Onscreen Moms We Love--To Hate
By Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com Staff
|
Friday, May 09, 2008
<
1. Mom: Beth Jarrett
Ordinary People (Mary Tyler Moore)
Her deal: Beth believes she has the perfect life. A loving and successful husband, a beautiful home and two strapping sons, one of whom she is completely devoted to. But her world comes crashing down when that son, Bucky, drowns in a boating accident, while his younger brother, Conrad, survives. Now bitter and heartbroken, Beth is left with Conrad, who just wants a little compassion from his mom. He even tries to commit suicide as he is so guilt-ridden by his brother's death. But he's not going to get it from Beth. No sir, she has shut down emotionally. Possibly forever.
Her parenting skills (or lack thereof): Her total aversion to any physical contact with Conrad whatsoever doesn't really make her a very loving mother. Besides, she won't ever stop blaming him for getting blood all over her bathroom floor--or for surviving when Bucky didn't.
Her motherly moment: After all the hurtful words, recriminations and ultimate resolutions, Conrad finally simply hugs his mother--and she won't hug him back. So cold.
And an honorable mention…
Mom: Norman Bates' Mother
Psycho (um, Anthony Perkins?)
Her deal: Well, there's isn't much to know about Norman's mother except the fact she was clingy and demanding and kept her son very close to her after his father died. That is until she met another man and Norman snapped, thinking she "threw him over" for her new lover. Thus sealing her doom when Norman murders her and sticks her in the fruit cellar to rot.
Her parenting skills (or lack thereof): When Norman is "Mother," we hear her belittling and humiliating Norman over and over again, telling him he could never have a girlfriend as pretty as Janet Leigh. So she might as well slash her open in the shower.
Her motherly moment: Her "reveal," of course: a rotting corpse, in a chair, still wearing her housecoat. Good stuff.