“Thelma & Louise” The birth of a “legend” portrayed by Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, and Ridley Scott *Note! Contains spoilers.

casting success

Planning for ``Thelma & Louise'' began when Scott fell in love with Karlie Khoury's script and wanted to make it into a film, but he did not originally plan to direct it himself.

However, after talking with several directors, I found that none of them matched my vision. So I decided to pick up the megaphone myself. Scott reflects on this point as follows:

"I talked to many directors and they wanted to change the script. However, I wanted to make the film as it was. The directors were surprised that I didn't make the film myself. So I decided to shoot it myself.'' (From "Film Journal" June 1991 issue)

For Scott, who decided to direct the film himself, the most difficult task was casting Thelma and Louise. When casting, we considered not only the actresses' individual acting ability, but also the compatibility of the actresses when acting together.

Popular actresses were nominated one after another, with Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, and Goldie Hawn also being considered. First, Geena Davis, who had won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Accidental Tourist (1988), was chosen to play Thelma, and then Susan Sarandon was chosen. She was one of Hollywood's leading actresses at the time, and had won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Dead Man Walking (1995). The two were apparently close in A Very Private Affair, and their friendship was apparent on screen in this casting.

Director Scott is by no means a self-righteous type of director, and values ​​collaboration with actors. In this film, he created his own scenes while talking with the two actresses, and the actresses agreed with his approach, so the film was made in a collaborative manner.

"It was important to have a sense of elation in the scene. I also wanted to take advantage of the freedom of acting that occurs on set, and the two actresses understood that point." ("Sight and Sound", 1991, 7 month issue)

The performances of the two leads were highly praised, and they were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress that year. In addition, the script that Scott fell in love with won the Original Screenplay Award.

"Thelma & Louise" (c) Photofest / Getty Images

The most impressive supporting cast is Brad Pitt, who plays Thelma's one-night-stand lover. Until this work was released, he had been living a lowly life in TV dramas, but he finally gained recognition after playing the role of JD, a mysterious young man with a slender figure and a sex appeal.

Pitt, who respects director Scott, later played a man with a motive for getting involved in a crime in Scott's `` Law of Evil '' (2013). Even after becoming a huge star, he played memorable supporting roles for his former benefactor.

In addition, Harvey Keitel, who played the role of a detective who pursues Thelma and Louise, plays a role that is sympathetic to women. He was an actor who often played strong songwriters, but his unusually gentle face left a fresh impression.

Also, Michael Madsen, who plays Louise's lover, is an actor who often plays tough roles, but in this work he shows the kindness and purity of an adult man, and gives a good yet cool performance.

The two actresses stand out overwhelmingly, but the supporting roles also leave an unforgettable impression in their own right. This is where Scott's ability to continue to cherish his actors is demonstrated.

An escape trip for two women