 ""Black comedy"?" | 2009-09-15 |
| - Reviewed By xtian11 |
I wouldn't call it 'edge of your seat' - it builds quite slowly - and i wouldn't call it 'black comedy' either. Certainly there are touches of the absurd - well, the whole story is somewhat absurd, but Leonard Maltin's quote on the back of the box "Thoroughly engaging black comedy" is way off the mark. For most people, I don't think a first viewing will yield much in the way of laughs - unless you found movies like "Misery" funny.
Another thing that bugged early on in the movie was the fact that while she was trapped in her upstairs room, with her neighbor working in the garden just below - she can throw a note down to her, yet she somehow can't manage to shout to her for help? There are 2 or 3 scenes like this in the first half of the movie that seem to insult the audiences' intelligence. Other than that, the movie is interesting for what it is - a showcase of 1962 theatre of the macabre, and the talents of Betty Davis and Joan Crawford. Filming and acting are fine all around, and the story slowly but surely builds interest and horror until it reaches its memorable and shocking conclusion. This is a good movie, maybe even a great one for some. It will hold more interest for the connesseur of old, unusual or even campy movies - not necessarily for the modern movie thrill seeker - for modern thrills in the macabre, check out Dexter. ;)
As for the packaging and treatment of this movie on DVD, you couldn't ask for better. Disc 2 puts the movie and it's stars into historical perspective with 3 documentaries, behind the scenes featurette, and an Andy Williams Show segment with Betty Davis. The Betty Davis documentary is substantial at over an hour giving us Davis's life story with many clips from the vast multitude of movies she made and a career that spanned 6 or 7 decades. Love that it ends with Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes". Jody Foster hosts. The second documentary spotlight on Joan Crawford consists of a BBC interview filmed in black and white in the 60s some time after Baby Jane was made. The interview captures Joan (and the times) as it recounts her filmography and the latest tabloid gossip. The special features were great and make this edition a real value for money purchase. It's great to see movies get treatment like this. |
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 "WOW!!! This movie is a Classic." | 2009-08-06 |
| - Reviewed By benhunteriii |
| I remember seeing this movie for the first time when I was 10. It scared me then and I watched it again in 2008 and I was on the edge of my seat again. This movie is a must see if you like the way movies used to be, having an actual plot. This movie has an original one. |
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| "Grotesque horror" | 2009-07-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1X054KUYG5V |
The Bottom Line:
If Whatever Happened to Baby Jane sometimes feels like a worse Sunset Blvd jumbled up into a horror film, it makes up for it with its sheer grotesque innovation and acting; the film may be derivative but that hardly diminishes its power to horrify.
3/4 |
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| "Why do two drag queens have commentary on this DVD?" | 2009-06-19 |
| - Reviewed By mount_olympus |
I wondered why in the world would they feature a couple of drag queens on the commentary for this DVD. I realize anyone connected to this film has passed away, so they had to have SOMEONE do it.
But once you listen, it is pretty entertaining. The only drawback was their constant fawning of the two stars. But some of their diva ranting was funny. One went on and on about Miss Crawford's bone structure and beauty. But then again, what are they supposed to do? You will have to sit through this odd commentary, you won't be able to help it.
My only complaint is I found the audio recording of poor quality. I had to turn the volume way up to hear the commentary over the film.
Anyways, I probably don't need to say much about the movie. It stands as one of the best. This movie is a must in my collection as is Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, and The Women. |
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| "whatever happened to baby jane" | 2009-06-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1OGACZ3OI852A |
| was cheaper than anywhere else i looked and was a exellent quality very good movie been looking everywhere for this movie glad i bought from this company will use them again. |
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| "Sibling rivalry at its most vicious..." | 2009-04-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: ANCOMAI0I7LVG |
Being the huge Bette Davis fan that I am, I am totally in love with this movie. This is far from her finest performance, or her finest film, but you can tell that Davis is right at home inside the crazy eyes of Baby Jane Hudson; and the mere fact that Davis outshone her rival (in more ways than one) Joan Crawford, and even managed to conjure up a Best Actress Oscar nomination above Crawford is another delicious little tidbit that keeps this film resting at the top of my `Davis Favorites'.
The film tells of two sisters who are eternally jealous of one another. As a young girl Jane Hudson (better known as Baby Jane) was a star. She sang and danced and had a doll made in her image. She treated her sister, mother and father terribly, but they put up with it because she was a star. Her star fell though as she grew and her sister Blanche became the big Hollywood magnate that everyone adored. When a tragic accident leaves Blanche bound to her wheelchair, Jane becomes her caretaker. Resentment sets in though, and Jane begins to treat Blanche as if she were a disease. She is constantly reminded of her own failure when she sees the success and loyal fans that Blanche has now, and as her mind deteriorates she begins to believe that she could regain her old life with the help of Edwin Flagg, a pianist.
Both Davis and Crawford pull out all the stops, playing polar opposites and quite possibly using their own dislike for one another to create a very believable rivalry. Crawford is very quite and subdued, her inner turmoil surfacing at just the right moments; while Davis is abrasive and outlandish, allowing the quiet moments to come sporadically as she builds her character. She knows how to let her characters own sanity simmer, showing us rare glimpses of a strange rationality that makes us question her.
Superbly done.
It's funny, since the roles were most likely reversed in the real world, with Crawford being openly jealous of Davis's career. It just goes to prove that you have to challenge yourself (play against type that is) to really wow an audience.
The film does have a camp appeal to it, so don't be fooled into thinking that this is going to be a genuinely terrifying drama. Yes, it is not a comedy and it is tense, but you have to be able to embrace the camp in order to truly appreciate it. The film is very well done and the acting is all very good, especially Davis who understood very well how to craft her character and not merely craft a caricature (she is fearless). The script is nicely adapted, leaving a mystery for the audience, with a conclusion that is as shocking as it is appropriate. |
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