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19 out of 20 people found the following review useful: a documentary?, 30 December 1999 Author: evso from Austin, TX
This film is in no way a documentary, but the filming style and plot line lend to its feeling so. Sally Field's acting in this movie is impeccable. She becomes Norma Rae. We see her fear, her disgust, her anger at the mill's treatment of its employees, and the passion she has for what she believes in. Although the best known scene from the movie is her standing at the mill with the "Union" sign, I believe the most memorable scene is towards the end when she talks to her children, telling them what to expect. The movie tends to turn away from her children, but this scene focuses in on her relationship with them. Beau Bridges is great, and the character of the Union leader (can't remember his name) is terrific. The sexual tension between Norma Rae and he is palpable. I strongly recommend this film to any Sally Field fans, or anyone interested in social issue films.
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful: More than one actress's tour-de-force, an indelible and moving human story, 17 November 2001 Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca
In trying to get the textile mill she and her family work for unionized, Sally Field's Norma Rae Webster also tries to earn self-respect at any cost. She's been leading a dead-end existence: a single mother, still living with her family, sleeping with married men who abuse her. But after being inspired by a union-organizer (Ron Liebman, in an Oscar-worthy supporting performance), Norma Rae is awakened to the possibilities of life, and, what's more, everything that is wrong with the mill that seems to suck the energy and hope from those who stand there day after day trying to earn an honest dollar. There are problems with the picture: Beau Bridges' role as new husband Sonny is treated in a trivial manner (he's supposed to be a voice of reason, but he's too smooth, maybe condescending, and it's an unconvincing character); Oscar-winner Field's fiestiness occasionally feels overdrawn and/or one-note, but in many of the scenes outside the factory she does indeed excel, seeming vibrantly natural and exuberant. Martin Ritt's direction is focused and firmly rooted (he never sugarcoats Norma Rae's character, and sometimes she's not that likable) and the script manages to sidestep preachiness to get its points across entertainingly. The art direction is really the second star of the film: vivid, palpably hot and sweaty, with bits of cotton floating about in the air. The mill in question becomes very familiar to us, as do the people who work there. "Norma Rae" is involved and long, yet it is memorably bittersweet, and with a simple, haunting finish. *** from ****
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Ordinary Story, Extraordinary Results., 6 July 2002 Author: tfrizzell from United States
Typical under-dog story that is so well-made that its success makes for a very memorable cinematic experience. The titled character (Sally Field in a super Oscar-winning part) tries to get her fellow textile workers to unionize in her small town, but there are consequences abound. A good supporting cast which includes Ron Leibman, Pat Hingle and Beau Bridges all add to Field's show-stopping performance. Field proved that she could handle delicate material and carry a film to cinematic history. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Legendary blue collar mom starts textile union, 28 March 2006 Author: roghache from Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is a dramatic and moving film that rests on the wonderful Oscar winning portrayal by Sally Field of a Southern textile worker, Norma Rae. The famous scene in which Norma Rae stands on a table holding up a union sign, as her coworkers turn off their machines one by one, has gone down in cinematic history.At the outset, Norma Rae is an Alabama small town textile mill worker and single mother of three, living with her parents. She has had in the past a series of relationships with men, sometimes married, who have mistreated her; then as the story progresses, she meets and marries Sonny (Beau Bridges). Her life is quite ordinary until Reuben (Ron Leibman), a union worker from New York, comes to her mill and tries to unionize its labor force. He persuades Norma Rae to head up the cause at her mill, resulting in severe conflict with management and potential conflict in her own relationship with husband, Sonny.The movie effectively portrays the plight of the mill workers where everyday working conditions involve a hot, noisy, and crowded environment, unfeeling bosses, and a regimented day. Given our present situation, it is difficult for us to picture factory life without the protections offered by unions. They are taken for granted nowadays.I disagree with those who seem to pick up on all this sexual tension between Norma Rae and Reuben. I think one of the points to be made is that while they are definitely aware of each other's sexuality, she is loyal to Sonny, for once a man who treats her decently, though Reuben brings out leadership qualities in her that she hasn't hitherto realized. They also share a certain camaraderie and bond with regard to their union struggles, leaving Sonny rather on the outside. Eventually, as he grows secure in her love, her husband becomes more able to accept this relationship with Reuben. When Norma Rae declares regarding Reuben 'He's in my head', I don't think she's referring to sex or romance, but the union struggle and her leadership role within it that he is encouraging.For me, the most touching scene in the movie is definitely the one following Norma Rae's arrest, in which she returns exhaustedly home from prison at night, awakens her three sleeping kids, informs them that their 'Mama's a jailbird' and that they're going to be hearing all kinds of stories about her. She admits she's made mistakes, tells each child who his or her father is, and gives each a photo of their dad which she's had tucked away. All parents must face that at some point their children will come to realize their mom or dad isn't perfect, and nowhere is this more dramatically shown than in this particular scene from Norma Rae.This is a memorable movie...a vivid depiction of the struggles of blue collar life, the story of union development (fictional but historically based), and especially one woman's sympathetically captured personal tale and her unlikely role as leader of this union struggle at her own mill.
