MOTHER'S BOYS

US, 1994, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Gallagher, Joanna Whaley- Kilmer, Vanessa Redgrave, Joss Ackland.
Directed by Yves Simoneau.

Mother's Boys is a menace thriller - with the ingredients probably better than the finished product. The film looks stylish and was directed by Yves Simoneau. The cast is particularly strong, with Jamie Lee Curtis enjoying herself as a rich psychotic mother who abandons her children, is jealous of her ex-husband, comes back to destroy them all. The husband is played by Peter Gallagher, his girlfriend, a deputy principal at the school, is Joanna Whaley- Kilmer. The children's performances are also particularly good. There are some guest stars in support, especially Vanessa Redgrave as the grandmother and Joss Ackland, momentarily seen as a lawyer.

The film capitalises on Jamie Lee Curtis's presence, her sinister behaviour, her relationship with her mother and her dead father. However, it is highly melodramatic, especially the literal cliff-hanging finale.

1.Menace thriller, family thriller, the popularity of the genre?

2.The title and its ironies of love and hate?

3.The affluent background, the house, town, school, hotels? The musical score?

4.The strength of the cast?

5.The boys: Kes and his rage, Michael and his reactions, Ben as young and easily influenced? At school, Kes and the dissection of the frog, the class, his anger, the interview with the vice-principal? The boys and their relationship amongst themselves? The hesitant attitudes towards Callie? The relationship with their father? Love for their grandmother? The outbursts, their absent mother, her coming back, the gifts, the visit to the Planetarium? Their being seduced by their mother, especially Kes?

6.Robert as genial? His work, love for the boys, the experience with Jude? Love for Callie, hope for the future?

7.Callie, good woman, her work at the school, discreet with the children, supported by Lydia? The clashes with Jude, the interview at the school, her violence? Her becoming the victim of Jude's manipulation, turning the children against her? Jude attempting to smother her?

8.Lydia and the memories of her marriage, her husband, the incestuous relationship with the daughter? The sadness of her memories? Love for her daughter, but unable to relate to her? Fearing her reactions? Her severity with Jude? Love for her grandchildren? Listening to the boys, knowing what they were planning, the accident and her falling down the stairs? Hospital, Jude's visit, Jude's murderous intent towards her mother?

9.Jude, wealth, menacing her children, spoilt, the marriage, the divorce, her travel, return, the visits? Her relationship with Robert and attempt to seduce him? With her mother? The boys, her dislike of Callie, the impersonation at the school, the confrontation? The Planetarium? Discussing the games with the boys, the courts, the justice and the sentence? The practical joke against Callie, the violence, the car without brakes? Her going to see her lawyer?

10.The plan, Callie and her being imprisoned, the game and the trial, the handcuffs? Ben, the accident, the blood?

11.Callie and Ben, running, the dog, the car, the crash? The car on the cliffs, the danger for the boys, Kes and his change of heart, Callie and the rescue? Jude's death?

12.Melodramatic ingredient, stylishly done? How enjoyable is this kind of family nightmare?