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Summary: After many years, still powerful...
Review: This film brings back memories, and I'm glad the DVD finally came out, though there are no extras. Bette, in her film debut, was brilliant and deserved every award she got. Often compared to Janis Joplin, I think the screenplay of Bill Kerby & Bo Goldman gave Midler a bit more personality and personal angst. Midler handled it all like a seasoned pro. A truly excellent performance. Her concert scenes were good, too. Frederic Forrest was nominated for an Oscar, and he was quite fine (he was also in "Norma Rae" with Sally Field, who won the Oscar over Midler in '79). But it was Alan Bates as the oily, manipulative agent (baby-sitter?) who truly deserved recognition. The Oscars also recognized the film for its Sound and brilliant Editing. Sorely missing from the nominations were the Adapted Score and the wonderful title Song, written by Amanda McBroom. This is a powerful and entertaining film, with fine acting and great direction by Mark Rydell, loaded with humor, pathos and sadness, and all brought to life by the remarkable Bette Midler.It's worth watching again. Also, watch for David Keith (her personal bodyguard/masseur, later on), who later made such a strong impression in "An Officer and a Gentleman".
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Summary: Bette As Janis
Review: Those of us of a certain age well remember the ultra-talented and ultimately doomed 60s icon, Janis Joplin.In this thinly disguised Joplin biography, Bette Midler outdoes herself as an out-of-control, incredibly talented, self-destructive singer who turns to the bottle, sex, and anything else she can to hide from her intense inner pain. It sounds like a cliche, and by now it is, but that was Janis--and Bette does her one better. Her angst shines through with great poignancy, even when she is belting out hit after hit, responding to her audience as though she is making love. Hard living, hard boozing, and bent on destroying herself, the singer has us riveted to her story. Her tearful phone call to the father who never approved of her is one of the high points of the film: Bette pulls out the stops. Alan Bates is divine as always as the singer's manager, but this film belongs to Bette. If you are not aware of Midler's incredibly wide-ranged talent, this is the perfect movie. It can make you a lifelong fan.
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Summary: MIDLER FANS WILL FALL FOR THIS BIOPIC
Review: When I first saw this movie it hit me very hard, I was down for the rest of the day (yes movies influence me a lot). Bette Midler is absolutely fantastic (as always) and her songs are pure energy. I'd say an alternative title would have been 'Forces of Nature'. For me the best part ever is the last one, from when she's left alone in her home town and makes a stop at a bar she used to sing. After she's dragged out and takes all the pills she is so out of it and how can't you feel for her. She drives to the old school where she makes one of the most sad calls in history, to her parents, and if you have seen it before, you know it's the last time their parents will ever speak to her. Then she recollects what's left of her power and manges to call her manager, only to pull herself up to the stage and sing her last song. How can you not die when you see what happens next? And right after it, the title song, most depressing song ever, starts and plays on the end titles and on a moving bulb light. The 'Camellia' scored part where she's choppered in as well, a prelude to this sad end. One of the best movies for me, just for this part and for all of it. I hate the manager character.
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Summary: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rose...
Review: When I was 14 I first saw this film with my best friend, Dane. He had seen it nearly 20 times, and I wanted to know what the big deal was. It was Miss M. From the first moment Bette was on screen it was powerful, dynamic! She tore up the stage belting out those ballads, and ripping our hearts out with her pain and addiction.
I never really enjoyed musicals, but this was more. I know its based on Janis Joplin, but it could have been any rock star. The pain and suffering seen through Roses eyes was so believable that I thought it was almost Bette's life story. The skillful direction of Mark Rydell, who manages to blend the electrifying concert footage to the crazy back stage antics to the real isolation of the main character is rare to see in films. This film is a prize winning rose in any movie garden.
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