Nurse Betty

Rating:
Summary: A little out there...
Review: Nurse Betty, directed by Neil LaBute in 2000, presents the internalization of social structures. The film portrays to viewers the role that they have as consumers of images. We see how Betty views visual images and visual culture such as television as a commodity, something that can be bought or sold. She was consumed by a soap opera, and eventually she no longer saw the difference between watching it and being in it. LaBute brings to attention the objectification and surveying of females, specifically Betty, as well as stereotypical gender roles.
Betty is a waitress in a small town, married to a car-dealer who treats her poorly. He gets involved with a drug deal and is ultimately killed in his home while Betty is in the next room. As Betty watches her husband's murder, and simultaneously watches A Reason to Love, her obsession turns into a post-traumatic reality. She proceeds with her life, actually believing she is a nurse from the show, unaware of her husband's murder. She goes to Los Angeles searching desperately for her "ex-fiancé" Dr. David Ravell, who is a character from the soap opera as well.
The majority of the time that Betty is presented in the film it is from the perspective of a male. First from the eyes of her no-good husband, through the sheriff and reporter that follow her for her story, and mostly from the view of the two men who killed her husband, and are now following her because of the drugs that she unknowingly has in the trunk of her husband's car. In Ways of Seeing, John Berger presents the notion that "men act, women appear." Men survey women before treating them, while women turn themselves into an object of vision; a sight. Betty knows that she is being both observed and judged by society; therefore she turns herself into someone admirable to others. This reflects Berger's idea that women are defined by how they are viewed by men. Women watch themselves being looked at and change themselves to appeal to the male perspective, as Betty did, first for her husband, and then for David Ravell, the TV actor she pursues. Nurse Betty plays on many of the stereotypes of our society. Betty is an attractive young woman, and a typical "blonde." She is fascinated with a soap-opera, as much of our culture is. The labels she carries from housewife to nurse to love object are all conventional female roles.

Rating:
Summary: Cute, But Conflicting
Review: Neil LaBrute and John C. Richard's comedic Nurse Betty presents its viewers with an intriguing question: How much do we let our lives revolve around media, and when is it time to snap out of it, step back, and take control of our own lives?

Opening with a shot from a TV-series-within-a-movie scene, the film taunts those audience members who immediately begin to latch onto the "wrong" characters until the scene suddenly waxes incredibly "fake." Whoops! We're supposed to fall in love with Betty, not these crazy, one-dimensional characters.

Yet those audience members will be the first to laugh at Betty when they see how wrapped up she's become in the TV series "A Reason to Love" in order to escape from the harsh reality that's surrounding her. Ha, ha-How can she possibly think that "George" is "David," and how can he not see it? But wait-Have we forgotten already that "George" is really Greg Kinnear?

While the viewer's ambivalent gaze increases the comedy of the film, it causes problems when deciding whether this film criticizes, or simply reproduces, the messages and stereotypes we've all seen and heard before. If we look at it with an analytical eye, we could argue that the film is a clever critique of society on the part of the writer, director, and actors. However, because this film portrays everything we expect from a Hollywood film: the crazy blonde in distress, the bad guys, some twists here and there, and the neatly tied-up ending, and because the audience does begin to sympathize with the believable characters, the film seems at points to reinforce the stereotypical view of women as objects seen through the male gaze.

While the film tries to rebel against some stereotypes, the messages are countered by the images we see throughout the film. For example, in a conversation between Charlie (Morgan Freeman) and Wesley (Chris Rock), Wesley superficially describes Betty as, "You know, blonde, thin, whatever?" to which Charlie responds, "Slow down: blonde, thin, yeah. Did they say anything about style? Did they say anything about grace?" The conversation makes the audience think-just for a brief moment-about what's important in life. Also, the film allows us to sympathize with the "bad guys" during their road trip and especially at the film's end. However, we still have the typical soap-opera-watching waitress whose dreams have disintegrated in order to please her male partner-first, her good-for-nothing husband, and then a TV actor who's full of himself.

Renee Zellweger's character Betty, while played terrifically, was scripted somewhat one-dimensionally. It fit the perfect role of women as defined by John Berger's theory that "men act, women appear"-that is, while men are defined by the jobs they have their successes, etc., women are defined solely by how they're perceived by a male eye, which, in most cases, means for their looks. Objectified mainly in the lens of other male characters, Betty becomes a housewife, a criminal, an actress, a nurse, a skinny blonde, a love object, a delusional freak, etc., but we never really see the "true" Betty for very long. Simply mirroring the frames that others cage her in and the pedestals that others place her on, Betty perpetuates what Jeremy Bentham has termed "panopticism." That is, she is aware that she's being watched and judged by others and as a result, fits herself into a mold that's commendable by society. Even though she is delusional in parts of the movie, her dreams reflect those that society wants her to pursue-nurse instead of doctor, TV actress, etc.-and her reality even more stereotypically reflects a woman "in her place." The only ways that she escapes this ubiquitous gaze is by entering into her own delusion of who'd she like to become-a dainty nurse still admired by all-and, when she realizes the futility in this, to literally escape instead of redefining herself as a strong female character. While it's true that she "do[es]n't need anybody, because [she's] got [her]self," I remain doubtful that she's going to believe that and whether she'll be able to live the life she wants. While she does pursue what at first sight is a "successful" career, does she really pursue her original dreams? And will she ever stop living vicariously through other characters?

