Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Arquette Bungles Issues, December 31, 2004
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.
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36 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Film -- A Moronic Rating..., April 5, 2004
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.
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26 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Navel Gazing, October 12, 2004
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.
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