Customer Reviews

The Fabulous Baker Boys [VHS]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I saw this movie over 10 years ago at the theater, Michelle Pfeiffer absolutely blew me away. I believe that I had heard some movie reviewer say something like Pfeiffer puts the Fabulous into the Baker Boys, and she positively does.

If you are remotely a Michelle Pfeiffer fan, then you should see this movie. She is absolutely incredible. The scene in the movie that is worth five stars by itself is where Suzie Diamond(Pfeiffer) is singing Makin' Whoopie on top of the piano. It is just way to hot for words.

Even though Pfeiffer steals every scene that she is in, Jeff and Beau Bridges do a great job as a pair of piano playing brothers, who have had a lounge act over 15 years.

The movie focuses more on the trials and tribulations of Jack(Jeff Bridges). He is at a crossroads in his life. Should he stay with his brother, Frank(Beau Bridges) in the comfortable lounge act that they have had, or should he pursue his passion for playing jazz? Frank had always been comfortable doing the same act, because he had a family to feed.

When the brothers feel like their act is getting into a rut, they decide that they need to hire a female singer. After going through the process of listening to all of these different women, they finally decide to go with Suzie Diamond(Michelle Pfeiffer). When she finally gets adjusted to the act, Suzie shines.

What Suzie does for Jack is to open the door for him to realize that he needs to take a chance with his life and follow his passion. In the meantime, Suzie becomes interested in Jack and even though Frank is telling Jack to stay away from Suzie personally, Jack simply cannot resist.

Jack eventually does make the hard transition of breaking with his brother. Jeff and Beau Bridges do an excellent job in some scenes that explore the dynamic of sibling relationships.

One of the best things about this movie is the soundtrack. Dave Grusin does a wonderful job with the score. In fact, I think that he should have won the Oscar for it. Michelle Pfeiffer's voice is absolutely incredible. On the soundtrack, she sings Makin' Whoopee and My Funny Valentine. No one will ever sing these songs as well as she does.

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a very adult film, so I would not recommend it for children at all. But, for the adult music lover, I would definitely see it.

Written and directed by Steve Kloves, "The Fabulous Baker Boys" is a tale of music and brotherly love set in Seattle. The Baker boys are Jack and Frank (real life brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges), who eke out a living playing piano together at various venues throughout the Emerald City, a basic lounge act they've been doing for fifteen years. Frank is the responsible one, because he has to be; he has a wife, kids and a home in the suburbs. He manages their business, secures the bookings and is content to stick with a formula that works. For him, it's not about the music, it's about keeping food on the table for those who depend on him. Jack, on the other hand, is unattached and could care less about the business end of the partnership. As long as it affords him a modicum of security as well as dignity, he is more than willing to just go along for the ride. For Jack, though, underneath it all, it is about the music; it's about jazz. On off nights he will steal away alone to some small club to play, and deep down inside he knows that this is not only what he really wants, but needs. And he knows he could be great, if only he'd let himself go. The trouble is, he's been with Frank his whole life, and as long as the act is working he just can't make the break. Unless something happens, his dreams are destined to remain suppressed and unrealized. It is only when one of their regular clubs balks at rescheduling them that the brothers begin to realize that perhaps their act is getting a bit stale. So they decide to try adding a singer to the act. After a memorable scene in which a number of young hopefuls are auditioned, Suzie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) enters their life. She joins the act on a trial basis, and after an amusing and somewhat tentative beginning, infuses it with new life, though Frank continues to adamantly resist too much of a departure from their original show. ("Does anyone really want to hear `Feelings' again?" she asks him at one point). Ultimately, however, Suzie becomes the impetus for change that Jack has needed all along, and the stage is set for the decisive moment, which comes when the dignity of the brothers is compromised due to an incident on Frank's part of uncharacteristic carelessness. When Jack tells Frank, "We've never been clowns before-" you know exactly how deep it has cut. Kloves has fashioned an entertaining study of relationships, change, and the effects of complacent loyalty and self-denial; and the importance of following your own heart. When Jack sits down alone at the piano in that smoke-filled club, we know that this is where he is meant to be. Filmed on location in and around Seattle, with a terrific score by Dave Grusin,a supporting cast that includes Jennifer Tilly (Monica) and Ellie Raab (Nina), and a classic scene in which Suzie Diamond croons "Makin' Whoopee" atop a piano, "The Fabulous Baker Boys" is an absolute gem you do not want to miss.

A terrific cast and a simple sweet story are some of the highlights of this unique, rarely talked about gem from the late-80's. It has every reason to be as seen as Pretty Woman--which came later, and seems to have ripped off not only the look of this film, but the poster of another lost classic, Rich Girl.

The Bridges brothers are fantastic in an extremely inspired casting gimmick, but the real reason to see this film is Michelle Pfeiffer in a Golden Globe winning and Oscar nominated role. She is superb as a sexy siren who tears apart two brothers, one a sex addict and the other a happily married man. Yes, you've heard it before but I will say it again, her rendition of "Making Whopee" has to be one of the most memorable scenes in all of film.

The main themes of sibling rivalry and unfulfilled talent are generally engrossing, and help to paper over the thinness of the story. Jeff Bridges is very believable as a man working in the lower ranks of his trade when he could've reached the top. Beau is also in fine form as a performer who does what he does simply because he has a family to support. It's a hard film to describe, because it's not really about very much, but if you can adjust to the relaxed pace and just enjoy the leisurely development of the three main characters then you will come away from the film feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Meg Tilly is also worth mentioning. She is fantastic in a small role that I wish was more fully developed. She is a truly wonderful and underrated actress and I was pleasantly surprised to see her. She has one of the other more memorable scenes in the film, auditioning for the brothers near the beginning of the film.

