Ordinary People (1980) Paramount Pictures 📢 Director: Robert Redford 💰 Producer: Ronald L. Schwary 👫 Cast: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton. 🏆 Awards ceremony: -53rd Academy Awards: March 31, 1981. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California. 🎭 Other films nominated for Best Picture this year: -Coal Miner's Daughter. -The Elephant Man. -Raging Bull. -Tess. 📕 Plot summary: Conrad Jarrett (TIMOTHY HUTTON) is a suicidal young man recovering from the aftermath of his brother's accidental death whilst having to contend with a less-than-understanding mother (MARY TYLER MOORE). Despite all of this, his father (DONALD SUTHERLAND) shows a more compassionate understanding and is caught between the two of them with his loyalty. A psychiatrist (JUDD HIRSCH) tries to help out the troubled Conrad as he tries to come to terms with his crappy life. 💥 Standout scene(s): When Conrad lets rip at his mother when she reveals she knows he quit the school swim team. It had been simmering, rising to boiling point when Conrad finally explodes at her. 🔑 Facts: -The 53rd Academy Awards. -Nominated for 6 Academy Awards, it won 4: Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Timothy Hutton), Screenplay (adapted). 🙂 Personal opinion: An emotional and heartbreaking drama. But despite powerful performances from the three principal actors I found there was something lacking. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, but something felt empty at times. Mary Tyler Moore's character is colder than an eskimo's pussy. The first clue about her was when she threw Conrad's French toast down the sink in such a petulant manner. From that point on we knew. It becomes clear very early on that the father actually cares about his son and the mother's selfish, robotic nature gave us somebody to despise. The final scene was a lovely way to end the film. The 19 year-old Timothy Hutton plays his character with conviction and was worthy of his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Is it better than RAGING BULL? Yes. Did it deserve the Oscar? ✅YES. Much has been made over the years of how RAGING BULL should have won the Oscar but in preparing for this project I watched RAGING BULL the night before reviewing ORDINARY PEOPLE and no, I genuinely do not think RAGING BULL deserved the Oscar. RAGING BULL is way over-rated - and I say that as a big Robert De Niro fan. 7/10

Review date: 01 April 2025