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Great American movie, 20 August 1998 Author: Boyo-2
I own a copy of this movie and I watch it at least twice a year. An intelligent story, without cookie-cutter characters. It still amazes and thrills me each time I see it. The fact that there was no forced romance thrust upon us, is also worth noting. Sally Field created a woman who is now part of movie history.
9 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Unions A Timely Film ****, 8 March 2006 Author: edwagreen from United States
Sally Field's first Oscar came way via "Norma Rae."The factory where she and her dad work does not know or want to know about unions. Workers are routinely abused and there is no way out for these hard-working laborers.Along comes Jewish Ron Leibman, from the north, with the idea of forming a union. He meets up with much hostility. We see the southern hatred of unions in general and there is an underlining feeling of anti-Jewishness here as Jews have always been in the forefront of labor issues in America.Pat Hingle's fatal coronary spurs daughter Norma to action. Her stopping work and turning around with the sign union is memorable.This picture is timely due to the rash attacks on the labor movement from the federal government on down to management. Made at a time when President Reagan destroyed the Air Traffic Controller's Union, the film is most appropriate.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Really hits home!!, 6 January 2003 Author: diezman from Iron River, Michigan
Norma Rae is without a doubt one of my favorite movies of all time. I grew up in a blue collar working class family so this movie really hits home for me.An outstanding performance by Sally Field and a very powerful storyline of Unionizing a textile mill in the south make Norma Rae a movie watcher's experience rather than pure entertainment.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: A great movie, 3 May 2000 Author: Tito-8 from North Bay, Ontario
Sally Field's stellar performance is the highlight of this terrific movie, but Ron Leibman was just as effective in my opinion. In fact, the whole cast does a fine job, so if you're looking for superb acting, then look no further. The film is good from start to finish, but a few wonderful moments towards the end make it seem even better than it already is. Perhaps slightly overlong, but overall a great movie.
