She labored for days giving birth to us. She raised us. She gave us bad haircuts, took embarrassing pictures, and then broke them out every time we brought home that special someone of the moment. Seems kind of wrong to give Mom just one day when she’s done so much for us.
So in celebrating mom’s special day, we give you a Mother’s Day’s spotlight on your favorite celluloid moms. We tip our hat to those women who remind us just how difficult it is to be the “perfect” mom.
Mom: Elaine Miller
Almost Famous (Frances McDormand)
Mom’s brains: A college professor, Elaine clearly has the smarts for any situation. And it’s obvious that Elaine has fed both intelligence and curiosity to both of her children, William and Anita, so much so that they’ve become headstrong and independent, much like their single mother.
Mom’s style: Conservative, yet trendy, Elaine’s not afraid of (somewhat) hip, short-hemmed clothing, but wears only unadventurous ensembles.
Mom’s parenting: Elaine, a working, single mother of two, raises her daughter and son as best she knows how, but it isn’t easy in the turbulent ’60s. You can’t blame a college professor for thinking that rock ‘n roll is not the
best way to enlightenment, and still she encourages William to chase his dream as a music journalist. Of course, that’s after she’s forced Anita from the house.
Elaine–neurotic, intellectual, and highly protective–is clearly torn between accepting William’s need to discover life’s answer for himself and the belief that her way is best. William disappoints his mother by missing his high school
graduation, but Elaine’s pride in his brainpower and her conviction that he’s a good boy never wavers.
Why We Love Mom: Elaine’s defining quote, "Don’t take drugs."
Photo courtesy of DreamWorks © 2000.
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Mom: Marge Simpson
The Simpsons (Voice: Julie Kavner)
Mom’s brains: The mental faculties of anyone who willingly marries Homer Simpson have to be suspect, but Marge has acquitted herself quite nicely. Though she has no formal education beyond high school, she has managed (at different times) to be a successful law enforcement officer, a top selling realtor, and an anti-violence
activist. Plus, she’s dynamite at stretching a dollar to provide for her family.
Mom’s style: Let’s face it, Marge doesn’t have much style. The clothes she wears are atrocious – it’s time to give up the strapless dress look–and her hair hasn’t wavered from that famous blue beehive since day one. Of course, Marge doesn’t have much time or money to devote to style, and she depends on her inner strength to give her beauty.
Mom’s parenting: Marge is a stay-at-home mother of three: Bart (her special little guy), Lisa and Maggie. Despite a well-publicized nervous breakdown, Marge has been remarkably resilient, coping with Bart’s constant antics, Lisa’s astounding precociousness, and Maggie’s full-time need for care. (Not to mention the numerous times that Homer has lost his job or blown the family savings.)
Why We Love Mom: Only Marge could even pretend that a blue beehive is chic.
Photo courtesy of Fox Television © 1989.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Lois Wilkerson
Malcolm in the Middle (Jane Kaczmarek)
Mom’s
brains: Lois needs help. Not only did she marry a man whose secret love is
the Twilight Zone theme song, but she can barely manage to keep her job
as a clerk in the local drugstore. Lois has some modicum of common sense, but
it’s diluted overwhelmingly by her uncontrollable rage and irrational behavior.
Lois is guided by a strategic mind that works eight moves ahead of everyone else’s.
More George Patton than Donna Reed, Lois’ mixture of shrewdness and aggression
is unbeatable.
Mom’s style: Lois has that middle-American, middle-aged housewife je
ne sais quoi. The hair is god-awful; the clothes are even worse. Face it,
running around the house nude isn’t exactly going to get a person listed as one
of the best dressed.
Mom’s parenting: Lois is the family’s backbone. She takes absolutely
no guff and rules her roost through a brand of psychological warfare that would
make Hannibal Lecter plotz himself. With three challenging children at home and
one sent away to military school, Lois doesn’t have the best-kept lawn, the cleanest
house or the most refined family on the block. But despite being overwhelmed by
the daily chaos, at the end of the day Malcolm and his brothers know they are
loved.
Why We Love Mom: Mom’s nickname, "Lois Common Denominator."
