Having just watched Thelma & Louise for the first time, nearly thirty years after its release, I feel compelled to jot down a few observations. First, the shooting of the rapist was not self-defense, because the two women were secure when the shooting took place. It was an act of execution, apparently for the guy´s provocation (¨Suck my c**k!¨), but more likely it was a projection of what Louise´s rapist from Texas deserved, at least in her mind. Viewed that way, it was a revenge execution for the harm that she suffered at the hands of an equally despicable man.
Second, despite the many interpretations according to which this is a feminist classic, I must demur. The problem is that the women do not prevail by changing the world but by leaving it. The world at the end of the film contains two fewer women than it did at the beginning. More importantly, two lively and bold women have disappeared from the face of the earth. They did not fit into the male-dominated world, and so they left it.
Third, because not all depictions of all men in this film are negative (the Harvey Keitel character is a good example of a man who attempts to understand and help the women, to the best of his ability), I do not think that this is an anti-male screed, as some have complained. The Michael Madsen character, too, seems to be a basically decent guy, who appears even to love Louise.
Fourth, because the women make blunder after blunder, this film may reinforce the stereotype according to which women are less intelligent than men. In other words, without being misogynistic, Thelma & Louise does nothing to counter the age-old prejudices according to which women are inferior, and important decisions should be left to the men folk.
All of that said, the pace, cinematography, acting, directing, and everything else are really good. It is an action film, above all, but can be read metaphorically as well. Thelma & Louise ultimately poses the question: is it better to live large for a short time, or survive much longer by docilely accepting what those in power (primarily men) expect one to do?
Second, despite the many interpretations according to which this is a feminist classic, I must demur. The problem is that the women do not prevail by changing the world but by leaving it. The world at the end of the film contains two fewer women than it did at the beginning. More importantly, two lively and bold women have disappeared from the face of the earth. They did not fit into the male-dominated world, and so they left it.
Third, because not all depictions of all men in this film are negative (the Harvey Keitel character is a good example of a man who attempts to understand and help the women, to the best of his ability), I do not think that this is an anti-male screed, as some have complained. The Michael Madsen character, too, seems to be a basically decent guy, who appears even to love Louise.
Fourth, because the women make blunder after blunder, this film may reinforce the stereotype according to which women are less intelligent than men. In other words, without being misogynistic, Thelma & Louise does nothing to counter the age-old prejudices according to which women are inferior, and important decisions should be left to the men folk.
All of that said, the pace, cinematography, acting, directing, and everything else are really good. It is an action film, above all, but can be read metaphorically as well. Thelma & Louise ultimately poses the question: is it better to live large for a short time, or survive much longer by docilely accepting what those in power (primarily men) expect one to do?