The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

the leading man is my tpye

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

You know, this picture really should have been titled "That Fabulous Pfeiffer Gal" - 'Cause, believe me - When it came to the likes of Jeff & Beau Bridges - "The Fabulous Baker Boys" it clearly wasn't. Well, it wasn't.Set in the rainy city of Seattle, brothers Frank and Jack Baker are a pair of stale, small-time piano players. These 2 losers have been a pathetic musical duo, working the small club circuit for about 15 years. I mean, hey, it's 1989 and, like, these 2 morons are still playing crap like "Little Green Apples" and "Feelings" (retch) with about as much enthusiasm as you could possibly muster from 2 guys who quite obviously hated each other's guts to the max.Deciding to (finally) get hip with the times, the (un-fabulous) Baker boys make, what probably turns out to be, the first intelligent decision that they've ever made in the entirety of their dismal careers - And that decision is to add a female vocalist to their tired and talentless, little team.From this point onwards in the story it was clearly the impressive singing dynamics of Pfeiffer's "Susie Diamond" character, along with her great looks (when added to the Baker Boy troupe) that turns this faltering duo's success right around, literally, into an overnight lounge-circuit sensation.All-in-all - The only reason to watch this sub-par comedy would be for Michelle Pfeiffer, and for Michelle Pfeiffer alone.

I saw this movie when it first came out on video and remember enjoying it. I'm not a fan of music movies, romance or slow dramas but I recently sought this out again to remind myself what had caught my imagination all those 27 years ago.What a smack in the face this viewing turned out to be. The acting is nothing short of breathtaking with the three leads exuding tension by the bucket-load. Jeff Bridges says little but boy do you feel his pain, hurt, shame and anger every time the camera settles on his face. Beau also brings a career best performance as the put upon brother who doesn't quite have the talent of his womanising sibling. Enter Ms Pfeiffer as Suzie Diamond, a singer they hire to boost their booking potential, and - slowly but surely - all hell is let loose. When Ms Pfeiffer sings 'Makin Whoopee' I found my heart got lodged in my throat. If there is a sexier performance on screen - fully clothed - please tell me what it is.Considering nobody's life is at stake, no mad axe man is on the loose and it's a musical tale of troubled romance and unfulfilled ambition, it's about the most excitement you can have on your sofa with your clothes on.If you've never seen this and you like pleasant surprises, I recommend you give it a viewing. I'm still wondering how such a work of excellence could manage a score of under 7.0.

For an adult love story for an older generation with one of the best jazz soundtracks ever set to a movie, The Fabulous Baker Boys remains a smooth delight, topped by the inspirational casting of Michelle Pfeiffer.Its laid back sophistication is peppered with brotherly rivalry, catty one-liners from Pfeiffer and a smattering of humour, that all just takes the edge off it all taking itself too seriously. I always wondered why Beau Bridges was so called, especially when contrasted here against his real-life (as well as in the story) brother. Beau is plain, balding (running joke about using a revolutionary new hair tonic, in a spray can) and married, while a smooth and fresh-skinned - with Fabulous hair! - Jeoff, we see waking up with his latest sexual encounter at the film's start and is dashing throughout.There's a wonderful predictability in the story that whilst obvious is essential as the piano-playing brothers, who've had the same act for the last 15 years, get the sack from their cosy cocktail lounge slot. Get a girl singer, to add glamour and class is what they decide and so the essential misfits and talentless line up to audition. Of course, Pfeiffer stumbles in late, swears, but, as only in the movies sways them and gets the job.This is, of course the most sublime part of the movie; Pfeiffer, in tight shapely dress, draped over a shiny grand piano, Jeoff and Beau tinkling the ivories and the excellent Dave Grusin score ever achingly evocative and playful. But, of course, the frictions start to seep in and of course, the magic can't last.As I said, the tried & trusted music/fame/film formula works well but is never obvious and we are left with an ending as open as the beginning, which is refreshing - and for the better. Any lesser film would have a sugary pigeon-holed finale that would raise the happy level but which would dissipate immediately after.Though there is some swearing, this film doesn't need, or resort to adult material and in this day and age, this is like a breath of fresh air. Actually, the whole experience could be summed up as such, yes, a breath of beautiful, fresh air.

This could have been a gimmick that didn't work. Just because two actors are actual brothers doesn't mean they can convey the particular fictional brothers of the film. And this film was about the two men, with a mutual affection and dependency that they never had to articulate, until the need for a "girl singer" became evident.And what a singer they got in Michelle Pheiffer's Susie Diamond. The hard boiled prostitute with a heart of gold is a well worn cliché in films, that takes some genuine writing and acting talent to transcend. Pheiffer did this with a seeming effortlessness that defined Susie as a unique individual.Unlike most successful films this one's achievement lies in its very moderation, its telling only enough of each character's life to make them real. So we never meet Beau's family, even though Jeff has a key scene in his basement. It would have only been diverting at this stage of the film.The relationship between Susie and Jeff Bridges, Jack Baker was also just as much as we needed to know. The mixed feelings of their first sexual liaison as a trade off of a good business relationship for a long shot love affair was perfectly demonstrated in both of them in their own rooms expressing with the same tone, "shit!" I saw this film on TV after seeing it first at a theater some two decades ago. Perhaps, I'm older, or I've seen too many less skillfully crafted films in the interim, but I appreciated it even more this time.This is both a quality film, and damn enjoyable evening's entertainment.