See it for the Bridges, see it for Pfeiffer, see it for Tilly or see it for the music. Just see it!

This DVD has new packaging but uses the same old non-anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital Surround sound as the old version. MGM needs to release an anamorphic version with 5.1 Dolby Digital!!!

Finally. A movie that actually has "class," which is a rarity in the 80's and 90's. Michelle Pfeiffer is in her prime as a torchlight singer in a beautiful red dress on top of a black Steinway piano. This alone should sell the movie if you're a guy who plays the piano (such as myself).

But if that alone doesn't turn you on, there is also the interesting dynamics going on between the two brothers struggling to maintain their dignity while at the same time trying to make ends meet as jazz pianists who together comprise the "Fabulous Baker Boys." They find Michelle Pfeiffer, and one of them falls in love with her.

Finally, this movie is a metaphor for mid-life crisis as the trio each in their own way confront the very real possibility that the best might be behind them, that their aspirations and achievements have flattened out and that they're over the hill. However, they do get their moment in the sun in this movie, and the ending for this movie is wonderfully ambiguous.

This is my favorite movie, I never got tired of watching it. To those who are planning to see this movie, I guarantee you'll enjoy this. Michelle Pfeiffer in her famous piano scene is considered now a classic. Jeff Bridges and Pfeiffer's chemistry is one of the best ever seen on screen. This movie is just underrated.

Let's cut to the chase -- this movie had two pluses going for it before I ever watched it --I play the piano, and I'm in love with Jeff Bridges. Ever since I saw him in some schmaltzy romantic comedy with Sally Field (I think he was her true-life boring-handsome fiancee, and her dead rake-charming ex-husband was James Caan), I've been truly smitten. His handsome head of hair, his charming grin, his unbelievably sexy voice, his ....well, do I need to go on? In "The Fabulous Baker Boys", we see his nuanced character acting. Brother Beau (also irresistable in his own way), as the responsible father-figure brother, and Michelle Pfieffer as Suzy Diamond (one of her very best roles ever), make a terrific ensemble act for what could have been an all-too-predictable story. Who cares if it's predictable, I say? At the end of the movie, you really don't care, because the character development in this movie is fabulous. The acting is fabulous, and most of all, the movie score is fabulous. Dave Grusin rules! I own this movie, and when I'm feeling really down, I watch it, because it reminds me that perfection on all levels is all that really matters.

This is my favorite film and one of the first DVDs I bought upon getting my player. The picture delighted me as it has so many times in the past--it's beautifully filmed, written, and acted. (Michelle Pfeiffer's thrilling performance is just the icing on an already delicious cake.) The DVD is, for the most part, a big improvement over the VHS version. It's in widescreen, for one thing, and the digital transfer brings out so much detail in the photograpy and, especially, the performances. Pfeiffer and the Bridges brothers are wonderfully subtle actors and you can see the nuances of their acting here in a way that wasn't possible outside of a theatrical screening. An added bonus is the audio commentary by cinematographer Michael Ballhaus. There are, however, a couple of problems with the DVD version. The color quality isn't the best--it seems faded in comparison with the theatrical and VHS versions. The other is a flub in the transfer that should have been caught and corrected. In the "Making Whoopee" scene, the picture at one point briefly freezes into a still image. (It occurs directly before Pfeiffer steps down from the piano.) As momentary as it is, it's distracting, and it has to occur, in all places, in the film's most famous scene. It's still a great movie and the DVD is definitely worth getting even if one has the VHS version, but one wishes the releasing company had taken a little more care in preparing it before releasing it on the market.

I've seen this movie quite a few times but last night I REALLY saw this movie.

They don't make movies like that anymore nor do they produces actors & actresses like Jeff Bridges & Michelle Pfeiffer.

The movie revolves around brothers Jack and Frank Baker (Jeff & Beau Bridges) who are cocktail lounge piano players whose career has hit a sour note. They need a little charm and sex appeal to liven up their act - what they get is Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer), a beautiful, but hard-talking, chain-smoking songstress. The ensuing combination takes a ride through emotions, human nature & the lives of people in showbiz.

All that aside who could forget Michelle Pfeiffer looking as tantalizing as ever, as she slides across that Piano top in that slinkiest of slinky red dresses. The pause button on the DVD player is about to get a real good work out.

Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Actress for Michelle Pfeiffer & Best Cinematography & Editing. Golden Globe win for Best Actress & Nomination for Best Original Score.

Verdict: utterly enjoyable. It's the spirited energy that radiates from the lead performances that keeps this movie fluid. Pfeiffer especially is a revelation - and here's a part where she can do what she loves most, sing and act concurrently. Jeff Bridges also gives some of his best performances to date as her improbable suitor - together, they surprisingly, smolder in several scenes.

Rating: 4 ½ stars mainly for the piano top dancing. Just kidding, for being a superb movie.

4 1/2 stars

As the piano-playing "Baker Boys" of the title, Beau and Jeff Bridges play like they're brothers -- which they are. The Baker Boys, who have seemingly forever been playing muzak-style piano, accompanying each other, and making the smallest of small talk in a two piano-act, are out of gas. So, they decide to hire a "girl singer," to win back Seattle audiences ... and bookings.

The sequence in which the brothers audition would-be singers is the funniest of its kind ever filmed. But while this movie has some wonderful laughs, it is not, ultimately, a comedy.

Screenwriter-director Steve Kloves' debut is dominated by an actress named Michelle Pfeiffer, and by a sultry, smoky, saloon singer named ... Micheller Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer does all her own singing, and she's joy! (Warning: Although the wonderful soundtrack mixes Dave Grusin's cool jazz score with works from the Great American Songbook, don't buy the cd, as much of the best music is left off of it.)

Like Sinatra singing a Harold Arlen torch song, this one doesn't miss a beat.