Ahhh… “Mom”… the one person who you know is always right about everything (well, most of the time anyway).  Throughout film and television, there are many different roles and characteristics that have defined “mom” over the years.  In cinema, the 1950’s version of the mother in her apron has evolved to include other depictions that are less conventional but more relevant to modern-day society.  Let’s look at the many faces of “mom” in film and on the tube:  

Far From Heaven (Clear Blue Sky Productions, 2002)  “The Conventional Mom”  Julianne Moore plays a stereotypical mom in this not-so-conventional film that also stars Dennis Quaid.  Moore’s character is a homemaker who finds out her husband is homosexual, which puts an end to the typical 1950’s mom role for Moore, and adds an element of deviance. 

Because I Said So   (Gold Circle Films, 2007)  “The Overbearing Mom” Diane Keaton is splendid in this film, as we witness her obsession with finding her daughter, played by Mandy Moore, the right man.  She is just short of psychotic as she plays an overly caring mother to her daughters.   

Psycho (Paramount Pictures, 1960)  “The Ghost Mom”  Norman Bates dresses as his mother while the audience peers into the upstairs bedroom throughout the film.  At the end, Norman takes on the role of his mother and speaks in her voice, which is creepy, but makes you wonder what kind of childhood he endured. 

American Pie (United Artists, 1999)  “The ‘I Still Got It’ Mom”  Stifler’s mom in this film is the envy of all of her son’s friends.  She has an above average sex appeal for a woman her age, and is still workin’ it after all those years of raising her son.  This movie coined the term “milf,” which will be left to interpretation! 

Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 2007) “The ‘Keepin’-It-All-Together’ Mom” Sally Field plays Nora Walker, who learns about her husband’s secret affair and illegitimate daughter after he dies in the pilot episode.  She is the epitome of a worried mom, who is always there for her family.  Nora seems overly involved in her childrens’ lives, but her tough spirit keeps her family together through the hard times. 

Gilmore Girls (The WB, 2007)  “The ‘Best Friend’ Mom”  Although in syndication on The ABC Family Channel, Gilmore Girls was a WB hit a few years back.  Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory, shared a bond that could not be hindered.  The hip Lorelai is the “cool” mom who could talk to her daughter about everything and vice versa. 

John & Kate Plus 8 (Discovery Health Channel, 2008)  “The ‘I Have Multiples’ Mom”  Kate Goslin has a set of sextuplets and twins.  Despite the incomprehensible number of children she has to care for, she was blessed with organizational skills and an “in control” attitude.  Her love of family is obvious and her keen sense of parenting is remarkable. 

The Duggars (Discovery Health Channel, 2008)  “The “I Like Being In Labor” Mom”  Last I read, Michelle Duggar is pregnant with her 18^th child.  That is absolutely insane!  The Duggars are a sort of eccentric bunch, but overall, they are a disciplined gang with untainted morals. 

Happy Mother’s Day!       

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