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| Georgia
Year: 1995
Classification: Drama
Directed:
- Ulu Grosbard
Actors/Actresses:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Mare Winningham
Rags to Riches,NO, Greek Tragedy,NO (minus one star because)
This is a tale about a successful singer and her sister living on her coat tails as a untalented singer, addict, and polar opposite. It's clean living success versus struggles and failures. As an author of a book dealing with dysfunction and addiction, I enjoyed this move. The movie is set up to root for the underdog, but the more you want her to make it or to crash and burn (even die), the more she stays the same in her situation. Basically, you can't teach a dog new tricks. Excellant acting by Jennifer Jason Leigh as the overly masscaraed, eye-lined Sadie. At times she looks like she has two black eyes, because in reality she has been beaten (not physically, but beaten in life). I kept waiting for her to be beautiful, but JJL does a great job being unattractive. Why did I prefer her to the Georgia character? Must be a character flaw of mine. I rooted like heck for her and chances are would have seen one of her band's shows instead of Georgia's. John Doe (from the band X) also does a great job acting in this one. Memorable scene was when a messed up on Nyquil Sadie is carried up the stares by Bobby (Doe) and taken care of. "Shut up Sadie," he says repeatedly and then dumps her in the tub. Interesting flick, not a five because Sadie didn't succeed or die.
ACHING AND PAINSTAKING
This is a slow-moving and somewhat heartbreaking story of a woman, Sadie Flood (played with very typical immersion by Jennifer Jason Leigh who also produced this film), who yearns to be a singer. She is, as her husband implores late in the film, so full of hope it almost kills you. She has so much heart, but she has almost no talent on top of the fact that she is such a drifter with such real problems (drinking and drug problems), that even if she had the kind of talent to make a career, she would not have the perseverance. The problem, above and beyond this, is her older sister, Georgia (a fine, subdued Mare Winningham), who is a successful singer with a nice home and happy family. Sadie wants to win her sister's approval so much, but Georgia is guarded and very reserved. With good reason. Sadie is not the most stable person, and in subtly conveyed complexities the two actresses weave a very close but unsure relationship. It is clear by their interactions that they have had strained and problematic relations. Georgia tells Sadie's well-meaning husband, Axel, when he asks Georgia if she can help Sadie with her own music career, that Sadie is always getting in the way of Sadie. This is very true. No matter what she does she seems to hurt herself. It is heartbreaking. In the end, Sadie comes back to Georgia because she is strung out on heroin, and Georgia tries to help Sadie overcome her addiction. Their relationship is multi-layered and emotional. Fabulous performances by both actresses. It is a shame this film did not get more attention.
A realistic tale of sorrow
Very good performances on a story that is quite depressing and will make you wonder about some loose ends. We never get a clear message on why Sadie becomes so obsessed in becoming a singer under the shadow of her famous sister. We never get to know what happens to her husband who supposedly did not walk out on her. I read the critics review, but like many, I do not agree with them. Definitely not a boring movie, but neither entertaining nor educational.
Buy Georgia at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
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