BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

US, 1996, 112 minutes, Colour.
Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Annabeth Gish, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton, Rosie O'cDonnell, Max Perlich, Martha Plimpton, Natalie Portman, Michael Rappaport, Mira Sorvino, Uma Thurman, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Anne Bobby, Richard Bright, Adam Le Fevre, John Carroll Lynch, David Arquette, Sam Robards.
Directed by Ted Demme.

Beautiful Girls is an ensemble film from the mid-1990s, reflecting young adults, their attitudes, way of life – and, in retrospect, seeming far more responsible than young people 20 years later.

The focus is on Willie, played by Timothy Hutton, piano player returning home to give himself time to reflect on his engagement to Tracy, Annabeth Gish about his prospective marriage. His friends at home include Tommy, Matt Dillon, who is having difficulties in committing himself to Sharon, Mira Sorvino, and entangled with a married woman, Darian, Lauren Holly. There is also Paul, the immature young man, Michael Rappaport, still quite an adolescent in his approach, especially to women, infatuated with Jan, Martha Plimpton, is in a relationship with a meat-cutter, Adam Le Fevre.

There is also the older Mo, Noah Emmerich, and his wife, Anne Bobby, and children, getting entangled with his friends, especially in a fight to defend Tommy. Rosie O’ Donnell’s Gina, the older friend, has a show-stopping speech about men and their attitudes, pornographic magazines, men and their ineptitude is. Most impressive is Natalie Portman, after her appearance in Leon, playing Marti, the young but wise girl next door, who attracts Willie who has to act responsibly – but the audience will share his entrancement with her.

1. Title, expectations, the cast?

2. Life in the 1990s, for young adults, in America, universally?

3. The, look, streets, houses, bars, school reunion? The musical score, the range of songs?

4. Will, in himself, piano player, the bus, his arrival, met by Mo, home, his father watching the TV, his scatty brother, meeting Marti, friendship with her, her age? The story of Tracy and his relationship? Plans for the wedding? Undecided? Needing time and space? His old friends? Action, the snow, the fights, the meeting with Andera, talking with her, the ice fishing? His realisations? Tracy’s arrival, talking to her? Making the decision? The influence Marti? His future?

5. The men, in the snow, Tommy and Darian coming to the car with drinks? His past, the school hero, the relationship with Darian at the time? Kevin and his reaction? His friendship with Willie, Paul? His relationship with Sharon, unable to commit, hanging out with his friends? Sharon testing him, the party, his gratitude? Darian’s arrival, glamorous dress, her advances, Sharon leaving, his driving home, the break? His not going to the reunion, going to the bar, his being bashed by Darian’s husband? Hospital, the visits, Sharon and her care?

6. Paul, the type, driving the snow plough, his infatuation with Jan, jealous of her and the meat cutter? His work, the snowplough, putting the snow Jan’s door? His visiting her at the diner, the argument, the champagne ring, rejection? His being a mixture of the shrewd and the dumb? With the others, his advice? Andera, the attraction, the date, trying to make Jan jealous, the dance, Andera leaving? His defending Tommy, the group going to the fight, seeing Jan? The change, possibilities?

7. Mo, his wife and children, attitude towards Tommy and Darian, listening to Will, the fight against Darian’s husband, going the house, seeing the daughter and backing down?

8. His wife, the children, love for her husband, her disappointment about his going to the fight, listening to Gina, supporting Sharon, the talks with Tracy?

9. Sharon, the past, relationship with Tommy, protected by her mother, with Tommy, wanting commitment, the arguments, the advice from her girlfriends, setting up the party, leaving, her being upset, going to the hospital, caring for Tommy?

10. The reunion, people turning up, meeting, Darian present, and being told off going home? That she was mean?

11. Gina, friends, loud, her key speech about men in the shop, pornographic magazines, photos, the unreality of the sex photos, her blunt and explicit language about men and their attitudes and behaviour? Confronting Tommy and Willie?

12. Marti, the young girl, her age, name, interest and Willie, their talks, his attraction, holding himself back, her advances, not understanding? The farewell?

13. A cross-section of young adults in the 1990s?