Talking Therapy: Ordinary People (1980)

We've been busy preparing a slate of episodes to pay tribute to some of the giants of New Hollywood who have recently left us. First on the “in memoriam” docket is no less than Robert Redford. Arguably the first true multi-hyphenate, with his directorial debut Ordinary People, Redford established an impressively new take on the “issues film”. Elena and Sam enjoy digging in and trying to untangle its thorny reputation as an Oscar spoiler for Raging Bull and Martin Scorsese. Topics include: the 92nd st Y, the origins of the Brat Pack, and what Mary Tyler Moore is really like.