Photo courtesy of Fox © 2000.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Carmela Soprano
The Sopranos (Edie Falco)
Mom’s
brains: Carmela is a survivor and has her own gladiatrix version of the strength
and honor code. She is of the old school–she married and sticks by a man she
loves and still has the hots for, but she also knows she has made a pact with
the devil. Carmela has faith in her own common sense, and feels she’ll know when
the tide has turned against her in time to get out. Who are we to argue?
Mom’s style: Thankfully Carmela eschews wearing tight, leopard-print
spandex pants and grossly overlarge jewelry that mark many of her contemporaries.
Mom’s tasteful suits and sensible hair blend in nicely with the other stay-at-home
moms of the upscale New Jersey suburb where the Sopranos live.
Mom’s parenting: The life of a mob wife isn’t all money, maids and shopping
at the mall. Carmela is the glue that keeps this family together. With daughter
often at odds with her father and son A.J. a sullen teen, Carmela is clearly the
only communicator in the family. Unfortunately, Carmela seems often alone, except
when (and if) the family convenes at the dinner table.
Why We Love Mom: Tony isn’t the only cunning, ruthless Soprano, willing
to justify the means by the ends.
Photo courtesy of HBO © 1999.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts)
Mom’s
brains: Much is made of Erin’s lack of experience and schooling. However,
given a chance at paralegal work, her integrity, intuition and innate communication
skills shine through. Tenacious and dedicated, she’s feisty, smart and smart talking.
Mom’s style: White country trash (made somewhat palatable by her megawatt
smile and sass). Erin’s physical assets are obvious, and she plays her physicality
to the hilt. (Picture bra peeking over the top of her low-cut tanktop.) We’re
hoping that Erin’s windfall from the victorious lawsuit will help take the edge
of her sartorial tackiness. Erin is often underestimated by those who take her
at first glance.
Mom’s parenting: Erin is so consumed by her righteousness and passion
in pursuit of justice that she nearly leaves both her children and current beau
behind. A twice-divorced mother of three, we know Erin loves her kids, but she
almost alienates them with her work-first attitude. Of course, Erin is able to
win them back by making them realize she’s fighting for the greater good, and
convinces her kids she hasn’t abandoned them; rather, she’s trying to provide
a better life for them.
Why We Love Mom: Erin fights for the little guy–and wins.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures © 2000.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Vianne Rocher
Chocolat (Juliette Binoche)
Mom’s
brains: While her past education is unclear, Vianne has the marketing savvy
and financial acumen to turn a dreary patisserie into a garden of sensuous
chocolate delight. The success of the business is a testament to her grasp of
economic opportunities.
Mom’s style: Let’s call it country chic. Lacking even minimal excitement
in her clothing or hairstyle, Vianne is a radiant beauty who isn’t going to let
a little thing like frumpy clothes stop her from being incredibly attractive.
Mom’s parenting: An unwed mother who travels from town to town for no
apparent reason, Vianne drags her young daughter Anouk across the French countryside
during the course of the year 1960. Sometimes it’s a momentary thought that ignites
her travels; other times it’s the disapproving locals.
And certainly the locals are most disapproving when Vianne, simply trying
to provide for herself and her daughter, opens a chocolate shop in a rural French
village and causes a rift among the villagers. But Vianne’s mothering instinct
is not to be denied, and the outcast women of the village are drawn to Vianne.
This attracts the attention of the mayor, who’s appalled that a single, unwed,
non-churchgoing mother is undermining his power, which is based on his narrowly
defined morality. But Vianne doesn’t let the townspeople break her, triumphing with her steadfast
dedication to sensual delight.
Why We Love Mom: Because everyone loves (or should love) chocolate.
Photo courtesy of Miramax Films © 2000.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Anna “Mama” Klump
The Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
Mom’s
brains: Anna takes a back seat to no one in the family, but is sometimes overshadowed
(if that’s possible) by Grandma Klump’s wit. Nonetheless, Mama has managed to
keep this large extended family humming along with her down-home wisdom and sage
advice.
Mom’s style: Omar the Tentmaker is the resident tailor for the Klumps,
though Anna does manage her appearance better than the rest of her oversized family.
Her tight-cropped hair is attractive and sensible.
