the audience applauded

Memorable, crazy movie

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

I liked to be entertained. There's no denying that. Whether stage, screen or social media, if you entertain, you'll leave me with a smile on my face. Between stage and screen, screen is my top priority. Not that I'm bashing theatre at all, the artistic merit put into these productions are well crafted and carry a great level of energy to linger on inside of you. But when plays and musicals evolve onto the big screen I like to see if they are able to successfully transition themselves and capture the same amount of applauds to the bigger audience as they did with the smaller crowds. From 1989, "Steel Magnolias" successfully went to that direction to where everything was located in one particular setting and bringing camera crew to film it in multiple settings in a two hour duration.Set in a small village in Louisiana, the opening scenes are on the eve of Shelby Eatonton's (Julia Roberts) wedding to Jackson Latcherie (Dylan McDermott). She and her mother M'Lynn (Sally Field) go and get their hair done at a local salon owned by Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton). Joining them are their friends Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis), Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley McLaine) and spend the day talking about town life and the latest gossip. Joining them is Truvy's newest employee, Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah). Picking up from their conversations we learn that Shelby and Jackson have had their differences lately and that Shelby is a diabetic. We also get the invitation to explore further into the lives of these women in both their happy and sentimental times. but through all their trials and tribulations, they are always there for each other like sisters of different age groups.Granted, the average movie fans are more infatuated with high adrenaline and stories with complex plots. And I'm part of that majority as well, But it's still a welcome to have simplistic stories that come around from time to time with characters we can easily invest in. Through a series of vignettes, we can get a better understanding of the characters and find a likeness through each and everyone of them without falling victim to any elaborate plot twists. The reactions of these women's lives whether good or bad are absolutely priceless. And though the focal character in this film is around Shelby, their really is no leading performer as each character has their moments in the sun.The original play was situated solely in Truvy's salon, but the movie freely locates the settings to other public venues in the outskirts of the small town in Louisiana like a carnival, a church and a hospital. But the majority of the film is still at Truvy's which was based on the play by Robert Harling who also wrote the screenplay this movie is based on. The dialogue as whole is very memorable with plenty of humour and at times can also be touching. But when these women collaborate, they touch upon a myriad of topics, some of may be gossip, but nothing cringe worthy, but a lot of their subject matter is on life and love. Sure the talk presented here is done with sincerity whether talking about others or themselves, but it helps prevent itself from just being another face in the crowd when it comes to chick flicks. But the nice thing about "Steel Magnolias" is that it never portrays Southerners in a negative way. They're loving and caring individuals and they don't come across as illiterate or racist.Though a far cry from anything considered a masterpiece, "Steel Magnolias", it is too dependent on dialogue from Herbert Ross, it's still a clever story that is never bogged down with clutter. The acting was very impressive with a variety of emotional depth from Sally Field and Shirley McLaine being the scene stealer is quite notorious at being. If there was one real red herring about this movie was the unnecessary use of the epilogue as the curtain closed. I liked the message of hope it delivers to you, but we really needed a more uplifting happy moment after an incredibly emotional third act. But instead the movie cops out by injecting ideas of another movie in the making instead of just wrapping up the film and letting the characters move forward in their lives. In spite of that shortcoming, "Steel Magnolias" has aged gracefully to create a great story with larger than life characters with memorable quotes one will remember once the credits begin.

There are so many reasons to watch Steel Magnolias, and once you've watched it, you can cross it off your "classics to watch" list and move on to the next one.You'll appreciate the large cast (Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Tom Skerritt, Sam Shepard, Dylan McDermott) and you'll get a kick out seeing Julia Roberts in the movie just before she donned knee high boots for Pretty Woman. And yes, you'll laugh and shed a tear, but then you'll survive. This isn't Terms of Endearment.Steel Magnolias will appeal to the Fried Green Tomatoes, Crimes of the Heart, and August: Osage County. In other words, it's a movie about a bunch of Southern women muddling through life, with a little tragedy, a few chuckles, and a sweet tea or two. If you like those types of movies, add this to your weekend watch list and start popping that corn!

This movie makes me laugh and cry every single time. I can watch it twice in one day and I will cry every time. These women perfectly summarize the southern American woman. Strong, smart, witty, sarcastic, caring, compassionate, naughty, God-fearing. Every actor felt like a real person going through real life events. You felt what they felt. My sister's and I will randomly exchange the one liners and they never get old. Sally's portrayal of M'Lynn has to be the best performance I've EVER seen. No other actress or movie scene can rip your heart out like Sally did. She'll leave you on your knees in tears. This movie could never be topped much less replicated.

I absolutely love this movie. The performances are superb and the emotional range of these women is incredible. I rarely laugh out loud when I'm watching a DVD alone at home but this movie had me laughing out loud and for so long my sides were sore and I had tears rolling down my face and this happens every time I see this film. And at the other extreme, Sally Field's performance throughout was wonderful but her portrayal of the insanity of such loss and grief in the scene at the cemetery is gut wrenching and explores the whole insane range of emotions that are experienced with such profound grief. I was sobbing and even after repeated viewings - I do watch movies that I really like several times over a period of weeks or months and even years - her portrayal of this grieving mother has me first crying and then laughing every time I watch it.The lifelong bonds between these women are wonderful in their depth and complexity and their acceptance of each others idiosyncrasies that are so well portrayed by these amazing actresses is heartwarming and funny and very real. These women portray friendship at its best.I highly recommend this film, chick flick or not, it's fun and funny and gut wrenching and heartwarming. I laughed until I cried until I laughed again.Why at least some of these women did not receive Academy Awards for their brilliant performances of this amazing script, I'll never understand.I must also give high praise to the use of silence in this film. So many moments are given such importance and impact by the use of silence especially those very long moments in the hospital around 'the decision' spoke volumes.I do hope it is not possible to wear out a DVD because I might just watch it enough to wear it out!