Customer Reviews

Searching for Debra Winger

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

You must see this movie. As all the other reviews state, this documentary about women in Hollywood is first rate.

Often these types of documentaries suffer mightily under the weight of overwhelming ego-angst of the personality who makes the film. However, Ms. Arquette walks that very narrow tightrope about expressing her own feelings and concerns--sharing herself--without overwhelming the viewer. I have always admired her work, but I think this is the best film that I have seen Ms. Arquette in. I cannot praise her work in "Searching" enough.

The interview subjects are also beyond praise: Tracy Ullman talking about "dignity," in a way that is poignant--but still hilarious; Whoopi Goldberg, as the "smart Whoopie," talking about not having fame handed to her on a silver platter (the platter was platinum), and how her career choices affected her family; Martha Plymton describing her roles as being "the friend, with all her lines as questions ("How *are* you?" "Are you going to *out* with him?"); Ally Sheedy describing the main quality for women actors is reduced to "Ef-ability;" Daryl Hannah complaining about having to wear a short, brown haired wig to play the "mother" of a sixteen year old--when Kelly Lynch is the mother of a sixteen year old, and is no where near "mousy" by any definition. Almost all of the insights are terrific. Sharon Stone, in particular, I enjoyed.

But Debra Winger--I cannot be objective about Ms. Winger. She is one of my favorite actors of all time, having the talent to display just the right mix of tenderness, sensuality, spunkiness, and intelligence (emphasis on the latter)--if you don't know what I mean, then I won't be able to explain it to you. Debra Winger is just what you'd expect: gracious and intelligent--the kind of person who you would hope she would be. Ms. Arquette is really to be commended for putting together one of the best films I have ever seen. And Holly Hunter--I need to give a special shout out re Ms. Hunter's conversation with Ms. Arquette. And the final credits--a perfect end to an almost perfect movie. [...]

See this movie. You will be sorry if you do not.

As a feminist, I'd been eager to see "Searching for Debra Winger." Unfortunately, however, I'd agree that, although it has its fascinating moments, it's meandering and unfocused and also, on some levels, incredibly shallow. Rosanna Arquette becomes quickly annoying by calling everyone "amazing" and then the stars trip over themselves to return the adulation - they're all predictably taken with themselves. In fact, they fulfill the worst stereotypes of the self-obsessed and spoiled wealthy (even Whoopi Goldberg, although a humorous bright spot, openly admitted that she neglected her children because being a star was more interesting than being a mom). There's not much depth -- except by accident when Arquette bothers to talk to an intelligent and magnetic speaker like Jane Fonda; the interview with Fonda, in fact, is the highlight. When a table of Hollywood blondes, including a grotesque Melanie Griffith (lip collagen nightmare) lament that they aren't getting more challenging roles and are typecast by their looks, it seems more laughable than sympathetic. You mean, they don't realize they were hired for their looks in the first place? Surely there are other actresses who have aged gracefully and who don't utter cliches as if they've just been ingenious? Part of it, I believe, is Arquette's inadequacy in reining in her subjects and keeping things focused. When we finally get to Debra Winger, it's a bit of a let-down. I want her to challenge Arquette, yet there's more back-patting. And was Winger such an "amazing" actress, in the first place? I admit I wasn't taken enough with her ability to have given her absence from the screen much thought. I wonder more what happened to Brooke Adams who was very good (I did see her at the Academy Awards). But basically, I wonder why women try to make other women feel "inadequate" for actually pursuing a quality real life instead of work. I thought choice was part of what the women's movement was supposed to be about. It makes more sense to me, in fact, that a successful actress (like Debra Winger) would take a break from this path to smell the roses. Why on earth not?

In any event, a mixed bag, but still worth a look.

I was hoping that Arquette, with so many talented women before her camera, would deliver fresh insights into the very real problem of sexism in movies. Instead, the inarticulate Arquette leads us through a meandering flattery fest ("you're, like, so amazing"), constantly emphasizing appearance by telling the actresses how good they look, as if her point is that actresses over 40 should be cast in movies not because they're talented, but because they still look sexy.

In 1996's "The First Wives Club", Goldie Hawn, as an aging actress, has a piercingly perceptive line courtesy of screenwriter Robert Harling, "In Hollywood, women only have three ages: babe, district attorney, and 'Driving Miss Daisy'". Actress Rosanna Arquette has decided to explore this unfortunately true perspective in her 2002 documentary where she speaks with thirty-five renowned actresses of varying ages. Even though it's doubtful any of them are facing economic hardship, their dilemmas would still make a worthy subject for a film, but she makes it such an overly personalized odyssey over her own tenuous success as a 43-year old actress and mother that she is unable to provide anything significantly insightful on the topic.

