2 Film Reviews in 100 words: A Star is Born & Tea with the Dames

I pretty much hated “A Star is Born,” although I agree that the acting was strong, not the least Lady Gaga. I could not stand the privileged, condescending, petulant dickhead that Bradley Cooper played. His surprise introduction of her to his audience was aggressive if not abusive. His role in life was to disrupt her upward career trajectory (as his fell) with drunken sloppiness, public scenes, and excessive pouting. Kinda reminded me of Kavanaugh. Meanwhile, she enabled, excused, and absorbed his bad behavior. Mostly I wanted him to take a shower, scrub his sweaty face, and wash his slimy hair.

(Scroll down for the next review)

The trailer:

 

The fundamental flaw in “Tea with the Dames” was that it was directed by a man, Roger Michell. He raised the (wrong) questions and topics. This documentary shows four of Britain’s most delectable old actors – Dames Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith – in conversation over cups of tea, apparently shot in a single exhausting day. Michell never asked what it was like to try to find meaty roles for women over the decades, nor did he ask about harassment or pay discrimination. Rather, he was most interested in their relationships with their (often famous) husbands. Missed opportunity.

The trailer:

 

Comments

[Sheila Parks]

Thanks Sue. It is shocking and sad to me that these women agreed to be in the film

[SUE C KELMAN]

Brava...keep your reviews coming. And even though the Dames movie is flawed, I just get a tingle to hear their voices and see their properly aged faces.

[Sue Katz]

I just wish a woman, a feminist - ME - asking the questions. And not do it all on one day - they were so wiped out by the time the movie ended. But I agree Sue, they are all treasures.