Welcome to the Movie Rewrite of Steel Magnolia’s. Before reading, please take notice of the visual solution to the Rewrite. Picture by Vanessa Martinez. Despite the tragic ending, the movie was filled with Southern charm and wit. There was a lot of love with this family and yes, plenty of dysfunction. Anytime I see Sally Field, I always remember what an incredible actress she is. From Sybil to Norma Ray to Steal Magnolia’s, she is so intense. The whole cast is great but Sally, in my eyes, is untouchable.

Rewrite begins. As many of you have seen in our last 15 or so Rewrites, we usually change the end and take the story into several other directions and then connect them all at the end. While this was a great movie on all counts, one simple sensible twist would have kept everything intact with a strong future ahead of them all.

It’s similar to when a group of firemen are trying to get somebody out from under a car and can’t seem to figure it out. Then a five year old child walks by and sees the solution as clear as day.

So without our usual imaginative twists, let’s use the solution of a child. It was made very clear to Julia Roberts with her health complications, the risk in having a baby on her own. Sally Field, Julia’s mother, made it very clear and was adamant about it, as were her doctors and many others.

Fortunately, Sally Field being the powerhouse she is, was very close with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or better known as “Brangelina.” As we know Brangelina has been very involved with hurricane relief efforts in Louisiana and happened to be in town during this pertinent time with Shelby ( Julia Roberts ). Sally Field invited the Pitt’s over for lunch one afternoon hoping they can talk some sense into Julia Roberts about having a baby.

They told Julia, have a baby is a miracle, nobody can ever argue otherwise. But when these kinds of risks are involved, once must consider other options. Adopting a baby is also a miracle. It’s a beautiful addition to a family and saves a child’s life. We call that a win win. Oh and don’t forget the third win, being this option saves Julia’s (Shelby’s) life, the family avoids heartache and devastation. We call that a, win win win.
The End. Move still would have been great.