#93 - The Big Chill

I realized as I watched "The Big Chill" this movie wasn't made for me or anyone of my generation. Joanna Berry said it best in her write-up about the film in "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die"

"Kasdan and Barbara Benedek's observant script captures all the idealistic feelings and disappointments of a 60's generation stuck in a far more materialistic 80's."



However, despite not being the target audience for this film, I found it to be enjoyable and felt the movie was successful in three ways.

The film starts out with seven friends reuniting for the weekend to attend the funeral for their friend Alex who committed suicide. After the funeral, they spend the weekend reminiscing about Alex and the past.

One way this film succeeds is that it's cast is very likable and engaging. Sarah (Glenn Close) and Harold (Kevin Kline) are quite believable as a married couple, who during the weekend put up their friends Sam (Tom Berenger), Michael (Jeff Goldblum), Nick (William Hurt), Karen (JoBeth Williams), and Meg (Mary Kay Place) who all do a very good job in this movie as well. It was especially fun seeing Mary Kay Place in a completely different role than the one she plays on the show Big Love as Roman's first wife.

Secondly, this movie seems like it was successful in giving adults a movie to see during the 80's about them. During the 80's John Hughes was capturing quite successfully the trials and tribulations of the teenage years. This film does the exact opposite with equal success in capturing the trials and tribulations of adulthood.

Lastly, this picture has a great soundtrack. Throughout the film, music is used quite well, particularly in two different scenes. First, at the end of the funeral, one of the friends gets up to play one of Alex's favorite songs on the organ, which happens to be "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones. As they drive to the burial plot the song plays and it fits perfectly with the dialogue and mood of the scene.

Secondly, Their is a scene toward the end of the film where they show everyone coming in and out of the kitchen on Sunday morning and the song "The Weight" by The Band is playing and it is just the perfect song for this particular scene.

Overall, I did find this movie enjoyable and worth watching. However, in my opinion, someone in their thirties would probably relate to and enjoy this movie more than I did.