esrosedotblog

TODAY'S MOVIE

THE BIG CHILL (1983); NYTimes1176 Best; Lawrence Kasdan cowrites and directs; one of the best ensemble acting I have ever seen in a film: 8 protagonists—count them—8. There are no minor players. I can't find a photo with all of them; just the guys*. Every scene was choreographed and timed out in advance. When Kasdan did BODY HEAT, he had to cut valued scenes to get the whole film in under two hours. He wanted no such cutting of this film. Some lines were improvised, but well within the frame of the original writing. The cast rehearsed and lived together for 4 weeks before filming. They acted out bits of back story and pieces of history that are not shown in the film itself. They filmed the script as it was written, in consecutive scenes, in 3 weeks. The effect is apparent from the first frame of the first meeting. These people are very connected.

I broke my rule and watched the 15th reunion of the cast; actually a set of interviews. It was very good. This film resonated with a lot of people whether they had lived through the sixties as college people or not. I remember a lot of this 'coming of age' stuff happening to me. I had a normal straight life then the whole world shifted then life resumed. I really did take time off and then went back to 'it'.

The big chill of 'real life' returning, the danger of cynicism about what the experience of the sixties was about for me, the potential for self hatred at selling out the ideals gained from that period: all these things are vividly remembered.

I loved this movie. It is great seeing all these wonderful actors at the beginning of their careers; it was Glenn Close' second film. John says to give it a 6 out of the Netflix5.

*Shown clockwise from bottom: Kasdan, Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Klein, John Hurt. Women: Glen Close, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilley, Jo Beth Williams