The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Jennifer Tilly, Ellie Raab
Plot: Product Description: The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), a
music-drenched romance starring real-life brothers Jeff Bridges and Beau
Bridges as Jack and Frank, a pair of tapped-out sibling lounge pianists.
Looking to perk up their act, they take on a girl singer in the person of a tough
little cookie, Susie Diamond. But even as the trio finds success, long-buried
problems between the brothers rise to the surface, sparked by the wary romance
between Jack and Susie.
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: 4/5
This is surprisingly the first time I have seen this movie.
I don’t really know why I never watched it. Considering the wonderful cast and
awesome music, it amazes me I never adventured into this film before. Well what
better way to finally see it then on a beautiful Blu-ray transfer, on an
awesome top notch product by Twilight Time Blu-ray. Having nothing to compare
it to, all I can say is this Blu-ray is an absolute beauty. The transfer is
vibrant in color, and the sound quality is crisp and fantastic.
The film is a light hearted and moody at times, romantic
laced perfection. A character driven plot with the tunes of the musical world.
A dynamic executed intelligent drama through wonderful acting and music.
Directed by Steve Kloves. What is so fantastic about this
reality, is this is his first feature film. He captured everything a film
needed, and expressed through his tight imagery, a wonderful complex romantic
drama, mixed with the musical style of classics. He was able to express the
actors and actresses on screen in a visual playing that stands out. Not only
did he direct this, but he also wrote it. I find the idea that besides,
directing one other film in 1993, Flesh and Bone that he has not directed
since. I feel this reality is a true shame to the cinema world. He had such a
talent, and seeing that talent through The Fabulous Baker Boys is so evident. Now
his script writing has continued. He wrote the screenplay for the film Wonder
Boys. He also wrote the screenplays for 6 of the Harry Potter movies. Most
recently he wrote the screen play for 2012’s The Amazing Spiderman. He has an
array of screenplays he is working on, and also possibly a return to directing.
Besides The Fabulous Baker Boys and Flesh and Bone, which I think is a great
film, both these movies where created through his imagination, and adapted
perfectly on screen by his visionary excellence. I hope he returns to
directing, he has a wonderful eye for cinema.
Now what makes this movie stand the test of time, is the
actors and actresses playing in the main leads. The wonderful and very talented
duo of brothers, Jeff and Beau Bridges really need no introduction to the
cinema world. Both are equally gifted in there persona and perfection of cinema
art. Jeff being my true favorite. Jeff has acted in some of my favorite films
of all time. From The Last Picture Show, Starman, TRON, to The Vanishing and
Crazy Heart, and so many others. His talent is like reality in perfected form,
on screen. When he acts in many of his films, it’s like his performance is not
in the acting form, it’s like the camera doesn’t exist, and he is just
performing everyday life, and the role of
Jack Baker in The Fabulous Baker Boys in no different. Beau Bridges, like
his brother Jeff, is an extraordinary performer on screen. His talent shows,
and is honored through his vast career. Award winning performances from Emmy,
to Golden Globe, to even a Grammy. He shines as the character Frank Baker in
The Fabulous Baker Boys. I think that is another thing that is so dynamic about
this film is the casting of real life brothers, the chemistry is real, and it
showcases that perfection of reality on screen.
Now the very beautiful and stunning, and very sexy female
lead of the film, Michelle Pfeiffer. Michelle is a gorgeous performer that has
always grabbed my attention. Her performance of Catwoman in 1992’s Batman
Returns will always be one of my true favorite performances in cinema history.
She will always be the best, and perfect Catwoman. She should have been honored
by awards for that role. Now if you ever want to see a perfection, and flawless
performance, check out her role in 1992’s Love Field, which she was nominated
for an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe for that performance, and she deserved
it. I have often felt she has been overlooked or underappreciated in many ways.
Her role as Susie Diamond in The Fabulous Baker Boys is one of her defining achievements
in cinema. She was nominated for many, many awards for this role, and she so
rightly deserved it.
The film was awarded with many nominations throughout many
award shows. The Academy Awards nominated it with Best Actress, Cinematography,
Editing, and Music which all shine in this film. The cinematography is
breathtaking, and gives off a vibe that is hard to explain.After finally seeing this movie for the first time. It
shocks me that I never really sought it out or wanted to see it. That is a
shame on my part, because it is a great piece of cinema.
Twilight Time truly
saw a wonderful film, and took there brilliance, and expertise in crafting a
blu-ray in the art form of mastering products, and giving a new, fresh, crisp,
and beautiful outlet to this great film.
Audio/Video: 5/5
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
As I have stated. This is amazing. The imagery is vibrant
and the sound is everything it needed to be. Both sound and image is perfected
on this blu-ray.
Extras: 4/5
Isolated Music Track. The movie has fantastic music by Dave
Grusin. This is a landmark of a soundtrack that he did for this film. His
soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Instrumental
Background Score. It also was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original
Score and many others.
You get two amazing Audio Commentary one with
Writer-Director Steve Kloves and Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman,
which is a true plus and worth the buy just for this extra. It was truly a
great listen, and is an important extra toward this film.
Second Audio Commentary with Director of Photography Michael
Ballhaus which was another fantastic listen. I enjoyed hearing both Commentary’s
and both sets of expertise on this film.
Deleted Scenes, great to see these. I always love this extra
on any film release. I enjoy
seeing what was cut or left out in films.
Original Theatrical Trailer
You also get the Booklet insert with the wonderful film
historian Julie Kirgo. Again this is another plus to Twilight Time’s releases.
I always look forward to this extra.
Overall:
Twilight Time has done it again. I really enjoyed this film.
I really enjoyed seeing it for the first time on a top quality product. Amazing
piece of cinema. An amazing product lovingly created through a wonderful
company. Twilight Time knows how to respect, care, treat, and showcase
important cinema, and important products.
INFO:
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beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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