Fried Green Tomatoes is one of those films that presents two narratives, simultaneously woven together and unbound by the laws of past and present. A character from the present tells tales of the past, and the film jumps ever back and forth between the two, until a connection emerges. You've seen it in stuff like The Notebook, where it works beautifully, and both stories support each other. That's the issue with this film: One of the narratives is lovely and works quite well. The other? Mmm…not so much. Kathy Bates plays a hospice worker in a retirement home who is charmed by stories of life, freedom, injustice and romance from long ago, all told with wit and passion by an excellent Jessica Tandy. She tells of life growing up during the early 1900's in the American southwest, of free spirited tomboy Idgie (a fierce and emotional Mary Stuart Masterson), the girl she loves (Mary Louise Parker, radiant) and the whirlwind of trouble and conflict going on around them. Idgie lost her brother and best friend (a short lived and very young looking Chris O 'Donnell) to a horrible accident, and sort of has a lost pup complex, holding on to Parker for dear life and trying her best to extricate her from an abusive relationship with her monster of a husband (Nick Searcy is evil incarnate). It's whimsical, touching and flavored with just the right touches of sadness and danger. Now, the story with Bates in the present just feels aloof and silly. The scenes with her and Tandy fare better than glimpses of her home life and attempts to empower and change her for the better. Don't get me wrong, I love that idea, the notion of inspiration transcending time and the ability to help others simply with the spoken word and the wisdom of the past, but it just didn't work in this case. As for the scenes in the past, I fell hard for them. Masterson is a terrific actress who usually gets saddled with light, fluffy roles, but here gets a chance to let some raw emotion out. Parker is more reigned in but every bit as soulful, as the girl in a situation no one should have to endure, her soul practically screaming out through those beautiful brown eyes. I suppose you could say that it's half of a great film, that couldn't quite pull off it's own narrative flow.

Here's masterful work that imbues you to it through its realism. A housewife who is unhappy with her life befriends an old lady in a nursing home and is enthralled by the tales she tells of people she used to know. This is the kind of film that proves that a small story can be much more meaningful than a larger one. The only thing that keeps it afloat is the sensitivity of the relationships. I found the acting to be sensational, the dialogue incredible and the director's abilities to be up to par and then some. I really like this type of film, as it reminds me of French movies where it's more about the characters and their environment.

I was first introduced to this movie by flipping through the channels and I believe it was on HBO. It was about twenty minutes into the movie and I thought to give it a chance and my mouth was open in awe by the end of the movie. I've seen the movie many many times since that first time and I love it more and more every time. It has amazing acting, especially from Kathy Bates. This movie truly show's off her amazing acting abilities. There is not one single scene with bad acting in it and that is very hard to find in any movie ever. I love the evolution of all the characters. Evelyn going from being the housewife trying to fix her marriage, to fixing her life herself. Ruth going from the poor abused house wife to being stronger and fighting for her baby against her husband. Idgie never really changed but it's amazing to see how she influences every one else's life in extraordinary ways. This movie is the ultimate in story telling. Not just for Evelyn but for the viewers watching the film. A true classic.

Timid housewife Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) befriends old Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) at a retirement home. She recounts an old depression era story of Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson) and her friendship with Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker). Their lives are forever linked by the death of Idgie's brother who was Ruth's boyfriend.This is based on a novel that takes place in Alabama. The modern story doesn't have quite the punch. The old time story exceeds it in almost every way. It may have been an important part of the novel, but I don't know if the modern story necessarily adds anything to the movie. Both Marys are outstanding in their roles. Their characters are truly the center of this movie.