Rating:
Summary: Decent film that is a little out there.
Review: Nurse Betty is an enigma among Neil Labute body of work as an director but it's a fine movie because if the performances, Especially the one giving by Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, and Chris Rock. They make this weird and engrossing road movie into a strange and deprave look at obsession, and popular culture. Considering Labute past work, this is no way as profound or as powerful as In the Company of Men and The Shape of Things but it's miles better than his lackluster love epic Possession.

Rating:
Summary: A Fantasy Plot We're Expected To Believe Is Real
Review: OK, I've dug most of Labute's other stuff, especially his newest, "The Shape of Things". ...And I think this movie is well-directed.
And there's no question that the acting is top-notch. Rock hangs in there in a dramatic role. Freeman and Zelwegger are great as always. Kinnear does a good job.
Even my major criteria of a good movie was satisfied, in that I never knew what was coming next. I mean I had no clue what was coming next the whole time.

And yet I didn't enjoy this one. I mean, it was an unpleasant experience for me. And I think the problem lies in the basic premise.
We're asked to go along with an impossible plot. And that's ok. I've got no problem with that. Sometimes it's really great to get swept along by the force of a story that is based in fantasy. But then, at times, we're asked to see this one as though it's real. Betty's long-standing delusion is fantastical, right? But when Betty meets the soap star, for example, the fantasy stops. Labute fosters a palpable tension in the meeting. We dive into realism. Later, Betty saves a guy's life because she thinks she's a nurse, right? That's fantasy. I think we could all agree that she wouldn't have realistically been able to do the work she did on that dude. And yet, this whole time, the guy's spurting blood. He's in extreme pain.
Those are just two of the many examples of this going on. I see fantasy and realism as the opposite ends of the spectrum of storytelling. I think you can make a great movie anywhere on that scale. But I think that you have to figure out where you're gonna lie on that spectrum and stay in that general area. This movie continually jars us back and forth from one to the other. And, though the acting is skilled, different actors play their roles at different levels of reality. Freeman comes off as if he's acting in a drama, but Kinnear thinks he's in a comedy.
I'm still baffled by this movie. Some reviewers I respect liked it a lot. But watching this one in the theater was an entirely unpleasant experience for me. ...And I'm easily pleased.

Rating:
Summary: Nurse Betty is a curious film....
Review: that is very different from the cynical first two efforts of Director Neil LaBute. LaBute is working with someone else's script this time, and that may be the reason this film was more successful than his first two efforts. A dark comedy with some surprisingly graphic violence, this is definitely a departure from his character driven ensembles that have you liking absolutely no one.

It's hard not to like Betty -- she's a down on her luck waitress that has an absolutely golden presence. Who couldn't like her? It's difficult to know whether Zellweger's more likeable here, as Bridget, or in her "Chicago" role. In a very short time, she has established herself as leading lady material, and the camera loves her. As Betty, her crush on a soap opera star (Greg Kinnear as Actor George McCord) who is a doctor in his role, becomes more serious when her low-life husband is killed by two mobsters. Betty witnesses the murder, and unknowingly takes the car that has the merchandise the mobsters are searching for. When Betty leaves her small-town life for LA, she's disassociated from reality and is going to find "Dr. Ravell" her real love.

Kinnear is charming and alternately confused and attracted to Betty (who acts as a nurse in the soap opera). Morgan Freeman is terrific as Charlie, from the mob, who can't help his attraction to Betty, despite his mission. Only Chris Rock, who plays Charlie's son, seems to be miscast, in a whiny and bitter role. Chris -- you CAN play comedy! The screen shines when Zellweger is on it, and you are ultimately drawn into her world and are there when it comes crashing down around her.

LaBute did a marvelous job with the film, but the DVD extras are sparse and some of the deleted scenes are truly distasteful. Alison Janney is wasted in a throw away role, but LaBute does manage to find a small role for his favorite actor, Aaron Eckhart (he's been in all LaBute's films) as the smarmy husband. John C. Richards and James Flamberg won at Cannes for the screenplay, and it does surprise in the way it tells an unusual story.

Not for everyone, especially for those looking for light comedy. Those viewers will find the violence distasteful.

Rating:
Summary: Taste Tester
Review: "Nurse Betty" is a good taste tester as Neil LaBute continues to push the envelope. After watching Gweneth Paltrow & Aaron Eckhart in LaBute's "Possession," I was curious what I'd missed with this DVD. Whether James Flamberg deserved the best screenplay prize at Cannes in 2000 for this script, I'm not sure. Usually, writers are told to avoid making your main character crazy because the audience would have to be crazy to relate to them. If there's a difficulty accessing the film, it would be that.

