Fried Green Tomatoes (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
A lonely woman learns the true value of friendship as she listens to the story of 2 women & how their own friendship shaped their lives in 'Fried Green Tomatoes' (directed by Jon Avnet & based on a novel by Fannie Flagg). Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates, of Misery) is an unhappy, repressed housewife with a habit of overeating. Her miserable husband Ed barely acknowledges her. And while he visits his aunt at a nursing home every week, Evelyn is not allowed to visit her because the old woman can't stand her. One day, while waiting for Ed's visit to end, Evelyn meets 82 yr. old Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy), a sickly, but feisty old lady who lives at the same nursing home & loves to tell stories of her youth.
Over the span of a few weeks, Idgie - sensing Evelyn's depression - tells Evelyn a long, inspirational story from way-back-when about one of her kin, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson). Back in the 20's/30's, Idgie was a sweet but independent young woman (think feminist) with her own way of doing things who ran the popular town diner in Whistle Stop, Alabama. Idgie was quite close with her brother Buddy (Chris O'Donnell), and when he died in a horrific accident, she wouldn't speak to anyone except Buddy's girlfriend, Ruth (a wispy Mary-Louise Parker). Though they were as different as night & day, Idgie became 'very' close to Ruth; eventually giving Ruth a job at said cafe after she left her wildly abusive husband, Frank.
See, Idgie always stood up for herself. She stood up to Frank. She served black folks out of the back of her diner. And when frank mysteriously disappeared one day, many locals suspected that Idgie, Ruth, & their friends may have had a hand in that disappearance. Evelyn finds herself looking forward to her weekly visits to Ninny, and is inspired by her life story. Idgie & Ruth gave each other purpose and meaning in an otherwise challenging life (violence, death, small town racism, sexual politics, etc.). And Ninny's story gives Evelyn the strength to regain control of her life; asserting independence from her stifling husband, along the way.
'Fried Green Tomatoes' is, first & foremost, an extremely likeable film that is full of charming, winning performances. Everyone in the cast brings their A-game. Character development is of high priority. Kathy Bates makes for a loveable protagonist. Jessica Tandy is as adorable & moving as always. Most impressive is Mary Stuart Masterson who makes Idgie an interesting, quirky character; one who are always interested to see what she does & says next. I also enjoyed Mary-Louise Parker as the more demure Ruth. Smaller turns by Cicely Tyson, Chris O'Donnell & Lois Smith also lent to the proceedings. Thanks to the rich character writing & diverse performances, I witnessed how powerful "friendship" is. That's the message, here.
And yet, my favorite aspect of the film is its look & tone. The locales (backwoods Alabama, Ninny's nursing home), production design (the Whistle Stop Cafe), costumes, & deep-fried dialogue (from Southern writer, Fannie Flagg) just make you feel entrenched in the gritty South. This film has an air; an attitude -- I loved that SO much. Overall, it's just very hard to dislike this film. I laughed out loud. I got emotional. There's tragedy. And there's the mystery ... what happened to Ruth's husband? The answer is dynamite. Now there are some criticisms I've read from other critics (the film doesn't explore the relationship btwn. Idgie & Ruth as well as it could have been; some of the racism components are glossed over) -- but whatever. I was provided 135 minutes of pleasing entertainment.
Over the span of a few weeks, Idgie - sensing Evelyn's depression - tells Evelyn a long, inspirational story from way-back-when about one of her kin, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson). Back in the 20's/30's, Idgie was a sweet but independent young woman (think feminist) with her own way of doing things who ran the popular town diner in Whistle Stop, Alabama. Idgie was quite close with her brother Buddy (Chris O'Donnell), and when he died in a horrific accident, she wouldn't speak to anyone except Buddy's girlfriend, Ruth (a wispy Mary-Louise Parker). Though they were as different as night & day, Idgie became 'very' close to Ruth; eventually giving Ruth a job at said cafe after she left her wildly abusive husband, Frank.
See, Idgie always stood up for herself. She stood up to Frank. She served black folks out of the back of her diner. And when frank mysteriously disappeared one day, many locals suspected that Idgie, Ruth, & their friends may have had a hand in that disappearance. Evelyn finds herself looking forward to her weekly visits to Ninny, and is inspired by her life story. Idgie & Ruth gave each other purpose and meaning in an otherwise challenging life (violence, death, small town racism, sexual politics, etc.). And Ninny's story gives Evelyn the strength to regain control of her life; asserting independence from her stifling husband, along the way.
'Fried Green Tomatoes' is, first & foremost, an extremely likeable film that is full of charming, winning performances. Everyone in the cast brings their A-game. Character development is of high priority. Kathy Bates makes for a loveable protagonist. Jessica Tandy is as adorable & moving as always. Most impressive is Mary Stuart Masterson who makes Idgie an interesting, quirky character; one who are always interested to see what she does & says next. I also enjoyed Mary-Louise Parker as the more demure Ruth. Smaller turns by Cicely Tyson, Chris O'Donnell & Lois Smith also lent to the proceedings. Thanks to the rich character writing & diverse performances, I witnessed how powerful "friendship" is. That's the message, here.
And yet, my favorite aspect of the film is its look & tone. The locales (backwoods Alabama, Ninny's nursing home), production design (the Whistle Stop Cafe), costumes, & deep-fried dialogue (from Southern writer, Fannie Flagg) just make you feel entrenched in the gritty South. This film has an air; an attitude -- I loved that SO much. Overall, it's just very hard to dislike this film. I laughed out loud. I got emotional. There's tragedy. And there's the mystery ... what happened to Ruth's husband? The answer is dynamite. Now there are some criticisms I've read from other critics (the film doesn't explore the relationship btwn. Idgie & Ruth as well as it could have been; some of the racism components are glossed over) -- but whatever. I was provided 135 minutes of pleasing entertainment.