| AN OVERLOOKED GEM! MIDLER IS INCREDIBLE! |
I have never understood the reaction so many people and critics have had to this film.
In short: this is a great movie. I am as baffled today as I was upon its initial release that it did not do well. Bette (who has had an uneven movie career) is simply great here; brilliant. She SHOULD have won an Oscar. She is electric in her almost every scene. The early big number where she first sings for Eddie is magic, exhilarating, joyous, and a delight. Bette is at her very best in this long number. Even her hands and arms; watch what she does with them.
The supporting players are also wonderful. I particularly enjoyed the subtly, grace, and charm displayed by Arye Gross (impossibly young!). The scenes in Vietnam with Christopher Rydell (as Bette's beloved movie son Danny) are also superbly played by the actor. You really feel the stunning transition from his pro-war beliefs to his shocking disillusionment.
The brief Vietnam scenes also portray the hubris of Vietnam better than most feature-length films on the subject. No small achievement.
What I also liked about the film was the utter disparity between the public's viewpoint of the two Beloved Stars and their own truth. I also enjoyed the many issues touched upon - no easy task to do in 138 minutes.
Yes, there are problems. I did not like the casting of James Cann in 1991 and still do not although I usually enjoy the actor. And yes, the Old Make-up is a disaster and utterly distracting.
Film history is full of overlooked gems. FOR THE BOYS is one such film. Remember, people did not like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE when it came out! Nor the WIZARD OF OZ!
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5 Rating
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