SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
US, 1995, 106 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Robert Duvall, Gena Rowlands, Kyra Sedgwick, Brett Cullen, Muse Watson.
Directed by Lasse Hellstrom.
Something to Talk About was written by Callie Khouri, who had written Thelma and Louise and was to write the television series, Nashville. It was directed by Lasse Hellstrom, the Swedish director who made an impact with My Life as a Dog (after filming the ABBA the tour in Australia). His films range from The Cider House Rules to Chocolat to The Hundred. Journey.
This is a domestic drama, focusing on a strong-minded woman who discovers that her husband has been having an affair, Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid. This raises issues with her father, Robert Duval, and her mother, Gena Rowlands who was silent although lifetime about her husband’s relationships. Kyra Sedgwick is the sister.
The setting for the film is a horse stud and the racing of horses, a focus on Julia Robert’s daughter and her writing as well as the good advice of the trainer, Muse Watson.
This is a portrait of an American family – with implied critique, the possibility of change, change of heart and future.
1. A picture of an American family? Affluent? Success? Problems and solutions?
2. The city, homes, offices, restaurants, workplaces? The contrast with the country, the mansion, the stables? The competition sites? The musical score?
3. The title, generic, for each of the characters?
4. The focus on Grace, her relationship with her husband, her daughter, her parents, her sister? Employees? The interactions with each of them? The background of her story, as a little girl, the two sisters, love for horses, the demanding father, the more passive presence of the mother? Her cooking, the kitchen scenes, professional? The tensions with her husband, seeing him with the other woman, her anger, ousting him, her father and his advice to make up, her mother reticent? Her exasperation? Going out, in pyjamas, with her daughter, seeing her husband and the restaurant, making a scene? The discussions with her sister and her advice? Her daughter, her age, a love for horses, being with the horses? Her father and the clash with the trainer, taking his side? The schools, the decision to meet with her husband, talking, the meal, the possibilities? Going out with the trainer, going back with him, the possibilities of a sexual encounter, his willingness, her decision to leave? The final competition, her father conceding defeat, the trainer’s victory?
5. Eddie, his marriage, his work, love for his wife, his daughter, the affair, in the street with the girl, Grace and making the scene in the restaurant, his being ousted? Having to sort things out, the meeting with Grace, their talk, the meal? Memories? The mutual faults?
6. The young daughter, strong character, support of her mother, and love her father, wanting them together, with the horses, her riding, her skills?
7. Grace’s parents, the years of their marriage, love, his infidelities, the mother being tolerant, the father and his whims, buying horses, employing the trainer, the competition with his old trainer, the rivalry? The mother, the discussions with Grace, Grace’s anger, challenging, taking stronger stances, ousting the father, his sitting on the steps?
8. Grace’s sister, strong character, independent, giving advice, not taking nonsense from her parents?
9. The rival trainer, his going into the competition, Grace’s father, his losing, congratulations to the trainer, the celebration?
10. An optimism that human nature is basically good and that problems can be sorted out?
