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'Night, Mother

Play trailer Poster for 'Night, Mother PG-13 1986 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Jessie Cates (Sissy Spacek) packs her belongings into bags intended for donation to charity. She's doing so because, as she tells her mother, Thelma (Anne Bancroft), she plans to kill herself that very evening. This film, inspired by an esteemed stage production, centers on the interactions between an elderly woman and her daughter, whose depression has pushed her to the brink of suicide. As Jessie steels herself for her last act, Thelma gallantly encourages her to opt for life.
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'Night, Mother

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Paul Attanasio Washington Post Based on Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, it's almost a textbook example of how not to bring Broadway to the screen. Jan 3, 2018 Full Review Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) While the film is emotionally wrenching, it never becomes an exercise in masochism. Sep 19, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a decent-enough adaptation that generally works best as a showcase for the thoroughly engrossing efforts of its two stars. Rated: 3/4 Mar 27, 2021 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A sobering overwrought drama based on Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Rated: B- Oct 6, 2015 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this drama examines the complex roots of suicide. Jul 10, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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ellen m This movie saved my life... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/31/22 Full Review Audience Member This is one of the best movies l have ever seen. It had such an effect on my life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review jon c When is the relationship ever easy between mother and daughter? Based on the play by Marsha Norman and starring Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft In this story we see a mom Thelma and daughter Jessie combat each other but also bond more than they ever have Jessie tells Thelma she wants to kill herself but first Jessie wants to pack her things up and donate to charity Her depression has pushed her to suicide and her mother cannot comprehend this decision Thelma will try her hardest to sway her daughter This is a really good showcase of two talented actresses working with some powerful material Yes the movie is a lot of bantering back and forth but Spacek and Bancroft shine immensely It truly does explore the roots of suicide and why it escapes us If two people just listen to each other then taking our own lives can be avoided All it takes is simple communication and understanding Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d The acting can't make up for the melodrama. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member If you think that the fact that there are only two characters in the story, that it only has one place where the drama occurs, that is one hr 1/2 long, it will make for a boring movie, you will be wrong and miss out on two great performances! These two female actors are so powerful in their acting, you forget it is acting! One of my favorite movies along with a sister movie with Richard Dreyfuss; Whose life is it anyway? They seem to be stored in a Hollywood closet and key forgotten because of the subject matter I am sure, because the acting and stories are class A. You never see re-runs on tv, ever, of those two movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Undeniably one of the best adaptations ever and so well executed by two amazing actresses. The score is so poignant and appropriate and drives the emotion of the audience. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
'Night, Mother

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'Night, Mother

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jessie Cates (Sissy Spacek) packs her belongings into bags intended for donation to charity. She's doing so because, as she tells her mother, Thelma (Anne Bancroft), she plans to kill herself that very evening. This film, inspired by an esteemed stage production, centers on the interactions between an elderly woman and her daughter, whose depression has pushed her to the brink of suicide. As Jessie steels herself for her last act, Thelma gallantly encourages her to opt for life.
Director
Tom Moore
Producer
Aaron Spelling, Alan Greisman
Screenwriter
Marsha Norman
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 29, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$384.0K
Runtime
1h 36m
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