The Big Chill [M]

Following the suicide of their college friend, eight friends who have not seen nor heard from each other for a number of years, reunite and spend a weekend together to remember him. Over the course of the weekend, old flames will be rekindled, old wounds will be reopened, and the reminiscing will be thick with envy and regret. 

A subtle and sharply witty film about the healing and devastating power of nostalgia, The Big Chill blissfully meanders along the path of nostalgic friend films like St. Elmo’s Fire and even The Breakfast Club. The lack of action and suspense mingled with the simple and real dramas and relationships that are seen, backed by a fantastic 1960s soundtrack makes The Big Chill a film that is hard to tear your eyes from, but at the same time a movie that does not offer immediate delights. 

Following the suicide of their college friend, eight friends who have not seen nor heard from each other for a number of years, reunite and spend a weekend together to remember him. Over the course of the weekend, old flames will be rekindled, old wounds will be reopened, and the reminiscing will be thick with envy and regret. 

Without a doubt, my favourite thing about this movie was the soundtrack. It did more than just provide background noise and create an atmosphere; it acted as a form of relief and balance as it’s comprised of songs that are upbeat and catchy set against a story that is dripping with various amounts of gloom. Classic tracks from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and the Rolling Stones are used successfully to capture the audience and invites them to partake in the delicious nostalgia and reminiscence that the characters indulge in. 

All the performances were wonderful; really genuine and the chemistry between all the members of the cast was great as it made the whole thing real and impossible not to relate with. The movie’s subtlety and its cleverly written and sharply witty script were another added bonus. 

Starring Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams, Don Galloway, James Gillis, Ken Place, Jon Kasdan, Ira Stiltner, Jake Kasdan, and Muriel Moore, The Big Chill is a delightful little film filed with drama, death, reunion, nostalgia, memories, history, romance, and comedy. It’s very subtle and can be seen as boring at times, but I quite enjoyed it.