The Big Chill | | Cast : | Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline | | Director : | Lawrence Kasdan | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | September 30, 1983 | | DVD Released Date : | October 30, 2001 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 15, 2005 | | Summary | The Big Zero | Content
 | I had heard so much about this movie over the years. Watched it finally and could not believe how bad it was. What a total waste of film and time. Was there even a script, or a production person that wasn't obviously stoned out of his/her mind, to this month old rotting hamburger helper movie, someone forget to bury? |
| Rating | | | Date | July 13, 2005 | | Summary | Nostalgic Boomer Essential....Stands The Test Of Time | Content
| This review refers to "The Big Chill" (VHS)
More than 20 years after it's release I still feel the need to pop this video in my player on occassion. The story has stood up well, and continues to make me smile with each viewing.
They were an anti-establishment, non-comformist, group of friends back in their college days in the 60's. They were a close knit group, that although not in regular communication with each other, kept up with each others lives. The suicide of one, bring them all back together for an eye-opening weekend.
Now 20 years after college, with a new set of values, most are now part of the working class establishment. Sucessful and set in their lives, raising families of their own. Spending the weekend together in one house, brings back memories, reveals new insights into each other's lives, and renews the group's closeness.
The film is both funny and dramatic,and a wonderful piece of nostalgia. It would not only appeal to the boomer generation especially, but also to those who can relate to friends and close ties made during the college days. The remarkable ensemble cast, that have all remained great stars, make it a joy to watch by all. The friends are: Glenn Close, Tom Berrenger, Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Jo Beth Williams, and Mary Kay Place. A young Meg Tilly adds her wonderful talents as well. If that's not enough, the soundtrack with all the familiar great tunes from the 60's, will have you 'groovin' once again.
If you loved this film, the first time you saw it, but it's been a while, watch it again and you'll remember the wonderful effect it had on you. If you havn't seen it, it is absolutely worth checking out.
Remember when...and enjoy...Laurie
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| Rating | | | Date | March 15, 2005 | | Summary | What a poor excuse for a movie... | Content
| I had heard so much about this movie, all good, that I looked forward to watching it. It was awful. What a waste of 1 3/4 hours! I know a lot of people love it, but it was not my "cup of tea." |
| Rating | | | Date | February 28, 2005 | | Summary | A film that has aged with reasonable grace... | Content
| After re-viewing "The Big Chill" on DVD, after not seeing it for a few years, I find that it has aged well for a film that is significantly time-stamped.
The lack of freshness that I experienced, was due mostly to the intervening years of exposure to other movies that are soundtrack-driven (in which this film played a pioneering part).
I do NOT understand the negative remarks from several other reviewers, regarding the DVD release. In my opinion, there's nothing at all wrong with either the video or audio aspects. And what's with the several negative remarks concerning the inclusion of the trailer for "Silverado", another Lawrence Kasdan film? So what??? Don't we buy or rent a DVD for the value of the film itself? The extras are just that...extras. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 07, 2005 | | Summary | Grief Counselling | Content
| As a 1971 graduate of a student movement campus, I feel for the characters in this movie. The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor was one such campus, and all the characters in this movie are alumni from there.
In 1969 they thought their parents and authority figures were wrong about everything. They thought formal clothing was wrong. They thought Time Life publications were full of baloney.
Now, in 1983, these Ann Arbor alumni dress formally, especially if they're going to a funeral. And one of the gang writes for People Weekly, the Time Life publication.
I'm a writer myself. I do my best to revive late 60's New Left political arguments on my web site:
www.realhistoryarchives.com
The ex - flower children in "The Big Chill" ponder their transformation into the people they used to hate, the people they once accused of killing the Kennedys.
Not only that, they also hear their biological clocks ticking. They try playing touch football only to wince at the injuries they likely will sustain from a single game. The character played by Mary Kay Place realizes she soon will become unable to bear children. The character of Alex, though never seen, haunts a group of his friends throughout the film. He has chosen to follow the advice of Pete Townshend and die before he gets old.
Group members revisit their erstwhile promises to help every single African American and Latino kid in the slums. Mary Kay Place's character broaches this subject. She is an attorney working in real estate law in the Atlanta area. When we first meet her we see her luxurious office with a beautiful view out the window.
She explains to the group that she switched to this lucrative field after becoming frustrated as a public defender in the juvenile court system of Philadelphia. She became frustrated there after realizing that the kids wanted to commit crimes instead of receive charity. They chose to hurt people. So it was time for her to do what she wanted to do.
If you haven't seen this movie, you should see it. You can't change the world as a few college students in 1969 wanted to do, but you can cry with those people as they grieve the shattering of their hope. The only possible sequel to this movie would take place in the year 2020 as the characters join the Grey Panthers. At that point they'll have to fight just to survive. Forget the Peace Corps. Their own survival (meals, medical care, etc.) will become paramount.
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