At the time, she was a silly, giggling, boop-boop-be-doop, bubblehead girl, even when she went on a commercial as herself. So it was hard to see her as a brainy girl. BUT - when she was in Extremities, she got all of the boop-boop-bee-doop out of her personality, and wowed critics and the audience with her performance, both on stage and screen. EXTREMITIES SPOILERS: She overpowered her attacker by spraying bug spray in his eyes, tied him up with the phone cord he ripped out of the wall, put him in the fireplace while tied to a barbecue grill (at room temperature). She got menacing and tough and maniacally screamed at him as she put a hunting knife to his groin. When she got the serious role of Beate Klarsfeld, many people outside of the U.S. were shocked and angry. The only thing shown in their countries at the time with her it in was Charlie's Angels reruns, when she was a bubblehead. They didn't know she did a 360 with her personality. Farrah got a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Extremities, but lost to Marlee Matlin in a pedestrian role with no difficult scenes. It was a pity party for her because she was deaf. At the time, the role of Holly was right for Farrah.

by whynotwriteme Sun Sep 25 2016 14:46:32
IMDb member since December 1999
in a movie. That scene where Jessica was getting Holly to remember the events of Doc's death The painful, labored thought processes I just have to wonder, though. How much of that was acting?
With apologies to blondes I've known everywhere, this song does not apply to you.
To Farah's character, on the other hand

I see. You appeared to quote me so I assumed you were speaking to me.

Yes very true.
I would also buy that Sandmen are engaged in their jobs so they would remember - and Jessica (along with other runners) would remember because they are apart from the general mindset of the people.
My theory, if that, was more of the general throng.
And I was actually responding to the OP. hehe. I wasn't trying to say anything about yours.

I never said anything about Farrah, just her dumb character Holly. Back in the 70s, I was a big Farrah fan.
By the way, I could buy your explanation about future people being completely disengaged except that Jessica (for sure), Logan (for sure) and Francis (probably) remembered what had happened at New You just minutes earlier.

A little too unkind.
And in fact, your tote of "I can't remember because it was 30 minutes ago" is correct.
The projection of the picture, is of a world where we are so indulgent and focused on ourselves, that we can't remember one thing from the next. We just move on from pleasure to pleasure, unable to recall what just happened, nor are we supposed to care.
Farrah was just starting out, and had room to grow for sure - but you mustn't contribute your dislike or disapproval of the scene on Farrah alone.
I think Farrah was just fine, and did what she needed to do. Remember, a director was there to gage her performance, if he wanted or needed to.

I was coming here to post just that. Every time I see this movie, I'm amazed at how stupid her character is.
"Oh yes. I remember but it's difficult because it was like 30 minutes ago."
If I had been listening to that, I would've assumed that Jessica was trying to plant ideas into Holly's mind. Which given Holly's obviously limited mental capacity, wouldn't have been difficult.

The "dumb blonde" thing was in at that time.