Evelyn Couch, an unhappy married woman, meets Ninny Threadgoode in a nursing home, where Evelyn is visiting her husband's mother, and Ninny is an incumbent. Ninny starts to tell her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and her close friend, Ruth Jamison and before long, Evelyn is hooked, itching ... Read review
Evelyn (Kathy Bates) is a middle-aged housewife, dissatisfied with her life. One day she ... more
meets an elderly lady, Mrs Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) who tells her a story of two young women in the 1930's on a journey through life and love.The friendship of the two girls, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary Louise Parker) inspires Evelyn to improve her life and luck. In the tradition of the old Southern storyteller, Fried Green Tomatoes' classic tale weaves together disparate lives and cherished times. A warm, touching and greatly amusing tale about the importance of love and friendship.
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Lovely story, well told, some great performances Disadvantages: None
Evelyn Couch, an unhappy married woman, meets Ninny Threadgoode in a nursing home, where Evelyn is visiting her husband's mother, and Ninny is an incumbent. Ninny starts to tell her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and her close friend, Ruth Jamison and before long, Evelyn is hooked, itching to hear the next installment in the story. Idgie and Ruth set up the Whistlestop Cafe after Ruth escaped from her violent husband, and they brought up Ruth's son ... ...Fast forward to modern day, and Evelyn is struggling with her marriage and worrying about her increasing age. Can Ninny help her come to terms with her life?
Kathy Bates has always been one of my favourite actresses - she seems able to take on any role and turn it into her own. As Evelyn, she gives a fantastic performance, by somehow making herself into an every-woman with whom any woman can identify. One of the best-known moments from ... more
Evelyn Couch, an unhappy married woman, meets Ninny Threadgoode in a nursing home, where Evelyn is visiting her husband's mother, and Ninny is an incumbent. Ninny starts to tell her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and her close friend, Ruth Jamison and before long, Evelyn is hooked, itching to hear the next installment in the story. Idgie and Ruth set up the Whistlestop Cafe after Ruth escaped from her violent husband, and they brought up Ruth's son together. However, their lives were never without excitement and trauma. Fast forward to modern day, and Evelyn is struggling with her marriage and worrying about her increasing age. Can Ninny help her come to terms with her life?
Kathy Bates has always been one of my favourite actresses - she seems able to take on any role and turn it into her own. As Evelyn, she gives a fantastic performance, by somehow making herself into an every-woman with whom any woman can identify. One of the best-known moments from the film involves her deliberately driving into the car of a young woman who stole her parking space ('Face it girls, I'm older and I have more insurance!') and this is the moment that had every woman throughout the English-speaking world cheering along with her. Kathy Bates transforms Evelyn from a timid woman with no self-confidence into a woman who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to use it. It's a great performance, yet isn't overly sentimental.
Mary Stuart Masterton is also fantastic as Idgie Threadgoode. Idgie is a tearaway, a real tomboy whose life falls apart when her beloved older brother is hit by a train and dies right in front of her eyes. She hides herself away and refuses to socialise with anyone until Ruth comes along and brings her out of herself. Their love for each other is beautifully portrayed - there is a hint that Idgie's love for Ruth is more than just friendship, but it is never spoken. Idgie is a lovely character - sometimes infuriatingly bossy and overbearing - but she is always fair and she values those that she loves. Mary Stuart Masterton really brings the character to life in a memorable way. Mary-Louise Parker is also good as the beautiful Ruth, although her role is much less stand-out.
Ninny is played by Jessica Tandy and although she doesn't have an enormous role, she still makes her mark on the film. Her character is ambiguous in that it is never clear exactly who she is - she appears to be telling the story of Idgie and Ruth, but there is a suggestion she could be Idgie herself. That aside, she initially comes across as being a rather dipsy old lady, but it is soon clear that there is much more to her than meets the eye. Her determination to ensure that Evelyn 'finds' herself, despite her own fragility, is truly touching to watch. She was nominated for a number of awards, along with Kathy Bates, and it is a real aberration of justice that she didn't win one. Finally, I have to mention Chris O'Donnell's appearance near the beginning of the film - unfortunately, it is a rather fleeting role!
