eric262003 I liked to be entertained. There's no denying that. Whether stage, screen or social media, if you entertain, you'll leave me with a smile on my face. Between stage and screen, screen is my top priority. Not that I'm bashing theatre at all, the artistic merit put into these productions are well crafted and carry a great level of energy to linger on inside of you. But when plays and musicals evolve onto the big screen I like to see if they are able to successfully transition themselves and capture the same amount of applauds to the bigger audience as they did with the smaller crowds. From 1989, "Steel Magnolias" successfully went to that direction to where everything was located in one particular setting and bringing camera crew to film it in multiple settings in a two hour duration.Set in a small village in Louisiana, the opening scenes are on the eve of Shelby Eatonton's (Julia Roberts) wedding to Jackson Latcherie (Dylan McDermott). She and her mother M'Lynn (Sally Field) go and get their hair done at a local salon owned by Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton). Joining them are their friends Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis), Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley McLaine) and spend the day talking about town life and the latest gossip. Joining them is Truvy's newest employee, Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah). Picking up from their conversations we learn that Shelby and Jackson have had their differences lately and that Shelby is a diabetic. We also get the invitation to explore further into the lives of these women in both their happy and sentimental times. but through all their trials and tribulations, they are always there for each other like sisters of different age groups.Granted, the average movie fans are more infatuated with high adrenaline and stories with complex plots. And I'm part of that majority as well, But it's still a welcome to have simplistic stories that come around from time to time with characters we can easily invest in. Through a series of vignettes, we can get a better understanding of the characters and find a likeness through each and everyone of them without falling victim to any elaborate plot twists. The reactions of these women's lives whether good or bad are absolutely priceless. And though the focal character in this film is around Shelby, their really is no leading performer as each character has their moments in the sun.The original play was situated solely in Truvy's salon, but the movie freely locates the settings to other public venues in the outskirts of the small town in Louisiana like a carnival, a church and a hospital. But the majority of the film is still at Truvy's which was based on the play by Robert Harling who also wrote the screenplay this movie is based on. The dialogue as whole is very memorable with plenty of humour and at times can also be touching. But when these women collaborate, they touch upon a myriad of topics, some of may be gossip, but nothing cringe worthy, but a lot of their subject matter is on life and love. Sure the talk presented here is done with sincerity whether talking about others or themselves, but it helps prevent itself from just being another face in the crowd when it comes to chick flicks. But the nice thing about "Steel Magnolias" is that it never portrays Southerners in a negative way. They're loving and caring individuals and they don't come across as illiterate or racist.Though a far cry from anything considered a masterpiece, "Steel Magnolias", it is too dependent on dialogue from Herbert Ross, it's still a clever story that is never bogged down with clutter. The acting was very impressive with a variety of emotional depth from Sally Field and Shirley McLaine being the scene stealer is quite notorious at being. If there was one real red herring about this movie was the unnecessary use of the epilogue as the curtain closed. I liked the message of hope it delivers to you, but we really needed a more uplifting happy moment after an incredibly emotional third act. But instead the movie cops out by injecting ideas of another movie in the making instead of just wrapping up the film and letting the characters move forward in their lives. In spite of that shortcoming, "Steel Magnolias" has aged gracefully to create a great story with larger than life characters with memorable quotes one will remember once the credits begin.

lasttimeisaw Based on Robert Harling's play, which is inspired by his own life story, the film version of STEEL MAGNOLIAS is directed by the schmaltz-brewing old-timer Herbert Ross. Emboldened by a pronounced female-centred cast, its narrative gaily situates in a Louisiana parish, where a palsy- walsy clique of (all-white) residents builds up rapport and strong support during the twist of fate, befalls the central Eatenton family.The film starts from the perspective of an outsider, an gauche young woman Annelle Dupuy (an uglified Hannah) arrives in town on the wedding day of Shelby (Roberts), the eldest daughter of M'Lynn (Field) and Drum Eatenton (Skerritt, a delightful comic relief), to work for Truvy Jones (Parton) in her beauty salon. Soon it turns out that Shelby suffers from type 1 diabetes, which implies that pregnancy will subject her life into great danger. If the couple wants children, adoption might be a wiser option, but no, that never gonna happen, Shelby is opinionated in her regressive determination to have a child of her own with a side-note faintly insinuates that perhaps, it is also what her husband Jackson (McDermott) wants despite the huge risk, their marital undertow only alluded during the women folk's regular saloon gossip, and any slant from their opposite sex has been maximally sidestepped (the original play has no male characters in the plot), and Jackson evidently doesn't come off as a model husband, but what comes to fore is the relationship between M'Lynn and Shelby, a mother's completely-selfless affection to her daughter (including donating one of her kidneys) Vs. a young woman's death-defying conviction to become a mother on her own term (latently also to ameliorate her marriage snag), although in hindsight, the latter descends to borderline injudiciousness, but quite tallies with the ethos of its time.Thankfully there are more upbeat subplots, which include a coruscating widow-duo, a graceful Clairee (Dukakis), once was married to the late former mayor, and a cantankerous Ouiser (MacLaine, a salient transformation in her appearance to enhance her senility), they banter, change repartee, bicker, make up, both are sprightly and wonderfully larger-than-life; whereas Annelle also says goodbye to her own troubled past, and finds solace in religion and soon a new husband with a baby on the way; only the relation between a generically spirited Truvy and her offish hubby Spud (Shepard) doesn't pan out effectively in the final product.STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a springboard to leapfrog Julia Roberts into stardom, earns her the very first Oscar nomination at the age of 22 over the more prestigious distaff thespians, still, how can one not be petrified to watch Field's mind-blowing flare-up in the cemetery one-take and in the next second, not get wryly bemused by Dukakis' off-kilter humor to swerve the mood back from abysmal heartbreak? According to my book, a more Oscar-deserving supporting player is the consistently fiery MacLaine, a recalcitrant rebel and nothing can hold her back! By contrast, a dewy Robert only outshines others by design in her one-off diabetes attack sequence.In all fairness, this female-skewing small-town melodrama hits the right spot as a life-affirming motion picture which appeals to a much more overlooked demography, but it is also stalled by its morally provincial material and a slightly over-honed happy-clappy tone to some extent.

parker-23196 This movie makes me laugh and cry every single time. I can watch it twice in one day and I will cry every time. These women perfectly summarize the southern American woman. Strong, smart, witty, sarcastic, caring, compassionate, naughty, God-fearing. Every actor felt like a real person going through real life events. You felt what they felt. My sister's and I will randomly exchange the one liners and they never get old. Sally's portrayal of M'Lynn has to be the best performance I've EVER seen. No other actress or movie scene can rip your heart out like Sally did. She'll leave you on your knees in tears. This movie could never be topped much less replicated.

Davis P Steel Magnolias (1989) tells the story of a group of southern women, including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Shirley Mclaine....... And more! They all gave fantastic performances, Julia even got an Oscar nomination for her supporting performance, and should've won in my opinion, I also think Sally Field should've gotten a nomination as well, and a win! Shirley Mclaine was also a great joy to watch, she really had a funny, charismatic, deep character to dive into, and it was a joy to watch! The plot was so delightful and well executed! Also, the dialogue was so smart and really worked well in the scenes. People tend to believe this is a film strictly for women, a big chick flick, well in some ways, yes, it is a chick flick, but the men will enjoy this movie as well! This is very touching, emotional, well done 1980's southern flick! 10/10