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The First Wives Club (1996)
Strange How Underrated This Movie Is
"First Wives Club" is an example of excellent movie making. The pacing, the continuity, the look of the scenes and the characterizations are all very funny and charming and entertaining. For a big budget holiday movie made to make money, it does its job and does it very well. Midler is especially excellent. So is Dan Hedaya as her ex and Dame Maggie Smith as a friend indeed. I think that the major reason that the movie is unappreciated by too many critics is because it's a "woman's picture." It's designed to be a very light comedy that brings in women and their families to generate box office. Whatever its genre, however, the movie works in every way it's intended to work. The sets are great, the costumes are perfect and the acting is really funny and also touching when it needs to be, such as when Sarah Jessica Parker says to Bette Midler, "Brenda, this outfit might look really good on you... why don't you try one on in YOUR SIZE!" Midler's fury suddenly deflates, and she exhibits pathos. Lots of funny lines and facial expressions and over-the-top emotion, and the directing was, I think, very precise and well done.
Big Business (1988)
Severely Underrated Comedy
"Big Business" had received very mixed reviews upon its release. Perhaps the critics did not anticipate how lousy many mainstream comedies would get as the decades went on. The film is so well executed in plot, comic timing, performances and visuals. Bette Midler actually should have won the Oscar for Best Actress for "Big Business," but the Academy never takes comic roles seriously when it comes to such an honor. Midler's energy and her comedy are expert in "Big Business." The movie is entirely charming and consistently entertaining. Supporting roles are terrifically performed. The comedy and the satire has endured. There are few mainstream movies as underrated as "Big Business."
Going in Style (1979)
An American Classic
The depiction of daily life in an apartment shared by elderly men on Social Security, in a city park filled with children playing on structures covered with graffiti and the streets and subways make this an American classic. Boredom and low expectations had become a part of life in the New York/New Jersey urban area for the characters in the film as well as for the era in the 70's, and this is the background depicted in every scene of "Going in Style." The plot has a couple of minor holes, the only one worth mentioning is that there's really no indication at all as to how the police figured out who to pursue, but the foundation of this film is the absolutely remarkable performance by George Burns, who proved that he was not only a comedian and a beloved personality but a true actor. His performance is deeply emotional and entirely convincing. It really is a masterful performance in every way. He had won an Oscar for the not so good "The Sunshine Boys," so the Academy voters had likely figured that he had already been honored, but surely he should have been handed another Oscar for "Going in Style." This film is a must-see.
Bomber (2009)
Excellent Filmmaking & Fun to Watch
Came across this DVD, and because I'm a very particular film watcher, I was hesitant to sit and start watching it unless it was going to be a good movie. Two of the "user" reviews on IMDb didn't seem to get the film, but the trailer looked like just my kind of movie.
As it turned out, I was delighted by the movie from beginning to end. It is one of those movies where the little details in the editing and the music scoring and the acting are so well done. The best thing about this movie is the performances of the elderly parents. Those are EXPERT actors. They know just what they're doing, from their big moments to the little glances and expressions. The film moves along so briskly and easily, and it ultimately provides two monologues for the elderly husband and the wife characters near the end of the film that allow the two actors to truly demonstrate their expertise in their craft.
Watching the extra behind the scenes portion of the DVD revealed that all that precise editing (so well done) and the excellent photography were all accomplished with a micro budget and barely any crew at all (really just four or five people). This film really goes to show how filmmakers who really know what they're doing can do a lot on a very small budget and make it all look so smooth.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Bomber," especially the performances of Benjamin Whitrow and Eileen Nicholas. They were both delightful and amazing. The writing is superb, and the story is funny, touching, and easy to take. The script and the acting provide insights into human nature and its emotional potential. Glad I saw it.