HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1995 Michael John Legeros
(Universal) Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse Written by Jane Anderson, from the novel by Whitney Otto Cast Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Samantha Mathis, Kate Nelligan, Winona Ryder, Jean Simmons, Lois Smith, Alfre Woodard Running Time 109 Minutes MPAA Rating PG-13 Reviewed at Mission Valley Cinemas, Raleigh, NC (2OCT95)
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With apologies to author and talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, a better title for this movie might be SEVEN WOMEN WHO DO STUPID THINGS TO MESS UP THEIR LIVES.
Winona Ryder stars as "Finn," a Berkeley grad student who is spending the summer with her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) and great aunt (Anne Bancroft). She's taking a break from her boyfriend-turned-fiance, because she's scared, and because she finally wants to finish her thesis. Grandma's house is also the longtime home of a quilting bee, made up of seven women who have all suffered from the tragedies of love. Or, at the very least, from the results of bad decision-making. They each have a story to tell and they do. So much, in fact, that poor Winona and her character's fear of commitment are practically lost in the shuffle.
As a naysayer`s portrait of marriage, this spring's MIAMI RHAPSODY was much funnier. Sarah Jessica Parker as a bubbly neurotic beats an angst-ridden Winona any day of the week. Part of the problem is the actress; Ms. Ryder still looks like she's in high school and it's a stretch to think of her thinking such serious thoughts. (Which she really doesn't. The story allows virtually no examination of her character's feelings about engagement or marriage. Instead, the plot provides a silly stud-boy for "Finn" to be distracted by.)
HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT is a "chick flick" that many may embrace wholeheartedly. The story shoots for anecdotal appeal and, in some ways, succeeds gracefully. Who can fault the flawless chemistry between Burstyn and Bancroft? Or the relaxed pace that so well suits the, uh, patchwork narrative? Or the unusual supporting cast that includes everyone from Rip Torn to Ester Rolle to legendary poet Maya Angelou? Go with the flow and you're fine. (At least until the hokey final reel, which starts with a stormy, weather-related metaphor, continues with a character-by-character recap of each woman's story, and finally ends with fair Winona-- wrapped the a quilt, no less!-- following a crow into an orange grove. Hilarious!)
Stand back to think about the movie's message and reasonable doubt comes into play. A woman who sleeps with her sister's husband. Another wife who accepts her husband's philandering. Another wife-turned-widow who answers her grief with an affair. And so on and so on. How can we view these characters as anything other than failures? When we turn to Winona, with an optimistic look toward youth and the future, we find *her* character in the arms (and more!) of another man, because she's too afraid to face her own feelings! [Insert head shaking.]
To the credit of all parties involved, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT is no less honest than Clint Eastwood's well-received BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Both are warm, well-acted features that return plenty for anyone willing to just "go with flow." And what more does a movie ask, these days, than mere physical attendance? Go with flow, Sheldon, and you're fine. Stop, look, and listen... and you may come away with a different opinion.
Grade: C+
-- Michael J. Legeros - Raleigh, NC legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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