To not under why Thelma and Louise is regarded so highly?

[MoominMantra]

Two women go on the run getting themselves into deeper and deeper shit until they finally commit suicide.

I find it really depressing. So what am I missing?

Thanks for the spoilers .... I haven’t watched it yet

One of my favourites. Superb acting. Great soundtrack. Harvey Keitel.

And the depressing thing, as Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis acknowledged at a reunion, not much like it has happened since.

It’s a brilliant film! Great script and cast. The ending is in the best of all time lists.

Awful film, horrible ending

It’s a superb movie, beautifully written, incredible acting, beautifully shot. Oh, and the music is fantastic. Like others have said, there is nothing like it. It’s real, it’s gritty, and the females have agency. It’s incredibly depressing there has never been a female movie like it since.

Maybe it was of its time - I saw it when it came out but not since. It was around the same time as Drearily Seeking Susan wasn’t it?

It was fabulous! YABU.

Everything I’m Free says.

You might be a bit at it now, but I remember how important this film was when it was first released. You just didn’t see two strong female leads doing something, how can I put it, not “home and family” related.

See The Accused also.

1991 - it was the behaviour of the cops which got me. Maybe being British where the police aren't normally armed . Can't remember the exact story but T&L shot a guy - no possiblility of it being seen as justified.

I don't think you can go back in time and understand the society, societal norms then unless you've lived through them - or not without a lot of study.

I don't get why a film ending with 2 women finally gaining their independence is so great when all they do is kill themselves?

It was a big old ‘fuck you’ wasn’t it?

Fuck you to what though?
The men have the last laugh, their women left them and could make it on their own so killed themselves. I'd hate girls to watch it now and think it was all about girl power cos it had Brad Pitt and a good soundtrack.

Their choice - their last bit of control of their live/death. No more men telling them what to do, where to go etc. ‘Bollocks to all that’.

I agree, at the time it was a breath of fresh air with two strong female leads who rejected their male dominated lives. All they wanted was a short break from it, but even on holiday they couldn’t escape the misogyny.

The end is happy and tragic at the same time, which makes it a very powerful film.

Agree with OP & Momi, boring, boring, boring. Robbing stores etc Not my idea of empowerment (especially when they both end up dead!). Brad Pitt meh!

I definitely think it sits with The Accused as important films for the portrayal of female characters. You just didn’t get many films being carried by female actors back then. I can understand someone not liking the style or the ending but I don’t honestly see how you could think it’s an awful film.... it’s not awful.

I loved it when I saw it: it was very much a big deal at the time for the reasons a PP gave - two women in a film that was all about them and their stories. I think context matters a lot in assessing the importance of a particular film.

Though in terms of there having 'never' been a film about two women's friendship, none of you people ever seen Times Square? For all its flaws (though I loved it to bits in my teens) the core of that is the relationship between Nicky and Pammy.

I love the film. I don't find it depressing at all. Watched it with my 15 y/o DD though and she couldn't see what the fuss was about. She also hated Geena Davis' character.

Not a huge fan of Brad Pitt but I thought he was really good in this.

I agree with you OP. I only saw it a few years ago. It was ok.
Same with Dirty Dancing. Its average at best.

LordPro - no, Desperately Seeking Susan was about 6 years before

Now that film really stank.

Maybe because women didn't feel empowered in 91 and seeing two women gaining independence spoke to them plus its when Brad Pitt was attractive?

It can’t be been 91? I’m sure it was earlier.

A great film.

Sarandon's character had been let down by the law previously, hence her traumatic reaction in the car park and subsequent going on the run. 2 women with limited resources and life choices, who take control of their lives. So powerful, such great acting.

Couldn't care less about Brad Pitt, his character was eye candy and yet another factor in the "women being screwed over" narrative.

Harvey Keitel.... now we're talking.