11 out of 17 people found the following review useful: The Film that Stereotyped an Industry Broke the Stereotype of an Actress, 19 May 2005 Author: dglink from Alexandria, VA
Although based on real events and a real person, "Norma Rae's" tale of corporate greed versus oppressed workers has been fictionalized for reasons of privacy. However, fictionalized or not, "Norma Rae's" power and influence continue since the U.S. textile industry has forever been branded in the minds of Americans as an outmoded industrial complex, whose windowless mills are filled with the deafening noise of hand-tended machines that are layered with cotton fibers and whose workers breathe in and permanently damage their lungs with stale air that is filled with cotton dust. Although those conditions certainly did exist, they no longer occur in that industry today. However, despite the modernization of textile manufacturing in the U.S. over the past couple decades, the image of the noisy, dusty mill that is depicted in the film remains as the general perception of a textile operation. Unfortunately, while modern textile mills are free of cotton dust and the noise levels have been reduced to the low hum of computers, textile workers like Norma Rae and the others portrayed in this film have also been replaced with robotics, lasers, and a few highly skilled technicians to monitor the computerized operations. While the unionization depicted in the film successfully raised wages and increased benefits, eventually those higher costs led to efforts to cut expenses through mechanization.However, despite the demonizing of an industry, the film retains its power, and the story of Norma Rae's personal growth as a woman is probably even more memorable than the efforts to unionize one Southern textile mill. Sally Field inhabits the role of an unwed Southern mill worker with two children, and, as the film progresses, she slowly evolves from an aimless girl, who is used and abused by men, whether they be lovers or employers, into a mature woman who finds a depth and strength that helps her take control of her life and find the confidence to lead. Television viewers who only knew Field as the Flying Nun were surprised at her range and depth, although those who had taken the time to watch the television movie "Sybil" already suspected the breadth of her talent.While Sally Field finally shed her Gidget and Flying Nun image with this film and certainly is the emotional core of the movie, she is well supported by a cast of pros, especially the two most important men in her life. Unfortunately, because Field is so outstanding, viewers will likely need a second viewing to appreciate just how good both Ron Leibman and Beau Bridges are in "Norma Rae." Ron Leibman as the assertive union organizer from New York is the man who awakens Norma's intellect and propels her into uncharted territory as a woman. Meanwhile, Beau Bridges as Norma Rae's gentle, understanding husband stands by his woman despite his not completely comprehending or appreciating the changes that are underway in his wife's character."Norma Rae" is an outstanding film, well directed by Martin Ritt, beautifully written by Frank and Ravetch, and performed with heart by Field, Leibman, and Bridges. Although the movie has probably stained the image of the U.S. textile industry for good, "Norma Rae" also established Sally Field as an actress of the first order and remains an engrossing human story of a woman's growth into maturity and her discovery of previously unrealized potential within herself.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: The leading role is especially nice because its about a woman. The movie is based on a true story., 11 November 1999 Author: Rosemea D.S. MacPherson from US
"Norma Rae" Sally Fields (Gidget, The Flying Nun, Forest Gump) is a woman who worked at the O.P.H. Hentley Textile Mill. The role is especially nice because it is a true story about a woman who took a stand against her employers who violated labor law regulations. The manufacturers were so flagrant in their violations that Norma Rae's father had arm pain, and asked for a break. He was made to wait. Actually the pain in the arm was a heart attack that killed him. Sad! The noise in the factory was so bad that everybody had to yell and wear ear protection. I am so glad I don't have to work in such a noisy place. I would lose my mind. I find that silence inspires me! Norma Rae joined the union and got the company to unionize by challenging the audience to fight for what they believe it is right. She did such a wonderful job that it won her an Oscar. Norma Rae was a single parent who marries Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys). "Ruben", Ron Leibman (Night Falls on Manhattan, Friends) the man behind the organization of the unionization of the mill, and Norma had a great relationship in the movie. She appeared to be falling for him, as she stated:" he is in my head." But nothing really happened between the two of them besides the hard work of the unionization of the mill. The story is a very good and believable. I watched the movie when it came out and watched it again on television a couple of days ago. Her employers made her pay dearly for her standing for what she believes in. I identify with the character very much. I have been in similar situations many times, not because I am a whistle blower but because I tend to be altruistic. The music is great and also won an Oscar. I recommend this movie! Favorite Scenes: Norma skinny dipping with Ruben. Norma telling her kids about her past. Norma holding up the sign: Union, and all the employees turning their machines off one by one. That is fabulous! Made me cheer! When Ruben forces the employer to put signs which states the rights of the employees at the eye level so that workers could read them. Favorite quotes: Ruben: " If you were in the State Department we would be in a war." "Somewhere between law and charity flows a shadow." When Norma says good bye to Ruben, she blurts out ": I think you like me!" Maybe Sally was quoting the movie when she received her Oscar and said ": I think you like me. You really, really like me!"
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