Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

SnoopyStyle Bessie Wakefield (Diane Keaton) takes care of her father Marvin (Hume Cronyn) and her aunt Ruth (Gwen Verdon). Marvin has been bed-ridden since a stroke 17 years earlier. Lee Wakefield Lacker (Meryl Streep) is Bessie's estrange sister. She's a single mom to Charlie and angry Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio) who set fire to the house. Hank gets sent to the mental ward. Dr. Carter (Robert De Niro) diagnoses Bessie with leukemia and she needs a bone marrow transplant. She contacts Lee. Lee takes Hank out of the hospital to go get themselves tested but neither of the boys even know they have an aunt.This is a powerhouse cast and they deliver great performances. Gwen Verdon is hilarious. Keaton and Streep act the living stuffing out of their relationship. DiCaprio is excellent. Director Jerry Zaks is probably the weak spot. The directions are functional but it lacks a certain panache. Nevertheless there is no denying the first rate acting.

MartinHafer If you are looking for a feel-good film or something nice, do NOT watch "Marvin's Room". It's incredibly depressing and awful--sort of like watching the life of Job as every possible awful thing happens to poor, sweet Bessie in the picture. It's so bad that at times I felt like cringing as I watched the film.Here's the low-down in this god-awful film. Bessie (Diane Keaton) is the sole caretaker for her father, Marvin (Hume Cronyn), who has been bedridden, brain damaged and unable to talk after a stroke which occurred many, many years ago. Bessie is also the caretaker for her mentally ill and wacky Aunt Ruth (Gwen Verdon). Bessie is a selfless and nice person but she has no life apart from these two. Now, she's just learned that she has Leukemia and may die unless she gets a bone marrow transplant.Bessie's sister, Lee (Meryl Streep) is a selfish train wreck. She's clueless, self-absorbed and a horrible person. She never offered Bessie any help in caring for these sick people and they haven't spoken in nearly two decades--and expecting any change in this is very unrealistic. Not surprisingly, her oldest son, Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio) is seriously disturbed...however, he's SO disturbed that when the film begins, he deliberately burns their house to the ground. As a result, he's committed to a mental institution. There is a much younger son- -an oblivious lost soul.It turns out that there's trouble finding a bone marrow match for Bessie and she has to rely on her sister and her family. Lee takes Hank out of the mental hospital to which he's been committed in order to take him cross country to see if he is a match. She DOESN'T tell Hank this and based on Hank's seriously disturbed and crazy behaviors, it sure ain't likely that he'll agree when he finds out the truth. Now, this incredibly sick group of weirdos are all brought into the same home and the viewer is wondering what the heck sort of awfulness will happen next.The acting is fine in this film. In addition to the folks I mentioned, Robert De Niro is also in the film...but with all the craziness he does get a bit lost. That's because the script is just too much--too much craziness and the ending is WAY too much because it makes little sense. It is also so painful to watch and if you come from a rather dysfunctional background, it might really scare you away or remind you of your own issues (for good or bad..but probably bad). And, many of us watch movies to escape--not to feel unpleasant. I myself used to be a family and individual therapist--and the film just reminded me of the worst of the clients I worked with...and that wasn't altogether welcome. Plus how satisfying can it be to sit and watch this long train wreck?! And realistic can an ending be where, miraculously, the problems seemingly just vanish?!Hard to watch, hard to love. I can see why this wasn't a big money- maker when it debuted.

TxMike Even though it is almost 20 years old I only managed to see this movie now. It is mainly notable for DiCaprio's performance as a troubled teen right about the time he was in 'Romeo + Juliet', a movie I didn't care for, and about a year before 'Titanic' a movie I like very much.Meryl Streep is Lee, a hair dresser and not a very caring mother. She has two sons, Leonardo DiCaprio as 18-yr-old Hank and his younger brother Charlie. It is clear early that Hank does not like his mother and misses his dad. To the point that he takes a box of photos, dumps them on the upstairs bedroom floor, douses the pile with lighter fluid, and burns the pile.Unfortunately the whole house burns down so Hank ends up in a mental hospital to deal with his anger and poor decision-making.The movie's primary story really gets going when Lee's sister down in Florida, Diane Keaton as Bessie, lets her know that she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia and her only hope might be to get a marrow transplant from a suitable, compatible family member. So Lee, Hank, and Charlie make a road trip.The dad of the two sisters is Marvin, he is very sick and barely lucid, Bessie is his caregiver. He has his room he mostly stays in "Marvin's Room", which seems a rather arbitrary title to choose.The story is about family dynamics, including Hank's anger, Aunt Bessie seems to understand him and deals with him in a productive manner, something Lee can't quite seem to grasp. Bessie has no regrets, "there has been so much love in her live." When Lee agrees that people loves her she corrects that, it is the love Bessie has been able to give to others, something Lee had never understood before.Good, interesting movie but not great nor memorable.Robert De Niro has a nice supporting role as Bessie's physician, Dr. Wally. Old veteran Hume Cronyn, just a few years before he died, is Marvin.

gcd70 Jerry Saks' simple, heart warming and touching tale of love and giving to others selflessly is beautifully played out by its superlative cast.The story concerns a dedicated daughter who has given twenty years of her life to aiding her ill father. When she becomes sick, her estranged sister and family are contacted in the hope they can provide a compatible donation.Diane Keaton is superb as Bessie, the long suffering daughter now terminally ill herself. She is no saint however, having failed to keep in touch with her sister for two decades, and never having acknowledged her nephews. As Lee, the self-centred single mum who cannot cope with her strong willed eldest, Meryl Streep is extraordinarily natural and more than readily believable. Once again Streep shows her phenomenal talent. Hume Cronyn plays the bedridden Marvin with sensitivity, and Gwen Verdon is also a revelation as the highly strung soapy addict, Aunty Ruth. Leonardo Di Caprio shows natural ability once more in bringing to life the trouble young Hank, while Hal Scardino plays his little brother Charlie. The ever enjoyable Robert De Niro graces the screen as the well meaning Dr. Wally, and Dan Hedaya plays his bewildering brother, Bob.Coupled with this is the insightful, intelligent script from the late Scott McPherson's play which makes the work of the afore mentioned ensemble that much easier. With its telling dialogue and in-depth characterisations, it contains much truth about giving and self-sacrifice, love and family.For a film that moves the heart and touches the emotions, "Marvin's Room" is a must.Sunday, May 11, 1997 - Balwyn CinemasIt is not often that such a genteel, yet emotionally strong film as this comes along. Jerry Saks does beautifully with the adaptation of Scott McPherson's play, presenting an intelligent drama.Capping this is the superb cast, led by the marvellous paring of Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Support comes from Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, Gwen Verdon, Dany Hedaya, Hume Cronyn and Hal Scardino.Thursday, June 11, 1998 - Video