★ 7 / 10
Isn’t it curious that so many of us
CinemaSerf
Isn’t it curious that so many of us start and end our lives dependant on a bottle? “Myrtle” (Gena Rowlands) is one such creature. She’s an acclaimed actress…
Isn’t it curious that so many of us start and end our lives dependant on a bottle? “Myrtle” (Gena Rowlands) is one such creature. She’s an acclaimed actress who cannot function without her quota of Scotch. This hasn’t, as yet, impaired her ability or her popularity as she is about to take her next play to Broadway. Leaving rehearsals one evening in a heavy thunderstorm, her limo tragically collides with an adoring fan and for a while the guilt-ridden “Myrtle” keeps seeing “Nancy” (Laura Johnson) as if she were standing next to her, goading and provoking her. Her friend and mentor “Sarah” (Joan Blondell) is determined to try to help so suggests a spiritualist, but with their star becoming more and more flaky, producer “Manny” (Ben Gazzara) and her leading man (and ex) “Maurice” (John Cassavetes) - who both don't have their problems to seek either, begin to wonder if she has what it takes to get a grip and play a part for which she has little love in the first place. I can’t think why Rowlands didn’t get better recognition for her part here. Her efforts as the part thespian, part alcoholic, part comedienne, temptress, charmer and flawed individual is really quite visceral at times - especially in the last half hour. Although none of the other roles can hold a candle to her’s, Gazzara also delivers strongly as he juggles his plates and Blondell adds a degree of characterful richness too, even though she appears sparingly. Now the story is a bit of a mess at times. I didn’t always quite follow what was going on, or why, and perhaps that could have been helped had the film been tightened up a little. Half an hour could go missing here and I don’t think anyone would miss out much on the toxicity front. That toxicity does emanate a little from the booze, but there are also aspects of the plot that deal with ageing - and with one’s reconciliation to that often unwelcome process, and with the whole concept of total strangers offering the kind of adulation that she certainly doesn’t get closer to home. It takes a swing at the theatrical industry, but not cavalierly nor cruelly - it just illustrates just how when you live your life for ever being someone else, well what’s left in the mirror afterwards isn’t always so recognisable. It’s a film to be watched without distractions, so if you have a couple of hours to sit and watch the pros working at being the pros then here is sometime harrowing, sometimes hair raising and sometimes humorous - and definitely worth a watch.
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★ 7 / 10
A flawed film, but Rowlands is the reason to watch
sdave7596
"Opening Night" released in 1977, tries to be an ambitious production. It succeeds only in the truly stunning performance of Gena Rowlands. Her character of…
"Opening Night" released in 1977, tries to be an ambitious production. It succeeds only in the truly stunning performance of Gena Rowlands. Her character of theatre actress Myrtle is not necessarily someone we would love in real life. She is self-absorbed, often obnoxious, and makes life miserable for those around her - in other words, not unlike some actresses! Myrtle is also a woman on the edge of collapse - we are not quite sure if the demons she is fighting are real or imagined, although we are let in on the secret early. Rowlands is obviously well directed with love by her gifted husband, actor/director John Cassavettes, who has a role in the film as well. This film is not without flaws - it is overly long, and the last part of the film where Myrtle goes on stage while very drunk seems almost cruel. The "improvising" in some of the dialogue - at least while on stage - goes on way too long. Some of the supporting characters give good performances, especially from Ben Gazarra, playing Myrtle's sleazy producer. Joan Blondell's character is never fully developed, and I never could figure out why she was in the film, except to placate Myrtle. See this film for Rowlands alone - she is fascinating throughout - and it is tough to take your eyes off her, although you will want to at times.
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★ 8 / 10
My brief review of the film
sol-
Full of interesting ideas and really rather chilling at times, this account of a mental breakdown is fascinating to watch, with Gena Rowlands a glorious choice…
Full of interesting ideas and really rather chilling at times, this account of a mental breakdown is fascinating to watch, with Gena Rowlands a glorious choice for the lead. It is in the way that Rowlands is able to carry emotion on her face that makes her performance so stunning, and along with some well used music and effective close-up photography, it is an intriguing piece of cinema, even if awkwardly very melodramatic at times and a tad hard to digest. The on and off-stage action in the protagonist's life is mixed together, and it is sort of muddled in this sense, though perhaps only as muddled as her mind is. The film poses such interesting questions about how much one should or does care, it portrays mental illness, and, it also has some insight into theatre production. It is very good stuff and only really brought down by being fatally overlong, with the content stretched to its limits.
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