As far as acting execution, the only one who I consistently fail to connect with is Chris Rock. The one deleted scene on the DVD where he talks about sex with Asian women is about as gross as I could imagine; and I wasn't that pleased with his scenes left in the movie. The deleted flap scene where his skull explodes was more relief than bother. Aaron Eckhart with a bizarre haircut gets the LaBute obnoxious treatment & performs admirably as the dense self-centered husband who leaves his scalp on the floor. The supporting character Tia Texada as Rosa does a wonderful job as Zellweger's L.A. roommate. Allison Janney as producer Lyla has a limited amount to do, but does it wonderfully. Kathleen Wilhoite as best friend Sue Ann does her usual great job with her distinctive raspy voice. Crispin Glover from "Back to the Future" who is creeping people out right now with "Willard" does a great supporting job as news reporter Roy.

The leads are also excellent. Renee Zellweger is interesting to watch, and has that great Doris Day thing going on. The film hinges on our believing her disassociation from reality; and she does it so sweetly that we do. Morgan Freeman could read the phone book; and he'd be great, which he is here again. Greg Kinnear gets to play a variety of levels as Dr. David Ravell on the soap "A Reason to Love" and as actor George McCord who is charmed by Betty.

Obviously, this is a strange little tale. My wife kept saying in disbelief when it was over, "I thought it was a comedy." It works because of the wonderful acting, the distinctiveness of LaBute's directorial style, and the originality of the screenplay. That said, it doesn't completely hang together. I liked it anyway. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Lousy story, lousy dialogue
Review: I was very disappointed in Morgan Freeman for taking on this role as a hitman in this pathetic comedy. I recall laughing about one thing, and one thing only. Nurse Betty was a stupid movie with a ridiculous plot, and I couldn't get into it. Morgan Freeman had an unusually extremely foul mouth, which made me lose a lot of respect for him. I expected the foul language from Chris Rock, but not from Morgan Freeman. Renee Zellweger played a ditsy and stupid character with such a ridiculous mindset. Greg Kinnear had a flat character as well. Nurse Betty lacked extremely. It is not a kid movie either. Its R rating is due to strong graphic violence, pervasive strong language and a muted sexual situation. This movie was a complete waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Missed the balance between funny and serious
Review: Trying to be both funny and dramatic, this film falls flat because of an untrained use of violence and balance. Clumsily disturbing, this movie falls flat of its comedic potential, interesting premise and decent cast. In the end it leaves nothing more than a half-smile and a sour stomach.

Rating:
Summary: Pursuing dreams awake
Review: Seldom does a movie combine the tragic and comic elements as well as "Nurse Betty." To say that this is a story about pursuit of dreams is to focus only on the first half of the movie. It's about a bit more. It's a story about a person coming of age and pursuing her dream AWAKE.

Betty (brilliantly played by Zellweger) had been pursuing her dream ever since her husband, Del (Eckhart), was killed. She left Kansas City for LA in search of Dr. Ravell (Kinnear) whom she believed to be her ex-finance. All went pretty well until her dreamy pursuit of dream finally ended with an ugly scene in which George the actor playing Dr. Ravell was cruelly reprimanding Betty for her inability to act. Only after then did Betty wake up and go back to her real (but new) life. The final scene of the movie showed Betty enjoying herself in Rome. And that's really the dream that she should have been pursuing.

A similar message was manifested through another character, Charlie the hit man played by Morgan Freeman. Though even he himself admitted he was a "garbage man of human condition," Charlie was dreaming of an unrealistic future with Betty. He tracked her down more because of his admiration for her than for the drug stashed in Betty's car. In the end, he had to pay the price for his dreamy pursuit of his impossible dream. Not only him but also his son was killed.

While pursuing one's own dream is a good thing, it could be dangerous if one is not awake and only blindly follows his impulse. It's important to draw the distinction between the real world and the imagined world. It's easy to be led to chase dreams in the perfect, simple imagined world. But what distinguishes an achiever from a pure dreamer is the ability to recognize, accept and reconcile the imperfection of the real world and resist the temptation to keep oneself locked in a dream.

Besides the delicious blend of tragic and comic elements, the movie also offers some great performances of its cast. Zellweger is almost impeccable. Freeman, as usual, does a tremendous job and Rock is seriously funny. It's a great movie overall.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly great!!
Review: I loved this movie, and who knew that a character could be so loveable! Zellweger did her job perfectly in this movie!! Freeman is always well-liked, in every movie he does, you always on his side! Chris Rock does great in this movie too. Crispin Glover(Back To the Future(George Mcfly)) does a fairly good job too!! Good acting, different plot which makes it really good!! It's a love story and a murder case at the same time! Two mob hitmen(Freeman and Rock) murder a guy who happens to be (Zellweger's) husband! She witnesses the kill, but doesn't report it to the cops. Instead, she runs to LA and becomes a nurse and falls in love with her ex-fiance(An actor/nurse)! I never loved any character as much as her's. She was so cute and sweet, and Freeman was awesome again! Just a great movie, and there's nothing I would change!