Thelma and Louise

Last week I watched Thelma and Louise (1991), directed by Ridley Scott and starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (with a bit of young Brad Pitt).  I am ashamed to admit that this was actually the first time I saw the movie in its entirety; I thought it was fabulous!  

The characters in this movie felt full and believable, even as they raced across the country towards Mexico.  It was interesting to see the relationship between Louise and Thelma, and how each woman developed throughout the film.  Louise at first appears to be a much more confident woman than Thelma.  She continuously tells Thelma to stand up to her horrible husband and it is Louise who shoots Harlan, the rapist at the start of the film.  However, as the movie progresses Thelma really comes into herself and does begin to take a stand; she decides to leave her husband, robs a store, and then holds up a police officer when he attempts to radio his headquarters.  Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis brought out deeper aspects of their characters as the movie progressed, creating fascinating fascinating women rather than flat action heros.

The landscapes in this movie are also incredible.  The breathtaking views of rural roads really contrasts in my mind to the chaos Thelma and Louise are trying to overcome.  When Louise gets pulled over for speeding, I was riveted to the conflict going on with the characters.  However, at the same time you see the majesty of the desert landscape in the background.  It made me think about how small Thelma and Louise' problems are compared to the vast desert, and yet they were also so incredibly large.