The Birdcage

Rating:
Summary: the best gay comedy
Review: It is the best gay comedy about gay couple living together. Perfect movie. I saw enough and it's the best one.

Rating:
Summary: oh.. my ..
Review: Yesterday I watched this amazing comedy .. for the 5th or 6th time now. I love the way Nathan Lane and Robin Williams act in this picture, I mean it took a lot of preparing for those roles ;) Well of course you know they are both the greatest actors EVER, I cant imagine anyone else playing the two.. "love birds". Nathan Lane is just so good at being the "woman", I couldnt help laughting at his screaming and wailing.. and his WALK! If anybody has missed this incredible film.. I suggest buying it right now, it`s a thing you really want to own and have in your private dvd collection!

Rating:
Summary: Fosse, Fosse, Fosse, Martha Graham, Martha Graham!
Review: This movie is practically perfect in every way! By turns riotously funny and endearingly touching, this movie illustrates in a very lighthearted way that true love comes in many forms. (In fact, I consider the scene on the bench with Armand and Albert to be one of the most truly romantic scenes captured in modern film. Forget those phony sex scenes with airbrushed stars that you see in most of today's films -- Armand and Albert's interactions capture the heart of real tenderness in a long-term relationship!) Oh, yes, and did I mention it was funny? My husband and I have watched it at least 20 times and know every line, but we end up watching it again and again because it's just that good! If you're a hardcore "red stater", this movie may not be your thing, but for everyone else...buy it!!!

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Summary: Camp is Camp, but Funny is a beautiful thing
Review: I hesitated when I first heard that they were putting out an American version of La Cage. Having watched all the original films, subtitles and all, against my wishes at a weekend get-away made me wish that I had politely declined the invite and stayed home to do laundry.
This film is a real riot and Nathan Lane is wonderful. At times you feel as if you want to rescue his withering flower, only to be thrown off by a shriek and Diva Posturing.
The story is simple - Armand (played by a rather sexy Robin Williams) and Albert own a night club called the Birdcage. Armand has a son from a previous involvement who is dating a Senators daughter. The son would like to bring her family to visit, but wants his loving parents to act straight and DE-Gay the house. He also wants (much to the horror of Albert) his biological mother, played by Christine Baranski, to come and play the part of the full time Mom.
The Senators family has problems of their own and is avoiding the press. This all leads to a tangled comedy of errors and mistaken identities.
Throw in a housekeeper played by Hank Azaria who seems to be channeling Charro, and the ever delightful Dianne Weist who plays the Senators wife to Gene Hackman's senator, and you end up biting your nails to see if Albert and Armand can pull the whole thing off.
What it does offer is the idea that "Love conquers all," and that no matter what the situation, people find ways to adjust and learn to be tolerant of others. It also teaches us all that not everyone was made to wear a dress. I guess it's not what you wear, but how you wear it.


Rating:
Summary: Funny!
Review: This is a very funny movie. It has all the stereotypes . . the masculine and the feminine gays, the straight son, the understanding mother, the right wing idiot, the cute daughter, and the rest of them, but everything and everyone plays well together. It's addictive, you can't see it just once.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: The Birdcage is one of those comedies I am sure some people with love and others will hate. I thoroughly enjoy this movie every time I watch it, and it was no different this time - except it looked and sounded better than ever by dint of it now being on DVD (naturally!)
For starters, we have a gay couple comprised of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Robin Williams (Armand) has a unique gift, for he can be both outlandish with his talent, or he can be subtle and understated. It is the latter quality which he brings to The Birdcage, with only small offerings of his more traditional high-energy humour, and he has a charm which endears him in every movie he appears in. Put him alongside the limp-wristed extrovert Albert (Nathan Lane), who screams when he damages toast, and you have a recipe for some outrageous comedy which director Mike Nichols stirs with an expert wooden spoon.
In a nutshell, this unlikely couple must pretend to be man and woman to receive the parents of Armand's son's fiancé as guests for a first encounter. For, in a previous state of mind Armand did produce a son with a woman. The real twist is that the father of his son's fiancé is no less than Senator Kevin Keeley, played wonderfully by Gene Hackman. Not only must the fact that Armand is gay be hidden, but his partner Albert transforms into a woman in a way which the Senator finds appealing. A wig and and a dress is all that is needed for Albert, who given his nature is overly feminine anyway. The Senator mistakes this ludicrous man as being a stout, moral (if homely) looking woman and takes a liking to her. Mingle in an absolutely fall-over funny performance from Hank Azaria (who steals any scene he is in) and the stage is set for a very entertaining two hours or so.


