The Big Chill (1983)

Generation of Swine

This well acted film is a great portrait of sterotypical 60s generation sell-outs who in their youth were a little bit concerned about things besides themselves. But the times, they-are-a-changin'. They "grew-up" and ended up caring only about themsleves and material gain(of coarse) which is what adulthood means to most Americans. They lived through the 60s, their youthful idealism and naivete, on into the 1980s to become yuppies and narcissists. The only truly decent character is already dead at the beginning of the film and his funeral is what brings these old friends together while at the same time being an obvious symbol that, in a way, what was best about them is now dead. This film stands along with a handful of other films as a particularly instructive document of the so-called baby boomer generation and American culture at the late end of the 20th century. June 5, 2008

Essential Viewing

When I first saw Lawrence Kasdan's The Big Chill I was a seventeen year old high school senior and I'll admit the story did not do a lot for me. Now, some twent-five years later after the idealism of youth fades into a daily grind the movie has much more meaning.

A group of seven friends plus the current girlfriend of the deceased gathers together on the weekend of the funeral of a friend who committed suicide. The friends feel that he had no real reason for what he did and are left searching for answers. In the three days that follow they must reexamine who they are and the choices that led them to this point in their lives.

The film features an incredible script written by Kasdan and Barbara Benedek and fine performances from its ensemble cast. The disc also includes a where are they now featurette and some deleted scenes. The film quality is good for a twenty five year old film even though the picture is a little soft. The sound has been remastered into Dolby 5.1 and comes across as crisp and clean.

This is a film for a more mature audience who understands the twists and turns of fate and of friendship. It is absolutely essential viewing. June 1, 2008

The Big Chill DVD

I have been trying to find the DVD locally for some time. I was delighted with my purchase and it arrived in record time. April 8, 2008

Attack of the Yuppies

I saw "The Big Chill" for the first time when I was about 16 and considered it to be one of my favourite movies. Watching it again, more than 10 years later, I realize that the reason why I loved this film so much was because of the soundtrack (this was the film that instilled in me a love for "classic" rock and roll, especially The Rolling Stones, a love which still remains with me today). It was most certainly not for the plot or characters.

The plot centres around a group of yuppies who gather for the funeral of a college friend and then spend the weekend reminiscing about "the good old days" (this plot was, in fact, borrowed from "The Return of the Secaucus Seven", which was made three years earlier, but on a much lower budget). None of the characters in the film have a single redeeming feature and to put it bluntly, they are a group of narcissistic yuppies. Still, in a morbid kind of way, they are fascinating to watch. I don't identify with these people, I don't want to be like them, and yet, when they dance around the kitchen to old records, I find that I can't take my eyes off the screen.

After the music, the next best thing about this film is the cast. Just about every actor in this film went on to bigger and better things (even Kevin Costner, who is the corpse that you see in the opening scene).

Overall, the film is worth seeing, if only to say that you have seen what is often considered to be a minor classic, and after you've seen it, go out and buy the soundtrack.
April 4, 2008

A film for Baby Boomers -- lots of fun!

Yes, there's a funeral, which is the basis for the background story for this film -- but the dead guy would have been fine with his associates' activities over this "going back" weekend.

The story is essentially this: A gregarious assemblage of Baby Boomers (now mostly successful and semi-rich) come together for a weekend reunion when a friend, (drug-crazed, who never left the 60s), dies. The post-funeral activities range from philosophical meanderings to reefer smoking to carnal intercourse. The corpse's young girlfriend stays on throughout the weekend for additional comic relief.

I could watch this one over and over, (and I do). They say that, "You can never go back," but this film returns one to the 60s for just a little re-peek. Here are the great things about this movie, at least for Baby Boomers:

1. The music. This film features one of the great 60s soundtracks of all time:

The Big Chill - Deluxe Edition

The Big Chill: More Songs from the Original Soundtrack

2. The story -- the interactions of these characters absolutely reminded me of the humorous hipocracy of my pals and myself as well.

3. The cinematography of this film is second to none. The locations and sets are also superb.

4. The casting in this film is so perfect I can't think of one change that I would have made.

I don't know that this movie would mean a lot (or have any meaning whatever) for younger generations of people -- you sort of had to be there. It's a comedy film in a sense, (falling into a category of films which I would normally avoid), but this is a MUST SEE for any Baby Boomer who participated in the nefarious, free-love-society of the '60s.

Highly recommended to appropriate viewers. March 31, 2008

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