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In December a lot of folks binge watch Christmas movies. I’m not into that. But I did watch one of my all-time favorite films, The Birdcage. This is a movie that keeps on giving. The ensemble cast works together like pot roast and potatoes. They play off each other with cat-like deftness, no one is left behind, each is a star in his or her own right.
In 1996, when this film debuted, I didn’t know Nathan Lane from Harmony Lane. Since seeing The Birdcage, I’ve followed his career and enjoyed every minute. Likewise, Hank Azaria, who portrayed the gay Guatemalan maid with searing humor and humility, has gone on to enjoy a rich career in film; I’m always thrilled to find his unexpected appearances. In 1996, I still associated Robin Williams with “Mork and Mindy,” which did nothing to solidify him as an artist in my narrow mind. Williams’ performance in The Birdcage catapulted me into a new awareness and, as far as I’m concerned, it catapulted Williams into the land of genius.
I realize that my LGBTQ friends and readers may find my infatuation with this film shallow and painfully limited. But when The Birdcage came out, I was under-exposed. For me this film showed two sides of a pair of highly stereotyped and stylized lifestyles. On the one hand, we had the over-the-top emotionally-charged gay life. The other side portrayed the overly stultified (at least I hope it was overly stultified) life of a shallow, über right-wing politician. Each polarized side is portrayed with equally tenderness. I am equally distressed by the Keeleys’ (Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest) narrow-minded ignorance as I am by the painful attempts of Armand (Williams) and Albert (Lane) to go mainstream heterosexual.
The Birdcage is a love story at its finest. Director Mike Nichols gives us love in its many-splendored forms. We see love sparked by the momentary high of alcohol, drugs, and youth—and almost as quickly defeated by reality. We see a love child brought up by two loving parents. We see the estranged birth-mother who hasn’t contributed or even thought much about the result of those passionate moments twenty years earlier. And we see young love determined to break through the vast gulfs of cultural parentage, star-struck, hopeful, frightened and filled with love for their difficult parents.
The Birdcage also shows us vulnerability. We see the fragility of the identity, the tenuous threads of marital vows, the frightening chaos of cultural diversity. These vulnerabilities lead to incredible risks that people will endure in the name of love.
Every nuance of this film is explosive, over-the-top, and believable. The vulture press plays its role alongside the highly stylized versions of a political family and a gay performance family. They seem so opposite, but in the end, their needs are universal—not the “family, morality, and tradition” required of a political persona, but the love, success, and acceptance required of a committed family.
Perhaps most poignant at this point is Robin Williams’ performance. He looks so young, so much the master of his own destiny. There is no hint of the demons that came to haunt him and to rob us of him. And oh, the wonder of seeing a virile Gene Hackman playing a startled drag queen!
I too, liked this movie, both the acting and the fun storyline. I agree with you about Robin Williams, he shone in this. I also saw the original, or an earlier one, and I believe it was french. Again, priceless! I saw Scrooge with Allister Sim today.
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A yes, I think it was La Cage aux Folles! I’d heard of that one, but I’m not sure I ever saw it. You know, one of the first sub-titled films I saw was the French version of Three Men and a Baby. It was sooooo good. Then a few years later, I saw the American version with Tom Selleck. A big disappointment. But I think this American version of The Birdcage held its own. 😉
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I do love this movie! To me it is a love story not a political statement. A pleasure all around.
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Birdcage….on my list. Narrow minded world, but it is coming along…finally. Loved all your insight. And so sad about Robin Williams, not a superficial guy, he was a unique talent with a deep soul.
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Oh Karen, have you not seen it? I think you will love it. I found it on Amazon Prime.
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This would have to be one of the best movie reviews I have ever enjoyed reading. I love your sense of fairness to all sides, and must now try and find to watch it somehow.
‘Cold War’ is a Polish movie which have most critics in awe. Some have given it 5 stars. Here is one by ‘rotten tomatoes.’
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cold_war_2018/
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Thanks, Gerard! I will check out the RT review. I found The Birdcage on my Amazon Prime movie list. Not sure if you have that in Australia. Being that it’s an old-ish film, it could be hard to find it.
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this excellent review; thank you from Aussie land.
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Thank you very much, from America. (Not everything from here is bad…:-0)
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I commented accidently via my ebikerdiary.com ID, but it should have been from my cinemusefilms.com account. Merry Xmas Linda
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Oh sneaky one, Richard! I thought I’d picked up a new reader. I’m happy to receive praise from you. Happy New Year to you.
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Loved this movie too, Linda, and especially your review. It was on tv a while back, so it pops up occasionally on the tube!
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Great use of comedy to question a serious topic. My heart bleeds for Robin when I see it now.
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Great review and analysis … I will have to watch this again … thanks!
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Thanks. I bet you’ll enjoy it…again.
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