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!

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The eighth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are here)

Gilberte Doinel in Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows

She is definitely one of cinemas worst moms (in a conventional sense) but the scene where Antione Doinel tells his teacher that his mother is dead is without a doubt one of the most memorable in cinema history. The 400 Blows wouldn’t be the same without it’s antagonist and if you’re a Truffaut and French New Wave lover, you probably can’t help but think that if Truffaut’s mother (who he based Gilbrete Doinel on) wasn’t so awful, that he might not have needed to escape into the cinema.. And that would have been a terrible thing.

And on the note of kids watching movies, to learn about Facet’s Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Young Critics Camp! And definitely click click click to see some great scenes from the film.

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The seventh look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are here)

Mabel Longhetti in John Cassavetes’ A Woman Under the Influence

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).

and learn about After School Matters, a program that not only engages kids after school but also gives moms a break (if they need it!) and click click to see a great scene from the movie.

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The sixth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are here)

Charlotte Andergast in Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata

The ultimate in mother movies, Bergman takes his namesake, Ingrid Bergman and makes her a mother you can’t soon forget. Ingrid’s Charlotte is a woman who gave up her family in order to have a music career and Liv Ullman plays her oldest daughter. When Charlotte pays a visit to Ullman’s house, the two share a night of emotional revelation that is amazing yet emotionally draining to watch. Combined with the striking visuals and colors of the film, Autumn Sonata will stay with you for some time.

to learn how you can ensure that kids across the country continue to have music in their classrooms (perhaps this would have helped Ullman’s character in the scene below the fold - you should really watch it!)

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The fifth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2, 3 and 4 are here)

Jeanne Dielman in Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

The most worthwhile thing I could say about this film is see it! Akerman’s film showcases the routine and daily life of a widow who takes care of her young adult son. The film is not about plot, it’s a character study of the highest order. Watching Delphine Seyrig’s Dielman is memorizing with seemingly meaningless moments inspiring gasps from the audience. It’s also makes a point on what it means to be a housewife and makes you sit with the routines that many of our mother’s no doubt went through (and some mothers today still go through).

to learn how you can compost all the potato skins you peel (and look below the fold to see an amazing two minutes from the film - and to understand why I mentioned potatoes above!)

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The fourth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2 and 3 are here)

Mother Kusters in Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven

Fassbinder’s film about a German women whose husband kills his boss at the factory where he works before killing himself is filled with ideas of motherhood. After the death of her husband, Frau Kusters has to contend not only with the media but also with how her children respond to the media (not so well it turns out, 1 of her adult children leaves, while the other uses the situation to become famous). Not to mention that her search for meaning related to her husband’s death leads her straight to the Communist Party. Also, nobody beats Brigitte Mira!

to learn about widownet, a site that helps widows and widowers deal with their grief, and click click click for an interesting video tribute to Mother Kusters

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The third look at one of my favorite movie moms. (Here’s the first, here’s the second)

Mdme. Chevalier in Louis Malle’s Murmur of the Heart

A coming of age story that could only be French, Malle’s Murmur tells the story of Laurent, a young boy dealing with adolescence and a mother that likes to smother. The two get to spend some quality time together when she him for a rest-cure for his heart murmur at a very conventional spa. There Laurent deals with how to lose his virginity and not how one might expect. Happy Mother’s Day indeed.

to learn more about heart murmurs and children and click click click to watch a trailer for the film..

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The second look at one of my favorite movie moms. (Here’s the first)

Selma in Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark

Bjork’s portrayal of a mother going blind who is worried about passing her bum gene on to her son is nothing short of heartbreaking (in the manipulative Lars von Trier way). She exemplifies what it means to be selfless, right up to “the last song.” Her quest to ensure that her son will be able to see is one filled with tragedy, murder and music and isn’t to be missed!

Like Selma says, “I just wanted to hold a little baby. ”

to learn about Unite for Sight and click click for some Dancer in the Dark videos.

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Mother’s Day is quickly approaching so for the next few days leading up to the Sunday celebration, I’m going to do little profiles on my favorite movie moms. At the end of the week I’ll compile them into a easily digestible Top 10 List. For now, here’s my one of my all time favorite movie moms:

Mother/Norman Bates as “Mother” in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho

Psycho is admittedly my favorite movie of all time and if you’ve never seen it you’ll probably want to stop reading here. From the minute Janet Leigh’s Marion Crane arrives at the Bates Motel it is obvious that something is up with the little old lady living in the house near the motel. And sure enough something is up, or rather down as Marion’s sister eventually finds the real mother (and soon her imposter) in the basement of Norman Bates’ house.

Interestingly enough Hitchcock used a variety of voices to make the mother’s voice, not wanting to give away his secret by simply having Anthony Perkins pretend to be a woman. He also used someone other than Perkins as the body during the infamous shower scene, so as not to give away his tall lanky figure.

Click click click for some great Psycho mother moments

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