Based on a book by Fannie Flag, who also co-wrote the screenplay, this is a lovely story that will melt most people's hearts. It has a bit of everything in it - death, murder, violence, possibly lesbianism - but most of all, it shows how love and respect for other human beings can overcome everything. I do not enjoy overly sentimental films, but the storylines and the characters of this one were strong enough to dilute the slushy parts and I was left with a feel-good film that shows there is always hope. I also liked the ambiguity of the film - wondering about the identity of Ninny and whether or not Idgie and Ruth were lovers - apparently the book is slightly different, but never having read it, this didn't bother me at all.
Another thing I liked about the film (and I'm sure many men reading will groan and look away in disgust at this moment!!) was its portrayal of strong women. All of four main women have upheavals in their lives, but they are all able to carry on regardless...usually without having to turn to their menfolk for help. As a willingly single woman, I really respected this. That does mean that some men will be put off the film, but I think, rather like Shirley Valentine, it was always supposed to be a women's film. That is not to say that men won't enjoy it though - there are plenty of nasty moments to counteract the saccharine ones. It probably isn't ideal for a family film though - at least not for young children - as the 12 rating proves.
The story is told via a series of flashbacks while Evelyn is visiting Ninny in hospital. Flashbacks can often be hard to follow, but there is nothing confusing about the way this story is told. I thought the balance was just right - Evelyn and Ninny's story is very much kept as a secondary thread, whereas everything is thrown into the Idgie and Ruth story, but this was just the way it should have been. Set in the deep South of the early twentieth century, there are clearly some potential racist moments that could upset some - the Ku Klux Klan (albeit a fake one) make an appearance at one point and the black population are clearly servants - however, Idgie and Ruth treat their 'servants', Sipsey and Big George, as part of the family.
I don't really have anything to criticise about this film, except perhaps that it isn't as memorable as it could be. I watched it again after several years, expecting to find it overly romantic and sentimental, but it is a very down-to-earth portrayal of ordinary lives. Most of all, it is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours - it has all the ingredients of a good film, so if you haven't seen it before, I recommend that you do.
Advantages: No sex, little violence, can't think of any swearing Disadvantages: None whatsover - it's simply fabulous
Ok chaps and chapesses, I have finally braved a film review but I must confess I did cheat a widdle bit as you will see, just to make it easier for me to write. With the memory of my first (and only I might add) album review still burning in my mind I didn’t particularly want to travel down that road again. So with this one I have done a review with a twist. Hope you like it, if not I fully understand :O)
Here goes:
Poor dear Evelyn, dissatisfied ... ...from her husband, pushed around, she feels she’s going mad
In the old folks home they visit granny, but to Evelyn she’s quite rude
She sits alone in the waiting room and meets dear old Mrs Threadgoode She herself has no visitors, no-one to pass the time She tells the story of Idgie and Ruth, a friendship quite sublime
So the movie changes often, from the present to the past
They are true tales you see, Mrs Threadgoodes’ memories which have last
...
gobalino 12.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)
Advantages: Witty, great actresses, fantastic storyline Disadvantages: Pacing may be a bit slow for some.
..."who would want to eat fried green tomatoes?" Perhaps it's just a delicacy enjoyed by people in Southern America. Anyway, once I got past that to actually watching the film, I realised this would probably be my favourite film of all time. Whether this is actually my favourite film of all time I couldn't tell you as I have so many favourites and all for different reasons. But this definitely ranks up in the top echelons.
Why do I love this film so? ... ...old lady in a nursing home who befriends Kathy Bates' character Evelyn Couch. Here is a veteran actress who has been around since 1932 and was still acting until not long before she died in 1994. She's been in many films that I certainly won't have seen but most people will likely remember her for "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Cocoon." One reason I liked her performance was her sense of comic timing and her story-telling voice as she wove her tale of ...
