Ordinary People (1980)

"...Moore is especially believable as the cold and rigid mother.  VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
"Intelligent, meticulously crafted...  Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide

Editor's Note Devastated by the loss of their older son, well-to-do suburban couple Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) are trying to rebuild their lives after their younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), attempts suicide. While Beth, who always favored the elder son, retreats into an icy, emotionless shell, Calvin tries to draw Conrad back into the family and into life as a teenager. Conrad sings in the choir and returns to the swim team, but both his brother's death and his own experiences traumatize him. Conrad reluctantly begins therapy sessions with Berger (Judd Hirsch), which allow him some respite from the unbearable grief and guilt he carries with him. As Conrad makes strides, Calvin realizes that he no longer knows his wife and is both saddened and angered by how seemingly emotionless she has become. A classic portrait of family life in the face of tragedy, Robert Redford's award-winning directorial debut is moving and thought provoking. Based on the novel by Judith Guest, the film features the debuts of Timothy Hutton and Elizabeth McGovern as well as breakthrough performances from Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland.

	Dinah Manoff
	Donald Sutherland
	Elizabeth McGovern
	James Sikking
	Judd Hirsch
	M. Emmett Walsh
	Mary Tyler Moore
	Timothy Hutton
	Judith Guest - Based On Novel By
	Robert Redford - Director
	John Bailey - Director of Photography
	Marvin Hamlisch - Musical Score
	Ronald L. Schwary - Producer
	Alvin Sargent - Screenplay

With the pain from the death of their older son still fresh, Calvin and Beth try to help their remaining son, Conrad, recover from a suicide attempt. Overcome with guilt and grief related to his brother's death, Conrad tries to return to the life of a normal high school student but finds it difficult, with memories of his brother surrounding him and the coldness his mother exhibits almost unbearable. New York Times
"...A moving, intelligent and funny film....Moore is remarkably fine..." 09/19/1980 p.C6

New York Times
Included in the New York Times "10 BEST FILMS OF 1980" 12/28/1980 p.II:15

USA Today
"...It's still a fine movie..." 08/17/2001 p.6E

Entertainment Weekly
"...The actor's first -- and best -- film behind the camera won Best Picture and netted him a directing Oscar..." 01/11/2002 p.37

TV Guide Online 8 of 10
...a thoroughly professional film, featuring uniformly fine performances throughout. Hutton...does a fine job conveying the emotional turmoil and confusion of his character. Moore..is very convincing as the completely unsympathetic wife and mother.