When I had first heard about Ordinary People, it was from my teacher who had suggested it to our high school class as a bit of light reading. When I went the library to pick up a copy, I accidentally picked up the movie version instead of the original (both were written by Judith Guest). It was actually one of the worst books I had ever read, far too much for my conservative mind. Later my teacher decided it would be good for us to watch the movie, one of his all time favorites. To my surprise, I really enjoyed the movie's portrayal of the original novel, which is far better than the movie version book. Rarely has any movie done such justice to it's original story as Ordinary People has.


Ordinary People starts off with a family on the edge due to the loss of a child. The surviving son, eighteen year old Conrad Jared (Timothy Hutton) is increasingly depressed due to the inability to forgive himself for his brother's accident. His mother(Mary Tyler Moore) is indifferent to him, perhaps blaming him for the accident in which she lost her first (and favorite) son, Buck. After a failed suicide attempt and months of hospitalization, Conrad is persuaded by his caring father (Donald Sutherland) to visit psychiatrist Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch). Skeptical of him at first, Conrad comes to trust Dr. Berger and develops a strong bond with him. This leads Conrad to realize the only way he can continue with his life is if he forgives himself.


The strength of Ordinary People lies in the excellent directorial skills of actor turned directer Robert Redford. Even with a storyline as delicate as this one, Redford has shown extraordinary talent in producing the characters and handling tense situations. Several noteworthy scenes include the scene with Conrad at the restaurant with his hospital friend, Karen, discussing their lives after leaving the hospital and the last scene with Conrad and his father. The most dramatic scene in the entire movie, the scene were Conrad runs to visit Berger after finding out that Karen has committed suicide, is so well shot it will bring the viewer to tears.


As far as acting goes, Timothy Hutton excels with flying colors in a role that won him an Oscar. The talent he has shown is rarely seen in actors so young of age. His naive expression and boyish good looks only add to his excellent portrayal of Conrad. After the success of her television show, Mary Tyler Moore has shined in a role much different from her role on the sitcom. Even with a character of dark shades, Moore has outdone herself and has shown her versatility as an actress. Donald Sutherland, another sitcom star, is very moving in his role of the mild and worried father. Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger is a character who definitely catches the attention of the viewer. Other mentionable characters include Conrad's girlfriend and his buddy. Unfortunately I can't recall either one of their names...sorry.


On the whole, Ordinary People is a classic movie. The only downside to it is that some of my friends found it a bit depressing. However, it's honest storyline and brilliant acting by all of the actors make Ordinary People a story to which many people can relate to and enjoy.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older