MOVIE NOTES: The Big Chill

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: next in a series of brief notes on films I've recently seen. Also: SPOILER ALERT.] THE BIG CHILL (1983) SUMMARY A group of college friends meet several years later at a mutual friend's funeral, and decide to spend the weekend in the home of two of the college friends, now a married couple. Along the way, friendships are tested, memories are made and reclaimed, and a baby is conceived. It's kind of like -The Breakfast Club-, but for white thirty-somethings instead of white teenagers. MEANING OF THE TITLE There could be a couple concepts alluded to with the title, though it's difficult to say for sure as the title wasn't explicitly stated in the film itself. Perhaps it alludes to the finality of Alex's suicide, and how it brings all his old friends together to mourn his passing. Perhaps it's a euphemism for the weekend back together for all these friends, "chilling out" together for the weekend. Perhaps it's the acknowledgement that their "hell-raising" days of college are over, and they've all mellowed into typical adulthood in the 10+ years after their university days are done: homes, careers, children, and debts. MOST SIGNIFICANT REVELATION Karen's lamentation of the domesticated, married life in which she finds herself. It drives her "desperate housewife" character trope, and ropes her in to sleeping with her old flame from college: Sam, the famous teevee actor with commitment issues. Although I didn't really like her wardrobe, I liked seeing how this one played out. BEST CHARACTER JOURNEY Nick (admirably played by William Hurt) and his maimed-for-life, damaged Vietnam Vet act. It sounds hackneyed as I describe it that way, but in a sense he's the one college buddy who diverged from the beaten path all his other college classmates. Personally, I identify with him the most. He's the first one who chooses to not play it safe, and instead calls out all the others who are romanticizing their attachment to Alex (and therefore their youthful, idealistic roots). WORST TELEGRAPHED MOMENT I felt the tender "ask" moment in the pantry between Sarah and Harry (Glenn Close and Kevin Kline, respectively) was a bit more cringe-worthy than I expected. A near second is the definitely groan-inducing kitchen-cleanup montage scene, including perhaps too many shots of Close shaking her ass. Music is the only way people of colour actually appear in this film. Just puttin' that out there. I know, I know... "It was a different time then." UNSUNG HERO I wanna say Sam (played by Tom Beringer)...? I liked his self-loathing and reckoning when considering his acting career. The truth is, though, the script didn't bring too much depth on board. Sarah was a bit too sappy, Harry was the straight guy, Meg was unreal (sorry, but there I said it) and played for laughs a bit too much, and unlike Michael (a creative and subtle Jeff Goldblum), at least Sam had some kind of acknowledgement that his attempts at reliving his youthful escapades need to end. Whereas Nick was legitimately damaged, I'd say Sam was a kind of cinematic plot punching bag - both physically and emotionally - which set up some delightful contrast between appearances and reality that I always like seeing in film. CINEMATOGRAPHY I'd say the camera work in this one is rather "utilitarian." There are a few moments where the group watches some videos filmed by different friends that weekend, but I think that was more a function of tight editing as opposed to creative camera work. This wasn't an action-packed thrill-fest of a movie (closer to a romantic comedy than anything else), but I think it could have been helped along with better cinematography. The start of the film has several cuts to introduce the different members of the circle of friends, and the punchline being Alex's stitched-together wrists. Again, all of this can be credited to a skilled and talented editor as opposed to a camera operator, in my opinion. WHAT'S THIS FILM ABOUT? Growing old has drawbacks that outweigh its benefits. However, due to the ties that bind you need to find a way to keep on keepin' on. Sarah redeems herself late in the film by reinforcing that, best said by Kurt Vonnegut, "Damnit, you've got to be more kind." Even though life may suck, it never hurts to lend a helping hand.