Particularly in the 1990s, there was a big batch of films centering on tragic young deaths from AIDS. Since they all have a pretty similar theme to them, and pretty much no one actually wants to see them, pick which cast you'd like to see and limit your rentals. For Hugh Grant and Zeljko Ivanek as the sorrowful couple, and Julie Andrews and Ann-Margret as their respective mothers, watch Our Sons. And don't try to figure out why Hugh puts on an American accent (which was flawless, by the way), when he has an English mother; no one else knows either.
As the title suggests, the two young men are not the stars of the show. The story is about the mothers coming to terms with their sons' homosexuality. As Zeljko lays dying, Julie insists his mother (who kicked him out of the house when he was young) has the right to know about his illness. Hugh chickens out while telephoning Ann-Margret, so he asks his mother to fly there and talk to her in person. Julie arrives in a chauffeured car, quite a shock for the wig-wearing smoker who lives in a trailer park. Ann-Margret is very prejudiced and doesn't want to see her dying son because he's "one of them" and "brought it on himself" with his lifestyle.
Most of the film involves intense discussions between the two mothers about acceptance, disappointment, and the finality of death. It's a pretty powerful moment when Julie shakes Ann-Margret's shoulders and shouts, "You stupid b***h!" Quite a mouthful for Mary Poppins, isn't it? Although, when you think about her career, she made far less buttoned-up movies than buttoned-down. Still, for some people, it's always going to be shocking to hear Julie Andrews say anything more scandalous than "Supercalifragilistic..."
Speaking of wholesome, I find it very funny that in the other role for which Julie Andrews is most famous, she wore ratty clothes. Maria Von Trapp made a dress out of window curtains, for goodness sake, but if you see any other of Julie's movies, she's dressed to the nines. In this tv movie, her tailored, figure-hugging suits make her look like a million dollars - and she actually makes Ann-Margret look frumpy! Maybe that's why Ann-Margret had a nude swim scene, to show she was still sexy. As for me, I couldn't take my eyes off of Julie's beautiful makeup and hourglass figure - she was so attractive I almost couldn't pay attention to the story.
But back to the story, a lot of what Ann-Margret says will hit home for a lot of viewers, even though she's clearly written to be the "ignorant bad guy". Many people who pretend to be tolerant keep opposite thoughts inside them, and this movie will definitely hit a nerve for them. Even Julie, who believes she's fully accepted her son's choice, has some painful truths to face. Thankfully, when she does have to face herself in the mirror, she'll get to see a strikingly beautiful woman.
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