“Mean Girls” — Amy Poehler as Mrs. George
A mom with her own catch phrase, she’s not a regular mom, she’s a Cool Mom. Of course Queen Bee Regina George (Rachel McAdams) would have the coolest mom in school, portrayed perfectly by Amy Poehler (one of the first cinematic partnerships between Poehler and writer/co-star Tina Fey). Even before the Real Housewives, Poehler created the prototype for the well-kept wealthy woman, draped in velour, clutching a small dog, and desperately holding onto any shreds of youth and relevance. She only has a few cumulative moments of screen time, but she steals them all. We’d watch a whole “Mean Girls” spin-off with Mrs. George, for sure. Virgin daiquiri anyone?
“Bunny Lake is Missing” — Carol Lynley as Ann Lake
The radiant Carol Lynley owns Otto Preminger’s kidnapping thriller “Bunny Lake is Missing,” an exemplary entry of the ‘60s British mystery canon. As an American transplant, and a single mom, Ann lives every mother’s worst nightmare when she goes to pick up her daughter Bunny from nursery school and she’s simply… not there. This sets off a wild search for Bunny throughout swinging London, set entirely to an energetic soundtrack by The Zombies. With Laurence Olivier as the police superintendent helping Ann in her search, Anna Massey as a kindly teacher, and Keir Dullea as Ann’s brother, who’s a little bit off, it’s a story that causes the audience to question everything—everyone becomes a suspect, and the other characters begin to question if Bunny was even there. But Lynley’s unwavering determination to find her daughter inspires confidence in Ann. Without any evidence, the look in her eyes is enough to make you believe in her.
“Mother” — Hye-ja Kim
If there’s a theme to how we’re defining the best moms, clearly it’s “protective.” Most of these moms are so devoted to their children that they will do anything for them, even commit violence. That’s the case with Bong-Joon Ho’s 2009 masterpiece “Mother,” starring Hye-ja Kim, as an acupuncturist and herbalist taking care of her adult, intellectually disabled son. When he’s accused of murdering a young girl, she springs into action to clear his name, pursuing her own investigation, while the police lazily jumped to conclusions to arrest her son. Like most of Bong-Joon Ho’s films, “Mother” has a sense of dry, deadpan absurdist humor, and Kim ably performs in both dramatic and comic tones. She simply embodies determination, her drawn face the image of the film that will stick with you long after it’s over. Her love for her son is unrequited, blind, and all-consuming to the point of self-detriment. But there’s something rather pure and beautiful in her devotion. “Mother” also contains probably the most poignant scene ever shot of bunch of Korean moms having a wild dance party on a bus.
“Animal Kingdom” — Jacki Weaver as Janine “Smurf” Cody
In film about an Australian organized crime family, starring Ben Mendelsohn and Joel Edgerton, Jacki Weaver manages to be scarier than any of the tough guys she rules. David Michôd specifically wrote the matriarch role in “Animal Kingdom,” for Weaver, and as Janine, she is at once maternal and murderous, concealing her power with her softer, motherly side. She’s completely willing to sell out her grandson, J (James Frecheville), and has no problem blackmailing a cop with a smile. But everything she does, she does for family—her family’s power. Her sweet blonde motherly looks belie her hunger for power, and her utter ruthlessness too. So maybe “best” isn’t the descriptor you would use to describe Janine’s mothering skills, but she’s still one of our favorites, and one we can’t get out of our heads. The role is so indelible that Ellen Barkin is taking it on in the TV adaptation of the film hitting TNT.
Snubbing Mabel Longhetti from A Woman Under the Influence was rough enough. But then you had to bring up that unfortunate Oscar winning performance from Burstyn that deprived Gena Rowlands of what I consider the greatest performance by an actress ever. Ouch.
Longhetti is a flawed mother, to be sure. Like many on your list. But you can’t deny the love for her children is 100% and then some. I don’t see any of these other mothers anxiously lingering at the school bus stop for her children to arrive. Maybe Mabel isn’t the best, but she’s absolutely unforgettable. Mean exclusion, Playlist!
Oh Playlist. I love you, but occasionally you miss the beat so bad. How can you possibly possibly run an article about movie mothers with not one mention of The Consistently Greatest Screen Mother Of All Time? Yes, Dianne Wiest. Shame on you. In The Lost Boys, Edward Scissorhands, Footloose, Parenthood and Bright Lights Big City, to name but a few, she plays the most wonderful mothers. I know no kid who grew up the Eighties who didn’t want her to be their mom. She is the Greatest. How could you have missed her out??!