“The Fabulous Baker Boys” is a romantic comedy-drama musical film that tells the story of two brothers who are singing partners in an aging lounge act suffering from sagging popularity. They decide to hire a woman vocalist to increase their viability, and get more than they bargained for when one of them becomes romantically involved with her. In his first big screen job, director Steve Kloves hits a home run with a film that has superior production values, marvelous performances, great music, and even outstanding cinematography. He also wrote the lean and orderly screenplay.
Real-life brothers Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges were amazing in the title roles. They must have brought their life long relationship to their performances, as the on screen chemistry is amazing. Their father, famous actor Lloyd Bridges and his wife Dorothy, were still alive at the time so they presumable enjoyed this film pairing of their sons. The third person is Michelle Pfeiffer as Susie Diamond, hired by Jack and Frank Baker to compliment their act. Pfeiffer is mesmerizing in this role; preparing for it with months of vocal training. This paid off big time, especially visible in the classic scene where she is singing “Making Whoopy” on the piano, well orchestrated and filmed by the cinematographer.
There were four Academy Award nominations for the film: Best Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Best Cinematography (Michael Ballhaus), Best Original Score (Dave Grusin), and Best Film Editing (William Steinkamp). Co-stars include Jennifer Tilly, Gregory Itzin, Xander Berkeley, Dakin Matthews, Ken Lerner, Albert Hall, Terri Trias, Bradford English, Ellie Raab, and David Coburn.
“The Fabulous Baker Boys” is one of those movies with indefinable atmospherics due to the musical material featuring standards and pop tunes, superior filming, and chemistry between the three lead performers. It unfortunately barely made a profit in theatrical release for Gladden Entertainment, Mirage Enterprises, and 20th Century Fox.
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
cinema
My Review
“The Fabulous Baker Boys” is a romantic comedy-drama musical film that tells the story of two brothers who are singing partners in an aging lounge act suffering from sagging popularity. They decide to hire a woman vocalist to increase their viability, and get more than they bargained for when one of them becomes romantically involved with her. In his first big screen job, director Steve Kloves hits a home run with a film that has superior production values, marvelous performances, great music, and even outstanding cinematography. He also wrote the lean and orderly screenplay.
Real-life brothers Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges were amazing in the title roles. They must have brought their life long relationship to their performances, as the on screen chemistry is amazing. Their father, famous actor Lloyd Bridges and his wife Dorothy, were still alive at the time so they presumable enjoyed this film pairing of their sons. The third person is Michelle Pfeiffer as Susie Diamond, hired by Jack and Frank Baker to compliment their act. Pfeiffer is mesmerizing in this role; preparing for it with months of vocal training. This paid off big time, especially visible in the classic scene where she is singing “Making Whoopy” on the piano, well orchestrated and filmed by the cinematographer.
There were four Academy Award nominations for the film: Best Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Best Cinematography (Michael Ballhaus), Best Original Score (Dave Grusin), and Best Film Editing (William Steinkamp). Co-stars include Jennifer Tilly, Gregory Itzin, Xander Berkeley, Dakin Matthews, Ken Lerner, Albert Hall, Terri Trias, Bradford English, Ellie Raab, and David Coburn.
“The Fabulous Baker Boys” is one of those movies with indefinable atmospherics due to the musical material featuring standards and pop tunes, superior filming, and chemistry between the three lead performers. It unfortunately barely made a profit in theatrical release for Gladden Entertainment, Mirage Enterprises, and 20th Century Fox.