The Rose
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Movie Reviews of The Rose
Movie Review: Midler an extraordinary performer
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to imagine any one else but Bette Midler in this role.
What helps of course, is that Midler is so thoroughly an *honest* artist, one who brings so much truth to her performances: she has not a phony bone in her body. There is not a false note in Midler's portrayal of a neurotic, desperately needy, burned-out, over-stimulated rock star who's had too much of everything in the wrong dosages. Midler brings a buzzing, physical charge to the movie, one that carries itself over to the viewer: it can leave you exhausted long before the movie's end. Enacting the role of a rock singer, Midler is the real thing. It helps, of course, that her true calling is that of a concert singer, but she has all the vitality, hyperkinetic presence and true star quality of the greatest female performers: the audience's response to her in the concert scenes has total believability. It's entirely possible, too, to feel both revulsion and a deep pity for the character's horrifying unpredictability and destructive lifestyle. Midler is such a charismatic presence that when you see her downing all the pills and booze leading to her death, you can actually feel the force of her own personality (and unerring acting skills) transmitting through to the viewer, of the drug's increasing take over. In the end, as her Rose, in the midst of a song, teeters further into her drug-induced stupor, and topples over in death, Midler achieves a genuine horror and tragedy. How Midler manages to leave such a feeling of dread and queasiness is a testament to her genius; her voice, her body, and soul seem to be dying right in front of our very eyes - it no longer feels like a performance. It's as if a real singer was somehow caught on film in the last stages of being self-snuffed out. Bette Midler by this performance alone confirms herself as an extraordinary artist.
Movie Review: Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to believe that I've missed this film until now! When I picked it up, finally, in the library I thought it was the life of Janis Joplin. Well, obviously it's based on her life but this is presented as a fictional character. I was a big Joplin fan back in the day but I really can't imagine that she would have done a better job than Better Midler.
The story is pretty predictable. We've seen the brilliant, talented, self-destructive, musicians' lives before, complete with romantic heartbreak, booze and drugs. Nothing new here. But Midler does is so well. Her singing and acting are both superlative. This is not a one-dimensional performance. As firey and wild as she is at times, she's also amazingly delicate and fragile at others.
Frederick Forrest is wonderful, too, as the fellow who seems to have the best chance of saving her from herself. He's a terrific actor and very cute. Alan Bates is good, too, as the greedy manager with the 70's hairdo.
There are a lot of concert shots which are filled with energy and style but some of her best performances are the smaller ones, like in the drag club. Midler, as the Rose, fills her performances with so much energy and joy that you have to love her and root for her.
The film is a perfect shanpshot of a moment in time---the rock scene of the 60's and 70's. But it holds up today, unlike others of that genre, mostly because of the performance of the Divine Miss M. She's a great singer, a terrific comedienne and a powerful dramatic actress---what a combination. She is quite slender and beautiful here, too. As tragic as the story is, it's also highly entertaining with lots of humour and certainly great costumes.
Movie Review: The best thing she's ever done, amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Without a doubt, the very best performance of her career, stunning and power packed with emotion. The mood swings are like an emotional rollercoaster ride. Her highs are quite high, and the lows, well, watch the film. The director's commentary is well worth watching and provided some insight into many of the scenes and the set-ups and so forth. The thing that makes this movie awesome is that the live music was performed live, in front of various live audiences. Hats off to members of Alice Cooper's backup band at the time for kicking butt as Rose's band! Stellar performances. Apparently, the directors told people to "show up just like it was the 60s again" and they did! Midler has some pretty salty and memorible lines in this film...she can be wonderfully crass, yet we feel for her, pity her, and route for her throughout the story. That's called good filmmaking folks, and great acting. I disagree with the reviewer who said the film drags....no way. We are treated to long takes on single cameras. Even the live shots are not all choppy like an MTV video, thank goodness! This move was ground-breaking for it's time (1979) due to certain adult themes and language, it was very powerful and hard hitting and remains so. I saw this in NYC at the Ziegfield on opening week. The sound in the theatre was full-on concert mode! Perfectly clear and loud. If you've only ever seen this on "VH-1 Movies that rock" or regular TV, you are really missing alot of the fantastic dialogue. This easily gets 5 full big stars from me. Enjoy it!!
Movie Review: The Rose - close corollary to a Carly Simon Saga
Summary: 5 Stars
For any of the 'young'uns' out there in Lurker Land, this 'old' 'dude' wagers that not only will s/he *not* recall, s/he would not give a 'hoot' re: the close correlation between any of Miss Carly Simon's (btw, we're touching on the Simon and Schuster Publishing House, 'case you _care_) well-articulated, heart-on-her-sleeve heartwrenching songs, Miss Joplin, and every single Decent -and- tormented Lady -and- Gentlemen since Woman was fashioned to be Man's companion (boo! hiss! evolution SMELLS).Translation: The Rose, like Ms. Simon's many pouring outs of her heart into her music, is no less than The Story of A Good Woman in Lonely Agony ... not that her scuz of a 'manager' ... or even her 'fans' ... could *really* give a 'holler' .....
How can I emote this strongly, you may be wondering / not welcoming ... well, chiefly 'coz, 23 YEARS after viewing Bette Midler in THE ROSE in our Student Auditorium at College, in my own world, I've yet to find confirmed in the fickle, hypocritical, abusive, neglectful, tormenting, uncaring, unfeeling JERKS that are my felllow "men" (-and- women !) more so gracious, loving, kind hearted, mature, and principled "ladies and gentlemen" than, ruefully, the aforementioned, assorted, fruits and nuts.
And no, I am not happy about it. And yes, I think I and those who suffer this CRUEL world in the way Bette so superbly depicted dear Janis as having had to, only can speak of the hurt, the pain, the loneliness and the terrible torment foisted on us. You Go, Rose !!
Movie Review: After many years, still powerful...
Summary: 5 Stars
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".