Ordinary People (1980)

Set in suburban Chicago, an upper middle class family must deal with the aftermath of a son's (Scott Doebler) death and the attempted suicide and emotional breakdown of another son (Timothy Hutton). Based on the novel by Judith Guest and directed by actor Robert Redford in his feature film directorial debut. A powerful look at a family unglued while struggling to maintain a facade of normalcy. ORDINARY PEOPLE got a lot of backlash when it won the best picture Oscar instead of the critical darling, the overrated RAGING BULL. It's not a perfect movie by any means but it's beautifully acted save one and it still packs an emotional punch. Redford guides us through the painful emotional landscape of its characters and holds back judgment. A veil of sorrow hovers over the film but we're never manipulated. These are real people going through real emotional devastation. On the downside, Judd Hirsch as a glib psychiatrist is the only character that comes across as actor-ish rather than an actual human being. And a minor nitpick but Mary Tyler Moore's emotionally bereft housewife is a cousin to Harriet Craig and her abandonment of her home (even if temporary) seems off. With Donald Sutherland (whose performance doesn't get enough recognition), Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, James B. Sikking, M. Emmett Walsh and Meg Munday.