DVD Reviews

Thelma and Louise: 20th Anniversary Edition - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 23, 2011, 14:09 GMT

Thelma & Louise is a thrilling, full-throttle adventure hailed as one of the best road movies of all time. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis star as accidental outlaws on a desperate flight across the Southwest after a tragic incident at a roadside bar. With a determined detective (Keitel) on their trail, a sweet-talking hitchhiker (Pitt) in their path and a string of crimes in their wake, their journey alternates between ...more

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon would become symbols of freedom to women everywhere when they took off in their T-bird on a journey of discovery. We can now take that journey in high definition.

Thelma (Geena Davis) is a housewife under the thumb of her incompetent, but controlling husband (Christopher McDonald). She’s best friends with headstrong waitress Louise (Susan Sarandon). Neither woman is very happy with their circumstances.

They decide to go on a weekend getaway and it ends up being something that will change both their lives. They stop at a roadside bar and Thelma gets drunk and flirty with a local (Timothy Carhard) who tries to rape her in the parking lot.

Louise intervenes in the nick of time with her gun, but kills him in cold blood. The two decide to run to Mexico but can’t take the more direct route. They’re pursued by a sympathetic cop (Harvey Keitel), meet a handsome hitchhiker (Brad Pitt in his breakout role), and discover more about themselves along the way… all the way to the Grand Canyon.

Thelma and Louise became representatives of female empowerment with this film. I guess I’ll earn your ire and remind you that it was directed by a man, but the film still struck a cord with women everywhere.

Both are “kept” in their own way – Thelma by her controlling husband and Louise by her past. Both overcome their obstacles on an epic trip of self discovery. It’s still a trip that brings out the best in both, not that it has a happy ending.

The film would earn five Oscar nominations but would only walk away with one for Callie Khouri’s screenplay. The film is well remembered and it’s thanks to Davis and Sarandon’s great performances (both nominated).

Both of them are looking even better in this high definition transfer that offers more clarity and breathtaking colors. We may not get much new in the special features, but fans will certainly want to upgrade for the increase in picture.

Thelma and Louise is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1). Special features are presented in standard definition.

They include two commentaries (one from director Ridley Scott and the second from Davis, Sarandon, and screenwriter Callie Khouri), the 60 minute “Last Journey” making of, the 5 minute original featurette, 40 minutes of deleted and extended scenes, an 8 minute storyboard of the final chase, a 3 minute alternate ending with optional commentary from Scott, a 4 minute music video, and 7 minutes of trailers and TV spots.

What might be a bit disappointing, although those special features from the DVD edition are still solid, is that a 20 year retrospective or new special features couldn’t have been drummed up for this edition. I guess there’s always the 25th year.

Thelma and Louise may be more of a feminist road trip, but there’s something for everyone to discover. It may be the fact that Ridley Scott is a master director, that Davis and Sarandon are fantastic actresses, or that Brad Pitt has abs. Whatever the cast, it’s a fun trip and a film classic.