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| Author | Topic: Bernadette Peters' Films |
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Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 3/27/2006 at 6:01:48 PM ET
I joined this board a few weeks ago and am, most likely, playing "catch-up" with everyone here since there aren't too many Bernadette Peters films that play on TV in the UK. However, in the last few weeks "Bobbie's Girl" showed up in Sky Movies very late at night and of course I set my DVD recorder to record the event. What a sweet, honest and moving film this turned out to be.
Having said that - I don't think the film is perfect. There are a couple of things that seem strange or "skipped over" in the storyline - the boy's apparent lack of emotion regarding his parents accident and his aunt's lack of concern about her brother's death etc. I suppose the fact that it was written by someone who isn't British and (wrongly) assumes that Britons somehow don't feel the loss of close family members might have something to do with it!
But at the core of all of this we can see that the message of the film is a great one and I can totally understand why Bernadette cancelled some concerts just so she could make this movie.
Bernadette's performance is the one thing that makes Bobbie's Girl "real" and I must confess that there are scenes in this film where she just moves me to tears.
But why am I so suprised since she can move me to tears everytime I listen to her singing "Move On", "Being Alive", "Anyone Can Whistle" etc. etc......?
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 7:26:40 PM ET
There were a lot of undercurrents in that film which never really surfaced. Is that subtlety or murkiness? Probably more the latter.
My reading was that abuse beyond mere bad parenting was involved; emotional, physical, maybe sexual--I'm not sure. It seemed like such a huge relief for the boy to get away from his family, almost like being unexpectedly set free from something intolerable. And Bobbie was a very angry person who had been estranged from those people for such a long time. There was obviously much more to that estrangement than was ever brought forward.
For me, the best part of the film by far was the presentation of the relationship between Bailey and Bobbie. All the details seemed right and they just felt like a real couple. Very natural. Great acting by both of them.
|  moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 3/27/2006 at 7:30:04 PM ET
I agree Karen. And Scottie, I wouldn't say any of the emotional problems of Bobbie or her nephew stemmed from them being British. Lots of people are like that from all sorts of nationalities.
"I'm one star away from Dolly Parton ... and Raymond Massey is between us. I hope we don't suffocate him." Bernadette Peters receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, April 24, 1987
|  Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 7:43:49 PM ET
In case you just can't get enough, here are links to our previous chats about "Bobbie's Girl":
http://www.bernadette-peters.com/cgi-bin/pmessage.pl?action=read&fid=achat&mid=12094&highlight=%22Bobbie%27s%22+%22Girl%22+
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 3/27/2006 at 7:46:37 PM ET
I think it was a case of severe detachment-which can qualify as emotional abuse. Why this was so, of course, was never explained. I don't think it was a case of assuming that British parents are detached from their children. I think that stereotype is not as assumed as it once was.
I also think that there was too much storyline-there were plenty of things to explore in a childfree couple's lives being turned around by the introduction of a child. The cancer storyline took up time that could have been used to flesh out the story.
But overall, a very enjoyable production.
Jenn
| Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 7:56:39 PM ET
I think it was a case of poor writing, under-developed plot threads, and under-utilized scenic elements. I loved it anyway, unrepenatent (can't spell, will correct later) fan that I am.
We simply should not have to guess this much....
| moljul
Registered User
Registered:
4/2/2001
From:
New York
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Fav. BP Song: Dublin Lady
| posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:12:43 PM ET
I agree. There was enough there for a 2 week mini-series.  
"I'm one star away from Dolly Parton ... and Raymond Massey is between us. I hope we don't suffocate him." Bernadette Peters receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, April 24, 1987
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:22:17 PM ET
Jenn, I agree that the laundry list of problems these characters had made it much more soap opera-ish, BUT wasn't the cancer subplot pretty essential?
The cancer ordeal was the catalyst for Bobbie's changing attitude toward their relationship. The threat of mortality caused them to grow closer and acknowledge their dependence eventually culminating in the wedding ceremony at the end. I don't see how that particular climax could be reached without it.
| Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:27:26 PM ET
Karen, yes, come to think of it you are most probably right about the underlying current of emotional abuse as far as Alan's character is concerned. The boy talks about his mother describing his love of books as making him "wormy" and he also tells Bailey that his Mum said he had a "frozen heart". The poor child had been packed off to boarding school and was not even living at home with his parents. As far as Rachel Ward's character is concerned - I suppose we could say she was having a very bad day indeed and had her own battle to fight and perhaps didn't think she would be around in the future to be there for the boy.
