Carrie (1976) +

What to say about this movie...this movie that is a component part of me. Two things come to mind. First: Every time I watch this I'm reminded how much I adore Sissy Spacek's performance...funny, sweet, real, terrifying. There are some imperfections along the way but jeepers. She's good. Second: This film may well be one of the foundational films for my obsession with supporting actressness. There are just so many excellent actresses at the edges...I could likely devote a profile to each of them. Piper Laurie and Betty Buckley and Amy Irving, of course. (Each time I watch this I realize, as something of a surprise, just how good Amy Irving is. The film would simply not work without the emotional clarity established by her work in the role.) But in addition to the obvious contenders, I also adore Nancy Allen as the awful Chris, not to mention the astonishing inclusion of Edie McClurg as Helen. For reasons I don't at all understand, I also just thrill at Priscilla Pointer's Mrs. Snell in this. (Indeed, the only female performance I don't like is P.J. Soles.) What's more is that, this time through, I was captivated by a performance I had barely noticed before, that of the girl who sorta takes Carrie under her wing at the prom. Really simple, really effective throughout. I haven't yet taken the time to discern the character/actor name yet. But it sorta proves my point that this film really hollers to my fetish for actresses at the edges. It's just loaded with interesting women and the boys just are nowhere near as (a) important or as (b) interesting. I also totally connect to this film as a parable of queerness, in much the same ways that I connect to X-Men 2. I just love this movie, and could watch it over and over and over again. What's nice is that I now have the 2002 made-for-tv version that I like a lot too... I love this movie.