The Rose

31 December 2018

The Rose

• Director: Mark Rydell
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Bette Midler – Then She Found Me, The First Wives’ Club
• Alan Bates – Gosford Park, Hamlet, Quartet, An Unmarried Woman, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Go-Between, Women in Love, Far from the Madding Crowd, Georgy Girl, Zorba the Greek
• Frederic Forrest – Apocalypse Now, The Listener
• Harry Dean Stanton – The Pledge, The Man Who Cried, The Green Mile, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Wild at Heart, Twister, The Last Temptation of Christ, Paris Texas, Private Benjamin, Alien and many TV series
• Why? Janis Joplin connection. Bette Midler, Alan Bates
• Seen: Once before. Now 29 December 2018      

       It’s not really Janis Joplin’s biography but close enough to hurt.

       I’m not going to tell you the story. If you don’t know about Janis Joplin’s life, Google it.

       Bette Midler is perfect as the insecure, exhausted, brash, lonely, alcoholic superstar on the fast track to self-destruction.

       It’s almost too painful to watch. Which is why it’s been so many years since we watched it the last time.

4 * of 5