The Trip to Bountiful

Starring: Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Richard Bradford, Rebecca De Mornay
Directed by: Peter Masterson
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An elderly woman (Geraldine Page) sneaks out of the apartment she shares with ehr son (John Heard) and daughter-in-law (Carlin Glynn) to make her way to her childhood home in Bountiful.

Review:

Tim: I knew very little about The Trip to Bountiful before sitting down to see the film. I knew Geraldine Page had won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, but that's about it. I didn't expect the film to be as touching, painful, and inspiring as it ended up being. I thoroughly enjoyed this incredible movie.

I am struggling to think of another film where one performance makes the entire movie. Geraldine Page makes The Trip to Bountiful great by the sheer force of her performance. My head feels stunned just trying to describe her. She's completely authentic- I never felt for a second like she was acting. She inhabits this character of Mrs. Watts and brings humanity, frailty, hope, and sadness to the role. It was truly amazing to watch. I was mesmerized by her movements- even the way she wiped the sides of her mouth was fascinating to watch. The whole movie rotates around her- the gravitational pull of her performance is incredible. Many times, when I watch an Academy Award winning performance, I question the legitimacy of the win. That's not the case here. Page is so unbelievably good there's no doubt she deserved this movie. Indeed, the rest of the movie around her is fine, but she elevates every aspect of the film with her stunning performance.

The film was very, very sad without being overly sappy or sentimental. The story is about an elderly woman who wants to return to the home of her youth. She's trapped in a small apartment with her spineless son and her overbearing daughter-in-law. Those scenes were hard to watch because they are a perfect representation of the challenge of two generations living together. The younger balks because they want their freedom, the older suffers because they want to be appreciated and loved. It was truly sad to think about the struggle this woman experienced in her old age. Out of desperation, she makes a run for it, trying to get home to Bountiful. Her journey is a sad one because of her limitations. She's old and out of touch. This makes everything difficult. And yet, she still deserves respect and admiration. It's an interesting dilemma concerning how we think about and treat the elderly. This movie managed to tap into something real, a difficult aspect of humanity that we'll all have to deal with at some point. And, if we're fortunate enough for a long life, will experience both sides of the equation.

Besides Page's remarkable performance, the supporting cast was good, too. I always like John Heard and think he played this role very well. He's not the most admirable character and he embraces that. Carlin Glynn was also incredibly strong. She's a terribly unlikable character, but never allows the character to become a villain. She's a flawed woman, trying to do her best but struggling with her living situation. I completely bought her performance- while I didn't respect her words or actions, she perfectly captured what many people will find themselves doing in this situation. Getting her character right was critical for the film and Glynn pulls it off.

I enjoyed how The Trip to Bountiful is both simple and complex. The story is ultra simple- it's about a woman trying to go home. But, there are layers to be mined about different generations, change, how we treat the elderly, how we remember the past. The movie is about forgiving wrongs and building lives. It's about overlooking faults and mending relationships. It's about holding onto what makes you you. I very much enjoyed this great movie. Most of the credit does go to Page. The rest of the movie is good, but her performance makes this a must-see.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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