MovieChat Forums > Mother (1997) Discussion > For anyone who's ever had a mother...

For anyone who's ever had a mother...

posted 17 years ago by bpollen
9 replies | jump to latest

this movie is for Y-o-u. I could sooooo relate to many things in this mother's character, esp. the food. (Stop with the food. Enough! It's like Fantasia!) The mother's personality, the driving, the food (both the quantity and the buying of the really really cheap stuff that older people get into....sadly, that's beginning to be ME now!).

Debbie Reynolds was superb. Sublime. No mystery why she was a big star years ago. I've seen her in interviews and read her autobiography; she is nothing like this Mother, but you would never know it from her performance.

And Albert Brooks...not my favorite actor, but he was in prime form in this movie. Man, oh, man, does he play the son part spot on.

And the two are just hysterical in their scenes together. There's even a bit of the age-old hint of Oedipus thrown in (always an issue with mothers & sons a bit, I think).

And the whiney, spoiled, but now grown up and successful brother? They found the perfect actor for him. And how many people like this have we all known? Lots!

This was a great screenplay with great acting that really spoke to me. It's funny but tender. The mother-son relationship is acrimonious, but one of love, as we can see in their scenes together. I watched it a second time on cable, alone...and I laughed out loud more than a couple of times.

The one thing that was great in the movie, but which did not ring true to me, was the mother having a fling. These scenes, as the son realizes it, are hysterical. But the reality is that most mature women do not have even the opportunity to have flings (men their ages, if still alive, want younger women, usu.). Too bad, 'cause those men miss out on a lot of great women. But it's a harsh reality. So I found that part of the movie a bit sad, since it reminded me of women I'd known who never became involved again after being widowed or divorced. Still, movies don't have to be exactly like real life, do they? Esp. comedies. Great movie! I should get the DVD.

[–] voltharb 17 years ago

Ha! that's what you think!

[–] MissMargoChanning 17 years ago

You obviously don`t know that many widows or divorced older women. These ladys are not dead. Where do you come from?
As for the movie, It`s wonderful, and I`m one of so many who can relate to it. Having been raised in a house with parents who lived through the depression era, we saved and stocked up and bought in bulk. It seemed more so, when I`d come "home" as an adult, to spend a few days. The whole food thing was SOOOO dead on!
What`s scary, is that my husband and I are much the same to our son now, when he comes to visit us!
This movie is a real gem!

[–] Noir-It-All 16 years ago

I read your post with interest. Do you know older women with men in their lives? Working in nursing homes filled with widows, I do wonder what I will do if I follow in their footsteps, besides living in a place that allows cats.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] MissMargoChanning 16 years ago

LOL! You don't have to be that funny old lady down the block with all the cats.
I'm in my early 50's, married, son out on his own for 10 years, and work with a couple of widows and a few divorced ladies too, who are about 5 to 15 years older than myself. They seem to have full and interesting social lives. One lady has a steady boyfriend, but does not intend to marry again, for as she says, she had the best when her husband was alive, and now she's just enjoying her fun. A few are Red Hatters, and go to all sorts of interesting places with thier friends.
My mother always told us girls to keep active a busy, and above all, surround yourself with friends.
While cats are cute, I'm sure she meant friends of our own species. I would also hate to live for or through my child either.

[–] Noir-It-All 16 years ago

Thanks for the heads up!

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] bpollen 15 years ago

I AM an older divorced woman. I also know lots of others.

Every time someone tells me, "Oh, nonsense that there are no men in your age bracket who aren't alcoholics, homeless, and who are reasonably attractive and gainfully employed, as well as healthy and who would love to date someone their own age! Nonsense!" I pull out a sheet of paper and ask them to write down the names of some, and I'll call them that night. I then ask them if they need TWO sheets of paper.

I have done this several times. I have not ever gotten a name written on that sheet of paper.

I'm 55. My age bracket of men is about 53 to 62. You see my requirements above. Nothing unusual. But I don't know of one man who meets that criteria. Not one. Don't forget that men start dying in their 50's, which doesn't help. But I DO know a lot of single women in my age bracket, most of whom have never been married. Maybe it depends on the city you live in. (BTW, this scarcity of men holds true for women in their 40's here, too. I think it may have something to do with the baby boomer generation.)

But I didn't mean to start anything. An older woman can join match.com and meet some men for daliances, I'm sure. And if she lives in a city with lots of men, the situation may be different there.

[–] Blondfashionisto 13 years ago

I thought the casting was indeed 'spot on'.

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] Dextrousleftie 11 years ago

My mother was a lot like her. Also, I know a couple in their 80s and they have the food hoarding thing sooo bad! They buy tons of food, then have to throw most of it out years later because neither of them eats much. They have a huge freezer full of crap. They should just give it to the local food bank and help people out, rather than wasting so much.

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[–] PretoriaDZ 8 years ago

As for opportunities for flings for older women, they are out there. I myself have had overt offers from men as young as 25 years younger than me but I don't do flings, so there you are. It's no good to me to have sex for sex sake. I have to be emotionally involved with the man. In my own age bracket, since I have worked hard to stay fairly slim, on a dating site, I say that physical fitness is important to me. If I married and a man got fat, I'm pretty sure i would still be attracted because I would love and be bonded to that person but initially, I have to find the person attractive. So when I ask for a physically fit match what do I get? Fat old bald men with beer bellies. I don't know if it's the men are delusional saying they are physically fit or if the app just ignores my criteria but that's what I get from a search, fat old bald men. Oh well.

This positively infantile preoccupation with bosoms!Terry-Thomas about US 1963.Hasnt changed much!