After our recent round-up of evil movie moms, and in honor of the true spirit of Mother's Day, we felt compelled to present the other side of the coin: those leading and supporting ladies who have shown us the qualities we all appreciate (or wished for) in a mother for ourselves, our offspring, or just for society in general. The world would be a richer place if all moms could aspire to the greatness shown by these maternalistic movie matrons.
In no particular order, our Top 10 Amazing Movie Mothers:
Two Women - Cesira
Sophia Loren was absolutely riveting in this gritty and emotional WWII drama and it justifiably earned her an Oscar. Cesira flees Rome with her thirteen year-old daughter as the bombs begin to fall and stops at nothing to protect her. Loren's performance here was her finest moment as an actress and wiped away all of the snickering that she was just a "beauty" without any talent. The current crop of "beauties" in Hollywood couldn't pull this role off if their lives depended on it.
Grapes of Wrath - Ma Joad
Jane Darwell appeared in over 200 films, but it was her performance as the rock solid "Ma Joad" in John Ford's stark adaptation of Steinbeck's classic novel of life during the Great Depression, that would make her a legend. Darwell enjoyed working with Henry Fonda and their onscreen chemistry in this film was superb. A truly classic film with a wonderful leading lady.
I Remember Mama - Martha Hanson
While perhaps somewhat too sentimental, this film still delivers after all of these years. Irene Dunne's wonderful performance as the mother of this Norwegian family was both inspirational and believable, which begs the question - Why does Hollywood prefer to make films about awful mothers who tear down their children rather than inspire them?
Terms of Endearment - Aurora Greenway
Parents and their children often march to a slightly different beat, but Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger really clashed in this tear-jerking drama from James L. Brooks. MacLaine has the ability to go from sympathetic to hostile in a split second and while there are moments where you just hate her; she ultimately redeems herself, proving how much of a loving mother she can be in the finale.
Breaking Away - Evelyn Stoller
Peter Yates' little film about four "cutters" looking for that definitive moment that will impact the rest of their lives earns on a spot on our favorites' list because it hasn't lost one ounce of appeal in over twenty-seven years. The screenplay from Steve Tesich was superb and allowed a superb cast (Paul Dooley, Daniel Stern, Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid) to strut its stuff. Dooley was wonderful as the frustrated father, "Raymond Stoller", but our favorite was Barbara Barrie, whose understated performance really tied things together. Barrie understands more than she lets on and ultimately bridges the gap between father and son. A really fun film that is worth returning to every now and again.
Mask - Rusty Dennis
If Cher could turn back time, she'd tackle more roles as satisfying and complete as this one. Rusty Dennis might be a wild, young ex-drug addict mother who hangs around with bikers, but she goes out of her way to make life normal for her deformed teenage son. Cher may have looked ridiculous riding on the barrel of a 16" anti-aircraft gun (you sank my battleship) in her music video, but she was brilliant in this film.
My Left Foot - Mrs. Brown
Daniel Day-Lewis may have been the star of this remarkable film about the life of Christy Brown, but Brenda Fricker really gave the film its emotional gravitas. Mrs. Brown recognizes that her son, although stricken with Cerebral Palsy, is capable of great things. She moves mountains in her struggle to get both him and the world around him to recognize the genius in his paintings and poetry. The physical demands of raising a disabled child/adult are enormous and Brown looks wasted by the end. A really remarkable performance.
The Sound of Music - Maria
Julie Andrews may not have been their "real" mom, but how can you not applaud a failed nun who wins the love of some bratty little kids before saving them from the Nazis? One of the most popular musicals of all-time still delights viewers after more than forty years and looks and sounds quite mesmerizing in high definition on a really large screen.
It's a Wonderful Life - Mary Hatch Bailey
Okay, so the all-time favorite Christmas movie is really a showcase of Jimmy Stewart's talent, but how can one not like Donna Reed. Her beauty radiated on the screen and she played the sympathetic and supportive wife/mother as well as anyone.
What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner
No, we did not party with Ike before picking this one. Angela Bassett looked nothing like the real Tina Turner in this charged and violent look at the couple's marriage, but she certainly captured Turner's strength and devotion to her four children under very difficult circumstances. Even if one isn't a fan (for shame) of her music, you certainly walk away from the film with a lot of respect for her as a person.