Rating:
Summary: Tired
Review: When Hollywood seeks to remake a Foreign Film, it is usually pretty bad. Case and point is The Birdcage. This movie is a flaccid retelling of La Cage aux Folles. Robin Williamns and Nathan Lane never acheive chemistry for you to believe for one moment that they are lovers. Lane lacks the the charisma to pull of Michel Serrault's role, and he never seems comfortable. Gene Hackman actually stands out in this movie and brings dimension to a character that could have been just one dimensional. He manages to bring charm and some needed humor to this otherwise stale movie. Most unfuriating is Robin Williams who seems to tread out his usual limp wrist routines to the point of being tiring.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT A DELIGHTFUL MOVIE!
Review: THE BIRDCAGE is one marvelously entertaining and well done comedy. Based on the popular French farce LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, screenwriter Elaine May and director Mike Nichols have fashioned a hilarious tale of love, family and acceptance, infused with some uproarious scenes, superb acting and a heart bigger than all of Miami!
The Oscars in 1996 ignored some of the best performances on screen: Nathan Lane is picture perfect as Albert, the feminine side of a relationship with the equally marvelous Robin Williams. Lane's portrayal is the heart of the movie, and Oscar blew it in neglecting a nomination. Likewise, Hank Azaria as Abagor Spartacus is just brilliant as their Guatemalan "maid", and he was sorely overlooked as well. How about the usually staid Gene Hackman bringing such intelligence and life to an otherwise obnoxious character--his getup in the end is priceless, especially when he moans that nobody wants to dance with him...and it's because I'm in white..I told them I looked fat in white!! Dianne Weist as his stuffy wife is great, as are Calista Flockhart and Dan Futterman as the youngsters involved. Futterman is especially impressive, and I'm surprised he hasn't had a better career.
THE BIRDCAGE is not a "gay" film per se; it's a film about love, commitment, acceptance and the ability to love in spite of what sex one chooses to love. A brilliant comedy that is one of the most entertaining films I've seen in quite some time. Sorry I waited so long to see it!!!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Vamp - It's all about appearances
Review: The Birdcage is a funny, engaging, and touching movie about two aging homosexuals, Armand and Albert played brilliantly by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, respectively. It is a story about life, love, and appearances. It's all about the appearances.

The Birdcage itself is all about appearances as cross-dressing men line up to vamp and sing and entertain as, well, sensual women. But the highlight of the film is the byplay between Williams and Lane - imagine an effeminate Robin Williams as the straight man to a gay guy - the remarkable talent of Nathan Lane. At one point, Nathan Lane (a straight guy) is playing a homosexual trying to imitate a straight guy.... it was a stellar performance and side-splittingly funny.

Gene Hackman is the perfect foil as an uptight, conservative Senator.

If you don't mind the jabs at Republicans, tradition, religion and morality, it will amuse and entertain.

Rating:
Summary: Out And About
Review: The Birdcage, based on the French comedy La Cage Aux Folles, is a very funny comedy that takes on notions of family values and is able to comment on things without getting preachy. Thanks to a witty and fun script, a surehanded director, and a top notch cast the film will have you laughing no matter your political views

Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) and Albert(Nathan Lane) seem to have it all. They share a long-term committed relationship encompassing their lives and careers and have together raised Armand's son Val (Dan Futterman). When Val announces his engagement to the daughter (Calista Flockhart) of ultra-conservative U.S. Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman), what choice is there but to accept his decision with love? Meanwhile, Senator Keeley and his wife Louise (Diane Wiest) are watching his right-wing constituency evaporate with the scandalous demise of his closest political ally. A visit to their future in-laws could be just the thing to take the public's focus off the Keeley's political problems. With the visit of his fiancee's rigid family a sure thing, Val asks his father to straighten up the apartment just a bit. It's not much to ask really--All it will take is to remove Armand's art collection, furniture, clothes, evidence of his job, their flamboyant housekeeper Agador (Hank Azaria) and of course Albert.

Elaine May's script walks the fine line between true farce, sharp social commentary, and the underlying theme of family--and the dysfunction that comes from that. There's plenty of laughs to be had. Usual off the wall Williams plays it...er straight while those around him are allowed take up his M.O. Lane, Azaria, and Hackman are just great as their character personalities are what drive the humor of the movie. Director Mike Nichols effortlessly watches over the proceedings with ease. The last half of the film is very well done and is quite memorable, especially for fans of Hackman's

The DVD includes the film's theatrical trailer as its only extra. Viewers have the option to watch The Birdcage in either the widescreen or full frame format. MGM also includes one of there fairly standard "collectible" trivia/production booklet for those who want to know more. As always though, an audio commentary or featurette would have made things better.

The Birdcage is a fine comedy that comes recommended and has a few "messages" that thankfully, doesn't overtake the film