This film explores that, and damn does it feel good to watch.
The film does a great job balancing elements of comedy with drama. It was advertised as a comedy but the plot develops from a serious matter. I’d say it even broaches the line of a dark comedy but doesn’t quite reach the mark. All I’m trying to say is the balance between the two genres works beautifully.
Something else I wasn’t aware of was that a very young Brad Pitt also stars in this movie. His character J.D. strikes up a romance with Thelma while hitching a ride from them. Come to find out, he’s a robber. Lucky for Thelma, he teaches her his ways of robbing which she later utilizes when she robs a gas station. Ironically, she has to do so because J.D. stole all their money. Sneaky snake. It took me a hot second to get used to watching a young Brad Pitt — I hadn’t seen any of his work pre-Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Good to know he had solid acting chops back in the day too. Apparently, Pitt beat out George Clooney and Robert Downey Jr. for the role, largely due to Davis wanting him for the part. He thanked her earlier this year when he snagged his first Oscar. So sweet.
I don’t know why I waited so long to watch Thelma & Louise. To be honest, I was just bored the other night and wanted to knock something off my movie list to feel somewhat productive. It actually wasn’t even on my list. I was scrolling through Hulu when I stumbled across it and I had an itch to watch it. I loved Davis so much in A League of Their Own (which was released a year after Thelma & Louise) that if anything, there would be some aspect of the film I’d enjoy. Do you do that too? Watch certain movies because an actor you love is in it even though you’re not sure how you feel about the movie? I’m sure it’s a common selling point.
You can stream Thelma & Louise now on Hulu.
