Beautiful Girls Movie Trailer. Willie Conway goes home for his high school class reunion in Knights Ridge, Massachusetts. He is at a crossroads in his life and cannot decide if he should marry his girlfriend. He cannot decide if he should quit his music and take a job as a salesman. Over the course of the film, he spends time with his old friends who are all at similar crossroads. By the end, they all discover what it is that they want. (see character details, under “Cast” section below, for other plot developments)
The Women
Annabeth Gish as Tracy Stover, Willie’s long-term girlfriend, a beautiful attorney who might be Willie’s future spouse.
Lauren Holly as Darian Smalls, Tommy’s old love interest from high school, unhappily married with one daughter. Darian can not resist Tommy, which upsets both parties.
Rosie O’Donnell as Gina Barrisano, friend and hair stylist of the women. A fast-talker who spouts pearls of wisdom in a heavy New York accent.
Martha Plimpton as Jan, Paul’s on-again-off-again girlfriend who is vegetarian and dating a meat-cutter. This irritates Paul to no end, though he relents when she gets engaged.
Natalie Portman as Marty, who describes her thirteen-year-old self as “an old soul.” She is the Conway family’s neighbor, who has eyes for Willie and wishes that he will wait until she turns 18 so that they can “walk through this world together”, though she understands when he explains how she, like Christopher Robin, will outgrow Winnie the Pooh.
Mira Sorvino as Sharon Cassidy, Tommy’s current girlfriend, who tries her best to make Tommy happy despite Darian’s intrusive presence.
Uma Thurman as Andera, Stinky’s cousin from Chicago. Very attractive and fairly wise. Briefly aids Paul in making his ex jealous. A girl from the big city who is able to appreciate the pace of a small town. She is everything that a guy from Knight’s Ridge would want in a woman. Ultimately she helps Willie find a little more direction in life.
Anne Bobby as Sarah Morris, Mo’s wife and high school sweetheart, mother of two children. She seems to lack self-confidence and is a bit passive aggressive. She does not seem to have strong opinions of her own and is kind of the third wheel of her group.
The Men
Timothy Hutton as Willie Conway, the only one of the group to move away to New York City, working as a semi-successful pianist. Generally the good guy in the group, his home life is somewhat fractured. His mother is deceased and his father is emotionally withdrawn. He also has a juvenile younger brother, Bobby (David Arquette).
Matt Dillon as Tommy “Birdman” Rowland, head snow plower and former high school football star. Tommy seems to be ashamed that he never rose to his full potential in life. Known as the tough one of his group. Tommy seems not to have let go of his youth, and is still having an affair with Darian Smalls, an old high school flame. This puts a considerable strain on his relationship with his current girlfriend, Sharon.
Noah Emmerich as Michael “Mo” Morris, a factory manager by profession. Unlike his friends, humble Mo has happily settled down with a family, but still does have a temper when provoked. Admires Willie greatly for how far he has traveled in his life.
Max Perlich as Kev, snow plower and Tommy’s co-worker. Kev is cast as kind of a pathetic little guy. He’s not quite a dork or a geek but definitely would not be considered popular. However he is likely the most loyal of friends despite being a bit on the outer fringe of the circle. The wisecracking Kev has to reluctantly look the other way when Darian enters the picture, well aware of Tommy’s relationship with her of which he does not approve.
Michael Rapaport as Paul Kirkwood, snow plower who is obsessed with centerfold models. Paul cannot let go of his old relationship with a waitress (Martha Plimpton) after she delivered an ultimatum to him. A crass guy who cannot resist tormenting his ex-girlfriend by plowing snow into her garage door.
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Stanley “Stinky” Womack, the hardworking and humble proprietor/bartender of a local bar that he recently purchased and renovated. A generally good guy who knows the limits of right and wrong.
Beautiful Girls (1996)
Directed by: Ted Demme
Starring: Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Annabeth Gish, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton, Rosie O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Martha Plimpton, Natalie Portman, Michael Rapaport, Mira Sorvino
Screenplay by: Scott Rosenberg
Production Design by: Dan Davis
Cinematography by: Adam Kimmel
Film Editing by: Jeffrey Wolf
Costume Design by: Lucy W. Corrigan
Set Decoration by: Tracey A. Doyle
Art Direction by: Peter Rogness
Music by: David A. Stewart
MPAA Rating: R for strong language and nude pin-ups.
Distributed by: Miramax Films
Release Date: February 9, 1996
Hits: 218