Instead, we are left with a film with some revealing moments but more commonly, a haphazard structure of interview snippets that seem to make the same set of points over and over again - the incessant struggle to find good roles for women past forty, the precarious balance between managing a career and raising a family, and the myopia of profit-minded studio executives interested in what teenage males want to see (at least according to film critic Roger Ebert, the only male interviewed). The problem is that Arquette, as a documentarian, cannot provide much-needed objectivity to her subject, as she repeatedly interjects with her personal experiences when she is not fawning over her subjects. Her lack of discipline extends into her editing as there is no sense of organization to her narrative other than how she came upon the actresses, whether proactively seeking them out individually, organizing lunches (like what Jon Favreau does with his TV series, "Dinner for Five") or happening upon them at Cannes (like surprising a thankfully good-humored Frances McDormand in the ladies room). Truth be told, some come off quite badly as they fumble through unformed thoughts or mind-numbing analogies. Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow and Emmanuelle Béart come to mind.

Some like Robin Wright Penn and Charlotte Rampling reveal so little about themselves that their inclusion provides questionable value, and a self-consciously glamorous Sharon Stone comes across as rather disingenuous when she talks about her abandonment of vanity. But others provide nuggets of wisdom like Holly Hunter, Diane Lane, Salma Hayek, Martha Plimpton (who has forsaken movies for the stage) and a predictably funny Whoopi Goldberg. Leave it to veterans Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Fonda to offer the film's most honest, insightful comments, the latter especially revealing in how former husband Ted Turner encouraged her retirement and then sharing how she feels when she nails a pivotal scene in a movie. Fortunately, Debra Winger, whose self-imposed (and ultimately short-lived) retirement inspired the film's eponymous title, shows herself to be the trenchantly sardonic, perceptive non-conformist she obviously is. The film really contains very little when it comes to revelations about the inherent sexism of the film industry, and Arquette's personal catharsis frankly does not resonate enough to make the film worthwhile. Other than some trailers, the DVD has no extras.

THE FILM starts with Rosanna Arquette questioning herself: "Cannot actresses balance between work and family? Especially after reaching 40?" Well, she says not exactly, but to the effect, and makes her intention very clear with a footage from Michael Powell film "The Red Shoes" (1948). The point is clear, and interesting if you watch the heroine's fate.

SO ROSANNA STARTs her journey, holding a hand-held camera, interviewing as many actresses as possible. Some of the interviewees are her good friends while some are probably encountered at the film festival in Cannes, and agreed to say a thing or two. The film comprises these footages until Rosanna goes to Debra Winger, who Rosanna says, retired from the profession. (But I am afraid that not all people share Rosanna's view that she actually 'retired.')

Now, let's face it. AS A DOCUMENTARY, "Searching for Debra Winger" is a big failure, being too disjointed and having no focus. After all, there are so many actresses out there now, and many opinions too, especially those about their professions, this case acting. It's diversity, which should be treated more carefully.

THE INTERVIEWEES include Patricia Arquette, Emmanuelle Beart, Katrin Cartlidge, Laura Dern, Jane Fonda, Teri Garr, Whoopi Goldberg, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Salma Hayek, Holly Hunter, Dinae Lane, Kelly Lynch, Julianna Margulles, Chiara Mastroianni, Samantha Mathis, Frances McDormand, Catherine O'Hara, Julia Ormond, Gwyneth Paltrow, Martha Plimpton, Charlotte Rampling, Vanessa Redgrave, Theressa Russell, Meg Ryan, Ally Sheedy, Hilary Shephard-Turner, Sharon Stone, Tracy Ullman, JoBeth Williams, Debra Winger, Alfre Woodard, and Robin Wright Penn. I don't know why, but Roger Ebert pops up, saying very unique things about one Angelina Jolie film. (Come on, Roger, you must be kidding, right?)

SOME OF THE INTERVIEWEES are very inspired, giving us insights into the business with humor and charms. You see Frances McDormand, and you understand her good-natured personality instantly. Or look at Charlotte Rampling (who appears with Katrin Cartlidge), and how she dresses herself. She is gorgeous, as seen in "Under the Sand" and her fashion sense! And we miss late Katrin Cartlidge, who shows her amiable down-to-earth personality. What is regrettable is that the time alloted to them (or some others) are too short. Why did they decide to include Roger Ebert?

