Thelma and Louise (1991) is an abosolutely superb road movie with a difference! Director Ridley Scott shrewdly puts himself in the womens driving seat and depicts a touching and dramatic tale of two close, long-standing friends who go on a weekend spree to escape their usual, monotonous small-town routines.

What they both have in common are both are dissatisfied with their respective partners. However what is intended as a wild girls holiday turns into a virtual nightmare.

Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) hit a nightclub on their first night of freedom. Thelma catches the eye of a man and before long, the two are drinking and dancing together whilst Louise hesitantly looks on. At the end of the night the man trys to rape Thelma. As he is just about to proceed with his vicious act, Louise catches him. After some verbal exchanges, Louise loses her temper and shoots the man to his death.

Realising they hadn't a hope in convincing the police that it was an act of self-defence (especially adding to the fact that the entire nightclub had seen Thelma and the man dancing together all night) they decide to head toward Mexico to begin a new life.

They are plunged into a series of adventures as they hastily head toward Mexico and it certainly is not without its complications as they dodge the police along the way who are hot on their trail.

It is subsequently revealed that Louise herself was raped some years earlier which explains why she was so quick to shoot the would-be rapist. The film touches on the subject sensitivley and convincingly and Susan Sarandon puts in a carefully conceived performance.

Brad Pitt also stars in the film who is in one of his earliest roles. Pitt plays J.D, where Thelma naievly succumbs to his somewhat cocky charm (however he soon robs both Thelma and Louise of all their money which they were using as their detour to Mexico).

Thelma And Louise seemed to be a watershed for Brad Pitt as well as Michael Marsden (playing Louise's partner) and Harvey Kietel who both went on to star in the 1992 masterpiece, Resevoir Dogs. Both of their performances are effective and Harvey Kietel is fantastic as the understanding detective hot on the ladies trail who surprisingly displays a lot of empathy for the fugitives situation.

As Thelma And Louise neatly unfolds it seems to steer along the voyage of self-discovery. The rich dialogue is complimented by superb, highly effective and concentrated performances from the versatile Susan sarandon and the bubbly Geena Davis.

There are also many magnificent, eye-catching shots of the Grand Canyon along the way. The soundtrack is equally enthralling including tracks from the likes of soul superstars as Martha Reeves and The Temptations and all add to the effect of this classic masterpiece.

Whilst there are some laughs along the way to endure (such as the pair blowing up a foul-mouthed van drivers vehicle up), Thelma And Louise stands as a compelling and riviting drama.


Ian Phillips

September 2006

Recommended: Yes