Ordinary People Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 726

Average Rating: 3/4

# of Ratings: 115

Theatrical Release Date: 09/19/1980

Language: English

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Robert Redford

Actors: Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, Timothy Hutton, Judd Hirsch, M. Emmet Walsh, Scott Doebler

Plot: A death to a family's oldest boy strains the hard nosed mother and easy going father while the younger song tries to take the blame as they battle life with out one of their family members.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 05/28/2019

Not bad, but "Ordinary People" marked the beginning of the chain of forgetable movies to win best picture in the 80's.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 12/09/2011

Sidesteps the usual psychological drama cliches to show real and raw emotions. The entire cast is fantastic and manages to show a lot of under-the-surface feelings without seeming too melodramatic.

donkeyknight - wrote on 05/02/2011

The performances are very good (especially during the intense climax) and Redford forsees and boils the whole decade down into a few scenes, capturing the essense of the materialistic, empty and confusing 80s.

Matthew Brady
Movie God

Ordinary People - Review

Matthew Brady - wrote on 05/26/2017

If you thought "Manchester by the Sea" left you feeling physically broken, then wait until you see this.

I mean, holy shit was this life draining in the most effective way. An impressive directing standpoint for Robert Redford himself. The performances all around were all just brilliant. Half of the time it didn't feel like acting. Especially from Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch which to me was they strongest performance.

But Timothy Hutton and Donald Sutherland were the ones that got to me the most. This is some of the greatest acting I've ever seen from any other actors. I didn't feel overly dramatic, but real. The boiling rage, guilt, and sadness were all shown without any line spoken.

The only issue I have is not with the movie itself, just with the year it was release. …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

Ordinary People review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 05/06/2013

"Things happen. People don't always have answers." A realistic drama that involves various themes revolving the Jarrett family. Conrad (Timothy Hutton), an emotionally troubled student included in the swimming team, sees a psychiatrist named Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch). He informs Berger that he doesn't connect with his mom and recalls his experiences with his brother who passed away. Everybody seems to be worried about Conrad. Calvin (Donald Sutherland) tries to get close to his wife and son but recalls his other son.

The only slight misgiving this reviewer experiences were some of the long scenes that slows the pace of the picture. Performances from all around were great. The screenplay was exceptional with some memorable lines from the following characters: Swimming coach - …

Delorted
Producer

Review - Ordinary People (1980)

Delorted - wrote on 11/30/2007

When Conrad Jarrett (Timothy Hutton) lost his brother at sea, the lives of him and his parents, Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), are changed forever. Conrad’s journey through self-forgiveness is portrayed in the Best Picture winning film, “Ordinary People.”

This movie made me realize how few Best Picture winners have teenagers as main characters. It also made me realize that I end up thinking those are the best ones.

This is also one of the only movies I’ve seen that has dealt with suicide in such a prominent way. It’s a very touchy and unfortunately ever-increasing subject that is worked with extremely well.

While the acting is a bit off, the story and the editing work excellently together. “Ordinary People” is a very passionate film that …