Ordinary People

The movie I chose for my film paper was Ordinary People. I chose this movie because I wanted something I had at least heard about, but wasn’t too popular so I wouldn’t know the ins and outs of it without watching it. However, I cannot say that I loved the film; there are things that I liked, and things that I did not like. One thing I did enjoy was that towards the end, I really started to see Conrad, the main character, open up; I was really able to connect with him. I also thought the film was produced rather well. Considering it was done in 1980, the quality was quite good, and the scenes transitioned well. Although, one thing I did not really care for was the interest level in the movie. It was not an attention grabber, and not something I would have sat through had I gone to see it in a theater.

When it comes to the connection between the viewer and the characters of a movie, it really plays a big role. I feel as if one cannot really enjoy a movie if one cannot connect with the characters in some way, shape, or form. Towards the end of Ordinary People, I started to be able to connect with Conrad. He opened up emotionally, and was not just some kid whose life I was watching. It started to show what made him tick, and why exactly he felt the need to try and kill himself. Up until that point, I felt that the movie was rather dull. I am the kind of person that likes an emotional connection. Watching a movie is like reading a book, if it makes the viewer cry, laugh, or feel happiness along with the character, it proves that it was done well.

When it comes to watching movies and TV shows, I will choose a 1980’s movie any day. Even though not many films from the 1980’s were produced well; I thought Ordinary People was done with exceptional value. It had a very real feel to it, like I was actually there, living life with the characters. It transitioned well between scenes, so it was easy to follow along. Had I not read the description before watching the film, I...