Rebeccs 25.07.2005 (30.07.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)
Advantages: Credible and timeless social drama. Disadvantages: Watered down from the book.
I received a copy of "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café" free with a particular brand of Sunday newspaper, it then sat on the shelf for at least six months whilst we choose various other TV programmes and DVD films to watch instead of this. Eventually on one sleepless night I popped it in the player and sat down to watch it; although it has my no means "changed my life" I do have to report that I feel somewhat guilty for making such a ... ...Couch is a bored and unappreciated housewife, as her husband, Ed, and she enter into later middle age things are definitely looking a little shaky and the romance has all but gone from their relationship. On a visit to a local old people's nursing home to visit one of Ed's relations, Evelyn is thrown (literally) out of the room and finds herself having to while away the duration of the visit in the day room. She is approached by a kindly looking ...
etala 25.09.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)
Advantages: Moving story and brilliant performances Disadvantages: None
...served good old southern cooking, fried green tomatoes and a huge portion of laughter and friendship, maybe the occasional murder.
Ninny's stories inspire Evelyn to do something about her life as their friendship grows.
This is one of those films which is like an old jumper which you loved and kept, but is now out of fashion or buried behind all the new ones. When you put the jumper on, you feel warm and cosy and good memories come flooding back. ... ...your collection, gathering dust, as you get newer films, but all of a sudden you come across it and when you watch it, the story comes flooding back and it makes you feel good.
The main storyline of the film is the friendship between Idgie and Ruth and not as you would first expect the friendship between Evelyn and Ninny. We see, through many little stories told by Ninny, that although Idgie and Ruth didn't hit it off to start with, over time their ...
christianfilmcritic 02.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic story for all Disadvantages: None
...films about female friendship. However Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is an exception to this rule. The film is based on the book with the same title, and directed by John Avnet, who is an American director, writer as well as producer. The movie is his directorial debut and released in 1991. The main storyline of the film is the friendship between two pairs of women, then and now. Idgie and Ruth are the first pair women. They came ... ...old southern food, such as fried green tomatoes. They built up a strong friendship, even did not mind doing anything include murdering to protect the relationship. Evelyn and Ninny are the other pair. Ninny is an old lady, who lives in a nursing house. From her memory the story developed that telling tales about the bigotry she encountered during her youth in 1930s. When Evelyn met Ninny and knew the moving friendship between Idgie and Ruth, she ...
happysh2009 24.03.2009 (03.11.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)
Evelyn's smalltown Alabama existence has become meaningless. But her life takes on new meaning listening to the stories told by Ninnie Thredgoode about the Whistle Stop Cafe which was run by young Idgie Threadgoode who was given to drinking, gambling and loyalty to her abused friend Ruth. Based on the novel by Fannie Flagg.
Video Category
Feature Film
Country Of Origin
United States of America
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PRISM LEISURE, ITV DVD; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
19/09/2005, 09/09/2002
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
30370 90563 R, 37115 01473
Barcode
5030370905631, 5037115014733
Author
Fannie Flagg
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive Menu, Full Motion Menus, Scene Index, Theatrical Trailers, Featurette, Biographies
Sound
Dolby Digital Surround
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital Surround English
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Professional reviews
Review
"...Jessica Tandy is glorious..." (Rolling Stone, p.50, 23/01/1992)
"...Handsomely mounted, engagingly performed...[and] wrapped around with an ingratiating score by Thomas Newman..." (Sight and Sound, p.56, 01/03/1992)
DVD Description
Evelyn's smalltown Alabama existence has become meaningless. But her life takes on new meaning listening to the stories told by Ninnie Thredgoode about the Whistle Stop Cafe which was run by young Idgie Threadgoode who was given to drinking, gambling and loyalty to her abused friend Ruth. Based on the novel by Fannie Flagg.
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