Mommie Dearest
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VHS Movie Reviews of Mommie Dearest
Movie Review: Mommie Dearest is flawless....
Summary: 5 Stars
"No more wire hangers"...I always remembered this scene from when I was a kid. After buying this movie and watching it numerous times...I am convinced that Faye Dunaway IS Joan Crawford. The woman's performance is absolutely FLAWLESS! The rage that surfaces in this film is exceptional. It's nice to see the release of anger in such prestigous upper class life. Yeah, we are all human!
Her costumes are magnificent and the story flows beautifully! Definitely a must have for your library!
Movie Review: Hooray for John Waters commentary
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought it for the Waters interview. He can make me laugh because he finds the obvious unusual, and the unusual obvious. He paints a very sympathetic portrait of JC, which I wouldn't have thought possible. I like to hear him speak because he makes me think differently about people and situations, and I love people who can make me appreciate art in a new way. He's like a museum docent who can make the Mona Lisa titillating.
He praises the director and made me appreciate the photography, clothes, scenery and I saw how this movie fits into the "woman's picture" genre.
Movie Review: YES MOMMIE
Summary: 3 Stars
This could be the shortest summation of a DVD release ever: biographical story of actress Joan Crawford as seen through the eyes of Christina Crawford. That is if that were all this movie was about.
In fact this movie hits and misses on a number of levels with more hits than misses. So let's focus on those. The film is based on the behind the scenes tell all tale of Hollywood actress Joan Crawford, past her prime and in need of something more fulfilling, she adopts a young baby girl and names her Christina, soon to be followed by a young boy named Christopher. All seems fine and dandy until the real Joan begins to show through as the children start to grow up.
When Christina begins to get more attention than Joan at things like her own birthday party, the terrible Joan surfaces, forcing Christina to do things like give away all of the gifts that she gets to the orphans of the world save for one item. But by this time Christina has learned to play the same sort of manipulative games her mother does and works her way into one extra gift.
The film focuses on the battles of wills between the two, watching as they pick at each other, fight with one another and eventually come to terms with one another. While Joan as portrayed by Faye Dunaway comes off as a raving lunatic most of the time, Christina (played by Mara Hobel as a child and Diana Scarwid in young adulthood) comes off as a spoiled brat who has just as many problems. Whether or not those were inflicted upon her by Joan is something that could be the topic of a psychiatrist symposium I would imagine, but at the same time the similarities between the two far outweigh the differences.
So much for the surface story we as viewers are given. Because not only are we entertained by the story itself, we are given the rare treat of a movie that many have called a camp classic. Its also become a favorite (or so you might hear) of the gay community, thrilled with the over the top antics and make up used by Dunaway making her Joan convincing at one point and way out in left field at others. The penciled in eyebrows and bright red lipstick at times make her look more like a female impersonator than an actress portraying another actress. But somehow she makes it believable at the same time.
At the height of her own career when the film was made 25 years ago, Dunaway is said to have campaigned for the role. She does it well but never up to Oscar winning standards. It's more of a People's Choice Awards type performance, where the actor is awarded for making the audience question who the real person behind the character seen on screen is. Her performance is one that makes you want to go out and rent a Joan Crawford movie just to see if the crazy woman seen here was showing any signs of strain in her real movies as well.
There is little way that you could walk away from this without knowing the catch phrases that have been repeated ad nauseum since. "Did you scrub the floor today?!", "Why must EVERYTHING be a contest?" and of course "No...wire...hangers!". It seems that these phrases have done more to promote the repetitive viewing of this film than the mere knowledge of subject matter or performances would in another film.
The new release of the DVD is called "The Hollywood Royalty Edition" and sad but true it not only reflects jokingly on a line from the film but on a time few remember these days. There actually was a time when Hollywood starts were looked upon as the American version of royalty. Back when stars were made by studios and PR men. These days they're more often concerned with the impression they leave as political pundits as opposed to being well crafted actors. It's enough to make you miss the good old days.
The new DVD comes complete with the new film as well as a photo gallery, the trailer for the film, three behind the scenes featurettes and a commentary track by the king of camp, director John Waters. What seems to be missing is a track or short on the main actress Faye Dunaway. During one of the extras here we are told that she has for some reason tried to distance herself from this film. Odd since she tried to hard to get the part let alone makeover herself to "be" Joan Crawford.
What we are left at in the end is not just another Hollywood bio pic, but a movie that goes beneath the surface to the underlying problems of a tortured soul. I never thought of that years ago when I first saw this film. Upon repeated viewing, the campness wears thing and beneath is revealed a woman trapped in her own plastic world, a woman who knew little about how to show/give love and a woman who wanted nothing more than to be loved.
Movie Review: Joanne Bogle DVD mummy Dearest
Summary: 4 Stars
Once again unable to purchase in New Zealand but able to purchase through your website. I had them with 10 days. Didn't go on my DVD player but plays well on the computer. Another one for keeps sake.Movie Review: Scared the heck out of me....
Summary: 4 Stars
When I was kid watching this on cable it scared the poop out of me. My mom wasn't nearly so scary but she was quite a disciplinarian so I could totally relate.
It wasn't until recently I realized this is not a horror movie but good, solid campy fun. Either way it's a fun movie!