Mom’s parenting: Sherman, Anna’s son, obviously grew up in a loving
and giving household (perhaps too giving in the food department.) And though Sherman’s
self-love wavers, Anna’s faith in her son’s goodness and worthiness never falters.
Anna’s also willing to put up with the entire family living in her house and trying
to eat her out of house and home.
Why We Love Mom: Her constant affirmation of Sherman, especially when
she tells him, "When the good Lord made you, He made you beautiful inside
and out."
Photo courtesy Universal Pictures © 1996.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Samantha Stevens
Bewitched (Elizabeth Montgomery)
Mom’s
brains: Samantha was an independent woman, who, although married to a mortal
who forbade her from using witchcraft, always had the upper hand–because she
was smarter. Samantha used her head first, and she relied on her powers solely
as a means of getting Darrin out of the trouble that someone else had gotten him
into. Samantha was the epitome of common sense.
Mom’s style: Sophisticated yet warm, beautiful but not threatening and
yes, extremely intelligent, Samantha was Gloria Steinem, Nancy Drew and Grace
Kelly all rolled into one. Her clothing and hair both reflected the current fashions
with a style and flair that any housewife would envy. Of course, Samantha has
the distinct advantage of being able to change outfits with a wiggle of her nose.
Mom’s parenting: A mother of two magic-enabled children, Tabitha and
Adam, Samantha had her hands full. Tabitha in particular presented many challenges
to Samantha, as she often liked wiggling her nose at inopportune times. Samantha
was able to keep her cool through it all and still get dinner on the table by
the time Darrin got home from work.
Why We Love Mom: Samantha’s really cute nose wiggle.
Photo courtesy of ABC © 1964.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: Jackie Harrison
Stepmom (Susan Sarandon)
Mom’s
brains: We can’t quite get a handle on just how smart Jackie is. Jackie is
somewhat good at manipulating people, but just can’t quite plan out that last
step to be considered an expert tactician. Unfortunately, Jackie’s untimely demise
means that we’ll never find out.
Mom’s style: Sensible and reserved. Well, Jackie’s style would be considered
sensible and reserved pretty much no matter what when compared to rival Isabel,
the glamorous stepmother of her children. Her clothes are sensible and reserved.
Her hair is sensible and reserved. Even Jackie’s pajamas are sensible and reserved.
Mom’s parenting: The terminally ill Jackie acts the aggrieved Mother
Courage, and is not interested in making things easier for her rival Isabel. Which
means that Isabel messes up a lot, and Jackie or the kids say terrible things
about her, ranging from the comparatively benign “Slugs have a faster learning
curve” to the more definitive “That woman is going to have nothing more to do
with our children.”
Her young son Ben is a magician in training and prone to disappearing at any
moment. His older sister Anna is so angry with Isabel she can hardly stand it.
But Jackie’s true mothering spirit shines through when she realizes that Isabel
is a capable inheritor of her mantle and passes along the baton.
Why We Love Mom: Jackie has the fastest tongue this side of the Mississippi.
Photo courtesy of TriStar Pictures © 1998.
[PAGEBREAK]
Mom: June Cleaver
Leave It To Beaver (Barbara Billingsley)
Mom’s
brains: The epitome of suburban maternal efficiency, June’s talents at running
the household cannot be denied. June is always quick with a kind word when necessary,
and is consistently able to defuse Ward’s infrequent anger with the boys with
her keen insight. June gets extra points for manipulation when necessary.
Mom’s style: This is the family that defines conservative, ’50s, white,
suburban America, and June is the quintessential All-American mom. With her pressed
skirts and tops and ever-present pearl necklace, June added style and grace to
the mom persona.
Mom’s parenting: June’s family and her kitchen are the core of her life.
Although a spotless range and oven have replaced the hearth, June still prepares
two elaborate hot meals each day, three on weekends, with tender loving care.
The coffeepot is ever ready for her husband and there’s milk, cookies, fruit and
often cake for her boys when they come home from school. June even manages to
act as stand-in mom for Eddie and Gilbert.
Why We Love Mom: Nothing says loving like warm cookies waiting for you
when you get home from school.
Photo courtesy ABC © 1957.
