Profoundly Normal

im still getting over the fact that kirstie wasnt nomainted for an emmy for this. it was WELL deserved. more than well deserved. the story about two handicapped people coming together and showing people that they can succed on thier own is enough. but her preformance? if you didnt see it,you missed out. all those people out there that dont consider her a real actress. despite the fact shes done as much drama as she has comedy. but this really gave everyone the chance to see what she can do. what everyone could do,the movie was the best tv movie ive seen in a LONG time. kirstie alley should win an emmy for this. to go along side with the one she won in 1994 for 'davids mother'. also amazing. but i cant believe she was just ignored for this. anyway the story which is based on a true story by the way is captivting.the actors are dead on but its kirstie who shines. what can i say? nothing but the best..from the best ever.

I watched PROFOUNDLY NORMAL, the made-for-tv-movie on CBS last night, and I really enjoyed it. This remarkable story of two mentally handicapped people was amazing in that it grabs you right where you are and pushes you into a world seen through the eyes of The Thorntons (played truly amazingly by Kirstie Alley and Delroy Lindo.) You really should get around to seeing this movie. I also watched the 60 Minutes special with them, talking about their son and how life has been as a retarded couple who went against all odds, got married, and had a child. Breathtaking.

9/10

Of all the movies I've watched with leading characters with mentally diminished capacity, I've never seen one with a woman playing the leading role. "Nell" doesn't count because Nell (Jodie Foster) wasn't mentally slow though they made it seem like it. The fact is, she was raised completely isolated and had a mother who couldn't speak correctly, hence Nell was socially maladjusted and couldn't speak correctly. "Profoundly Normal" stars Kirstie Alley who played Donna Thornton, a woman who was legitimately mentally disabled.

This movie is a memoir of sorts that highlights her adult relationship with her husband Ricardo Thornton (Delroy Lindo). Ricardo may not have been mentally disabled at all, but he was labeled such and so it was. The two of them met at an institution called Forest Haven in Maryland. Forest Haven is just like what you'd imagine a big institution for the mentally handicapped would be in the 60's: big and soulless with a cruel and abusive staff. They sought to marry and live a normal life together even if those with the smarts and the degrees said otherwise.

This is a darling movie along the lines of "I Am Sam," but based upon real people. And I think that knowing "Profoundly Normal" is about two real people makes it more endearing, sentimental, and sympathetic. I've never seen Kirstie Alley in anything serious and I thought she had a marvelous performance in this movie. I expected nothing less from Delroy Lindo. He was as professional as always.

Wow.

I had turned to channel 3 to play some video games, and was rewarded with this movie. I was blown away, and I loved every moment of it. I was immediately attached to the characters during the opening credits, and I was never let down.

I'll begin by saying I never considered Alley to be a "real" actress, and that may be because of the unfortunate shows and movies she has been in (not that they're bad, they just never required real acting). But I've taken a 180 and am now convinced that this woman is phenomenal. She embraced her character and performed so realistically that it took me several minutes before I realized that was her. I had to come to imdb just to make sure. It can't be easy to play a mentally retarded character, especially when so many stereotypes and prejudices exist. Ms. Alley, though, was beyond convincing. She was profound.

Perhaps some people may consider this to be a simple battle of overcoming society, but imagine the difficulty of surmounting the woes the world presses against you unfairly and without cause. Imagine being told every day of your life that you couldn't do something over and over again, and believing it for yourself. What do you do when you HAVE to do it? When you have to survive?

Was the story heartwarming? Of course. Was it endearing? Most definitely. But what I loved about it was the reality you could feel from the people. There is one argument (and I don't want to give away about what) between the two characters where I suddenly couldn't tell they were retarded. It was a real argument that anyone could have, and I was convinced that these two souls were completely normal...

Profoundly normal

I too had never considered Kirstie Alley a "real" actress. She is a very good comedian, but "Serious Actress" is not a description I would have ever used with her. . . .until I saw this movie. I was actually at work (at a sportsbar) when it came on. I was flipping through the channels looking for sports, when I stopped for a moment, and in that short moment I was amazed! I sat entranced for the next 2 hours (ignoring customers, and killing my tips), but it was worth it! Not since Sybill (with Sally Field in the 1970's) have I been so awe struck with the performances in a TV movie! Congrats to Kirstie Alley! You have proven yourself to be brilliant, talented, inspired, and most of all a "Serious Actress" on a par with the great film actresses of today!!!!!!