Another Mother’s Day has passed (I hope you had a good one) but luckily for you the Top 10 Movie Moms are available all year round - here’s the final Top 10 - including 2 new ones not yet profiled! Keep in mind these Moms may not be the most typical (they’re all actually pretty unique) , but they are definitely the most dynamic and interesting to watch on the screen.
10. Carol White in Todd Haynes’ Safe
A disturbing and eeery portrait of a California housewife and step-mom that suddenly turns sick from the chemicals in the air is in part an attack of suburban culture and in part a more general metaphor for the AIDS epidemic. But these social critiques aside, Julianne Moore’s turn as Carol White is a fascinating look at a woman who wants more that to run a house. The scene of Carol at a pals baby shower, when a young child is sitting on her lap as she starts to experience an attack will sit with you for some time… As will the last moment of the film. It’s a true testament to the side our mother’s keep to themselves…
And even though Carol may have had other problems, 
to ensure we all have clean air to breathe!
While she won’t win any mother of the year awards, Mabel Longhetti is one of my all time favorite movie characters. Gena Rowlands gives the performance of a life time as a mother at her wits end, a free spirit that can no longer deal with the responsibilities of everyday life. How her family deals with her “outbursts” and unique personality makes for a great movie (as does Peter Falk, who will appear on my favorite movie dads list).
If you have been reading the blog regularly as of late, you may have noticed that I keep bringing up HBO’s The Wire. One reason for this, beyond the fact that it is utterly amazing, is that the underlying theme of the show for the 4th season is Education - and as the resident “Learn” correspondent for Takepart, I keep making connections from the show to education news.Twice in this season, issues of advancement in the school system have come up, both times with students being pushed ahead into grades that they aren’t ready for academically, but are ready for socially. Both incidents of social promotion have been somewhat heartbreaking, as it is clear that the students best interests are not at heart.Today, the New York Times reported that Michael Bloomberg has some different ideas on the subject: