The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 222 Days to go: 222
Movie #155: Jerry Maguire
Let’s get down to brass tacks, okay? Is Matt Cushman (Beau Bridges, who is for some reason uncredited) racist? Everyone who talks about Jerry Maguire talks about Tom Cruise (as Maguire) or Renee Zellweger (as Dorothy Boyd) or Cuba Gooding Jr.’s manic, Oscar-winning performance as Rod Tidwell or adorable moppet Jonathan Lipnicki (as Ray Boyd). Some — SOME — talk about the fabulous Regina King as Marcee Tidwell. But very few talk about my favorite performances (so it’s a good thing I have my own personal — albeit small — forum), and nobody talks about whether or not Matt Cushman is a racist.
He says “my word is stronger than oak,” and then he goes and signs with Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr) while Jerry is “in the lobby with the black fella.” That’s what he says, and he says it with such animus it makes me truly uncomfortable. Golden Boy Frank Cushman (Jerry O’Connell surprising everyone by 1) no longer being the fat kid from Stand By Me and 2) being hilariously hick-jock-dumb) kind of shakes it off, like that’s just the way it is, which is also pretty chilling, but not as much as his father’s words. I definitely feel like the implication is that Matt Cushman is racist and resented Jerry spending any time with Rod because Rod is black. It’s another one of the subtle, uncomfortable notes that writer/director Cameron Crowe peppers throughout the film.
One of my favorite uncomfortable notes is when Jerry initially gets that “my word is stronger than oak” affirmation and drives off in triumph but is unable to find a suitable song on the radio to match his uplifted spirits. I’ve written before about Crowe’s singular ability to tell so much of his story through his soundtrack, and this movie is an excellent example of it. “Free Fallin'” is one of the worst songs Jerry could possibly choose as his anthem, and yet it fits the theme of the film perfectly. He’s a man without purchase, without direction. He’s lost himself and he’s grasping at straws. Dorothy is a straw. Ray is a straw. Marriage is a huge straw. He doesn’t know how to be the person he wants to be while still being the man he was with the career he has. The movie is his journey and he doesn’t get where he’s going easily. I love that. I love that Dorothy is the one who realizes the truth of their situation and breaks it off with him, despite being the one to lead him down this path with her too-early declaration of love (even if it was to her sister, Laurel (Bonnie Hunt) and not him). Dorothy is sweet and hopeful and idealistic, but she’s also smart and she’s not a pushover. I love that about her, but truthfully, I love Laurel more.
Laurel introduces herself to Jerry as the “disapproving sister,” and she makes it work. Her constant badgering Dorothy not to fall in with Jerry is awesome because it’s exactly the kind of thing Dorothy needs to hear, even if she doesn’t listen to it right away. And her faux-happy reaction when she hears the wedding news is just about my favorite thing ever, even more than her reaction to Jerry being good-looking, and her reaction to him hugging her, and even her awesome sister-ness when she salvages the dish of food Dorothy runs into. She’s just kind of great all over.
Avery (Kelly Preston) also is fabulous in this movie. She’s brash and she’s fierce and she knows what she wants and she’s not a victim at all. She proudly talks about how she doesn’t have that sensitive thing women are supposed to have, and she doesn’t apologize for it. She’s ambitious and she’s a winner. She knows what she wants. If she believes she can make something work, she will. I freaking love Avery.
There’s also not enough love paid to Jay Mohr, who is an amazing amount of cutthroat huckster. He has no feeling, he sees only dollar signs, and he makes it seem like he’s much taller, much more imposing than he is. He’s a shark in this movie, which is actually kind of incredible. I admit to having a lot more Jay Mohr appreciation than most people, but I think he kills it here. (I also like him as Jennifer Aniston’s love interest in Picture Perfect, though, so I might just be That Girl.)
I have to say, I feel a lot of love and attention was paid to the big roles in this film, and while I love a lot of the smaller moments from the big roles (Jerry’s face and reactions to Ray talking to Rod on the phone is my favorite — all the way through the whispered “you said fuck”), I really really love the small roles. The supporting roles make this movie for me, and make it worth owning and watching and thinking about. It’s not about “show me the money,” it’s about the “kwan.”
“Great word. Tao?”
“No, I air dry.”
Viable Option 