Author: Vannary Kom
The film Drop in Dead Gorgeous is about a competition between teenage girls in the age of seventeen who are competing for the winning crowd in the small town Minnesota Beauty Pageants. Gladys Leeman, who is a former winner in the Minnesota Beauty Pageant wants to make sure her daughter (Becky) follows in her footsteps. There were explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires. In those incidents, the film brings out a strong message towards teenage girls about beautification. Being beautiful is not the most important thing in the world. The most important and valuable relationship in this world is our family and taking care of each other are more important than any competition.
One of my most favorite characters in Drop Dead Gorgeous is Loretta, played by the magnificent and hilarious Allison Janney. Allison Janney was more enthusiastic in Drop Dead Gorgeous as Loretta than the character she starred as Barbara Fitts in American Beauty. In Drop Dead Gorgeous, Allison Janney had multiple lines for her part in the film. The one major difference about Allison Janney in this this film compared to her in American Beauty is that the character (Loretta) she played as is not behind closed doors and we know a lot about her. She is more blunt, humorous, very open-minded, and caring.
One of my most favorite characters in Drop Dead Gorgeous is Loretta, played by the magnificent and hilarious Allison Janney. Allison Janney was more enthusiastic in Drop Dead Gorgeous as Loretta than the character she starred as Barbara Fitts in American Beauty. In Drop Dead Gorgeous, Allison Janney had multiple lines for her part in the film. The one major difference about Allison Janney in this this film compared to her in American Beauty is that the character (Loretta) she played as is not behind closed doors and we know a lot about her. She is more blunt, humorous, very open-minded, and caring.
In this scene, Loretta is at her neighbor’s house. Her neighbor, Amber Atkins was a former Minnesota Beauty Pageant and her daughter, Annette Atkins is competing in the current year beauty pageant. The cameraman who records the life of a beauty pageant contestants at home overheard Loretta’s opinion on who is going to win in this beauty pageant.
Cameraman: “What made you think that Becky’s (a contestant competing with Amber) going to win?”
Loretta: Why do I think Becky'll win? You're talking about the richest family in a small town. It's front page news when one of them takes a shit.”
It is shocking to see Allison Janney (Loretta) lighting up a cigarette in her mouth. This camera shows a medium close up shot of Loretta and Annette. On Loretta’s right hand, she is holding onto a cigarette in her mouth. On the other side of her hand, she is placing her left hand on her neighbor’s chest to stop her from speaking. Loretta speaks her mind. She is very honest about her opinions and she is not afraid to share it. In fact, she’s a caring person. She cares about Amber and Annette like her own family, and she tries her best to help out in every situation possible.
Another scene from the movie that shows care for those she loves is when her, Amber, and Annette were at the hospital after an incident of the trailer they lived in were on fire.
Cameraman: “What made you think that Becky’s (a contestant competing with Amber) going to win?”
Loretta: Why do I think Becky'll win? You're talking about the richest family in a small town. It's front page news when one of them takes a shit.”
It is shocking to see Allison Janney (Loretta) lighting up a cigarette in her mouth. This camera shows a medium close up shot of Loretta and Annette. On Loretta’s right hand, she is holding onto a cigarette in her mouth. On the other side of her hand, she is placing her left hand on her neighbor’s chest to stop her from speaking. Loretta speaks her mind. She is very honest about her opinions and she is not afraid to share it. In fact, she’s a caring person. She cares about Amber and Annette like her own family, and she tries her best to help out in every situation possible.
Another scene from the movie that shows care for those she loves is when her, Amber, and Annette were at the hospital after an incident of the trailer they lived in were on fire.
The screenshot of the scene on the left shows a Medium Long Shot and
the screenshot of the scene of the right shows a Close Up Shot at a Low-Angle Shot.
Amber Atkins: [Shaken after seeing her mom in the hospital] Umm. I’m quitting the pageant.
Loretta: [Grabbing and shaking Amber] You’re WHAT?
Amber Atkins: I’m quitting the...
Loretta: I heard you! I was just trying to get you to change your mind. Amber, the women clung to your tap shoes while she was flying the air like a goddam lawn dart!
Even though Amber and Annette are not related to Loretta, Loretta feels as if they are a family to her. When they needed help, she is always there for them. When Annette wanted to quit the beauty pageant, Loretta shaked her to make her change her mind and she calmly encouraged her to continue the beauty pageant, but not as a competition, she told Annette to do it for her mother. You can tell by how powerful the character Allison Janney played in this film than the character she played in American Beauty.
The explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires proves that you can’t always have the things you want in your life according to your dreams. In Drop Dead Gorgeous, Annette won second place and Becky was crowd as first place in the beauty pageant. Everything seems to be going perfectly great from here, until Becky was blown from the explosion standing on the Swan at her parade celebration. Becky died and her mother exposed herself with angers.
After Becky’s funeral, Annette was crowd as first place in the Minnesota Beauty Pageant. Loretta took part as a responsible adult for Annette when she made it to the National. Amber wasn’t able to be there with her daughter because she was in the hospital recovery from the trailers fire. Loretta was there to support her Annette. Taking caring of our family love ones is more important than a competition. Sometimes, you have to let go of your dreams.
Citations:
Source #1: "Allison Janney." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Janney
Source #2: "The Best of Loretta (Allison Janney) in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)." YouTube. YouTube, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cael3nVu7A>.
Source #3: "Quotes for Loretta." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0014720/quotes>.
Source #4: "7 Tips for Writing a Film Review." Daily Writing Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/>.
Source #1: "Allison Janney." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Janney
Source #2: "The Best of Loretta (Allison Janney) in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)." YouTube. YouTube, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cael3nVu7A>.
Source #3: "Quotes for Loretta." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. <http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0014720/quotes>.
Source #4: "7 Tips for Writing a Film Review." Daily Writing Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/>.