I agree, you are right about Bailey and Bobbie's relationship in the film - it is represented in such a natural, realistic way and the two actresses really make you believe in their characters and their partnership. You actually do get a sense of these two women being both physically and emotionally in love with each other. It looks very real and they appear very comfortable together. That is why the film is so touching simply because it is the scenes between Bailey and Bobbie that are the most moving - particularly the scene in the pub where Bobbie is sitting in a chair after storming off the night before and Bailey just gently reaches out to touch Bobbie's hair - makes me cry every time I watch it!
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:32:34 PM ET
quote:
The cancer ordeal was the catalyst for Bobbie's changing attitude toward their relationship. The threat of mortality caused them to grow closer and acknowledge their dependence eventually culminating in the wedding ceremony at the end. I don't see how that particular climax could be reached without it.
Yes....I know. I understand. I don't know any way around it. It was just a lot.
And what was with the brother? What was his deal? He just followed his sister to Ireland? Not only that, how the heck did Bailey end up in Ireland? I know there are quite a few Americans who have moved to Ireland, yes, but what was her story? A has been actress, yes...but we're just supposed to accept that.
Questions, questions.
But I think the casting was perfect. Whoever was in charge of casting got it absolutely right. Hands down. Everyone meshed together very well.
Jenn
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:36:33 PM ET
Yeah, that was a very tender moment, and a slightly earthier one that I loved, was the look of spontaneous glee on Bailey's face when Bobbie pulled her into the bed. It conveyed so much with so little.
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:48:27 PM ET
Oops, sorry. My last comment was a response to Scottie, in case that wasn't clear.
Jenn, more impertinent questions: Did anyone else think the grandfather seemed like he was secretly a drunken old pedophile, or was that just me? And what was with the script's "vomit motif?" I don't recall ever seeing a film where more characters got to either actually throw up or to reminisce about past throwing up incidents (Bernadette's infamous shrimp salad or prawn mayonnaise or whatever she called it). Was there some intended symbolism here that I'm missing?
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 3/27/2006 at 8:57:49 PM ET
Was there more than just the breakfast scene? I doubt there was hidden symbolism-I think Bailey telling him the story was to lessen his embarrassment and to show him that he wasn't the first person in the world to have upchuked in public, as it were. Kind of like, "You thought that was bad? Let me tell you about the time when I did..." It's common to do that when you know that someone feels embarrassed.
It's been a while since I've watched the movie, but my feeling about the grandfather was that he was trying, in some way, to right his parenting of his daughter. I don't know. I don't think he was a necessary character. Again-there was enough without the threat of a custody crisis.
Jenn
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 9:10:15 PM ET
You're forgetting the scenes where Bobbie becomes ill from the effects of chemo--both at home and in the hospital.
I'm sure the grandfather was intended benignly. It's just that the actor playing him had a creepy air that put me off and led to my wild imaginings. I was basically kidding about him and also about the "symbolism."
At least they didn't add yet another subplot about having the grandfather attempt to declare them unfit because they were gay. If nothing else, the writers at least managed to resist that one.
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 3/27/2006 at 9:19:01 PM ET
I forgot about those scenes.
Grandfather was a little weird. Not weird in the Heidi's grandfather weird kind of way, but he reminded me of grandfathers/elderly uncles in classic literature. They're usually a little off, but harmless. Jean Valjean, Matthew Cuthbert, and I'm sure Dickens has a few. I can't think of any because I haven't read a Dickens novel in years.
Yes, everyone was amazingly tolerant in the movie, except for the freaky headmaster, and he didn't know the real story. Of course, it didn't seem like they interacted with anyone other than the bar patrons, who were a little unique themselves. And each other. And doctor's visits.
Oh, I sound like I don't like the movie. I do. I really do. The actors were wonderful. If it had been in other hands, it might not have succeeded.
Sorry about not getting that you were kidding. This was a crazy, but ultimately fun, day at work. I'm feeling a little rumpled right now.
Jenn
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 3/27/2006 at 9:29:01 PM ET
So do I! HaHa! More and more as time goes by actually.
Would we really spend so much time analysing every little detail of a made-for-TV movie if we didn't find something about it fascinating? Something besides Bernadette, that is.
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