And if you say that actress's job gets harder after 40 (and I do not disagree), OK, where are those people? I mean, Streep, Weaver, Keaton, Close, Sarandon, and so on and on? On the UK side, how about Denti or Mirren? Or another Redgrave? On French side, how about Moreau or Deneuve? Rosanna must have approached to them, and if they declined interview, why did they? Because they think differently? Or just too busy? But if busy, Rossana's argument (about the profession) is no longer valid. I kept on thinking about it, and the idea certainly weakens the impact of the film's contents.

You might, moreover, still hate some of the interviewees, who give too strong opinions. SOme of them are not convincing, and some are downright irritating. At least Rosanna Arquette should be prasied for inducing them to be honest, and whether you like it or not, what they say before the camera is never boring.

The film is interesting to see regardless of the director's intentions, which gets blurred as the film goes on. Too many talks are gathered to support one coherent idea, but the interviews themselves are always fascinating.

If you are a film buff and are interested in the listed actresses,this film will not disappoint. It highlights an issue that is very real and pervasive: where are the scripts and stories about adult women, for adult women and by adult women? It's well done and captivating.

Actress Rosanna Arquette takes on the film industry and its perceptions and expectations of "older" (late 30s, early 40s+) actresses, filmed in a documentary style in various interviews with actresses who are ultimately the subject of the film. (The title of the film refers to Debra Winger, of course, who basically retired from the film industry amidst being branded "difficult to work with" as well as a dearth of good scripts available for women, particularly as they age.) Arquette talks to a number of actresses about their struggles in the industry, culminating in an interview with Winger herself. The film gives an inside view of an interesting and untapped subject matter in which all the actresses have complaints and thoughts to share, but none are more interesting, pointed or intelligent than Winger's-her reputation for "difficulty" might well stem from her brutal honesty and insistence on telling things as they are. She refuses to sugarcoat anything or dumb herself down to appease others or to fit into a mold of what's expected, which is apparently what working in Hollywood means.

When actress Rosanna Arquette (PULP FICTION, HOPE FLOATS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS) began wondering why Debra Winger walked away from her acting career, she also began to ponder the bigger issue of the pressures faced by women working in show business. The result is the interesting documentary SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER, in which the indefatigable Arquette sits down with a number of her friends and role models (including Diane Lane, Salma Hayek, Melanie Griffith, Holly Hunter, Frances McDormand, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sharon Stone, Jane Fonda, and Arquette's sister Patricia) to discuss such topics as career vs. motherhood, the industry's dismissal of older actresses, and the shortage of good roles for women in general.

While hardly in the same league as documentaries like BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS, SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER does raise a number of trenchant issues through a series of lively conversations orchestrated by Arquette. And if there are no immediate answers to the valid questions raised (why, for instance, isn't the industry comfortable with older women-younger men relationships when several fossilized actors have made it a habit of appearing opposite women young enough to be their great-grandchildren?), it's still a thought-provoking journey that should hold your interest throughout.

There are two ways to watch this movie either as a fan of the many actresses or as a documentary of women who struggle to balance work and life.

The gems of the movie were the insights by the women. Here's one from Whoopi Goldberg, "Longevity is everything. We have outlasted most of the people that used to hire us." You can see more interesting quotes on IMDB, some not appropriate for this forum.

At times, this movie felt like you were invited in to sit down with some girlfriends, drink wine, and chat. The actresses became more human with their insights and intelligence. Rosanne's admiration of her fellow actresses was endearing to me, I'm sure to others it would be sickly sweet.

It would have been helpful to have a little more context around the topic, the industry and the actresses. I didn't seem like a documentary to me, more like Rosanna Arquette's personal video blog.
Bottom line: We all have choices, these are the choices some 40+ year old actresses made in their lives.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I thought I was going to like this doc a lot more than I did. So much of it seemed so superficial--Arquette had a great idea but she doesn't ask the greatest questions and therefore doesn't elicit a lot of great answers. Worth watching for the dinner scene with Margolies and Hannah et al where we're introduced to the term "f***ability" and for the interviews with Winger. It will definitely confirm all your worst suspicions about what drives Hollywood, and I'm hoping a lot of these women move into producing and directing so we get to see something more on screen than Spiderman 3 in future.