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Leaving Normal (1991)

Director: Edward Zwick

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Thelma & Louise without the turbo charge, this never seems certain where it's going. When Darly & Marianne set out on their voyage of self-discovery, their lives are a mess. Lahti's Darly is a brassy barmaid, as capable of putting her drunken customers down ('It takes more than two fingers to make me come') as of fireman's-lifting them outside. She seems to know where she's going, especially in comparison to Tilly's little-girl-lost Marianne. But on the road from Normal (Wyoming) to Alaska, it becomes clear that both are dominated by unresolved pain and unsuccessful relationships. The script, from Bill and Ted writer Edward Solomon, is full of detours where we meet enjoyably surreal supporting players who seem to have wandered in from a Lynch or a Waters movie. Solomon also supplies sharp lines, mostly to Lahti, who delivers them with great style. But there is a spurious mystical element, and this shunts the film off track in the direction of sentimentality, despite its quirky charm and photogenic locations.

Author: CO'S 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Sal said...
    Posted on Apr 24 2009 05:17 It was a good movie. I enjoyed it. Man when she got slapped, she had that look that said her soul was slapped too. She did the right thing and just ran away! Smart woman, unlike many in real life.
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Cast & crew

Director: Edward Zwick

Producer: Lindsay Doran

Cast: Christine Lahti, Meg Tilly, Lenny Von Dohlen, Maury Chaykin, James Gammon, Patrika Darbo, Eve Gordon full cast

Duration: 110 mins


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