Connianatu
How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Cissy Évelyne
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
secondtake
Mother (1996)A mildly amusing and warm movie about a middle-aged man who returns to his old house to live with his mom. A jealous and over-achieving brother gets in the way a little, to some light comedy, but mostly it's the growing awkward relationship of mother and son that makes the movie.In a way it is Debbie Reynolds (as the mother) and not Albert Brooks (as the main son) who dominates, and lifts it up a little. She's come a long way from the breakthrough 45 years earlier of "Singin' in the Rain" and other 1950s classics, and she still has a kind of innocent warmth on screen. In fact, you expect at first she might be a monster or a manipulator, but she's oddly straight forward and exactly the therapy the son needs.There is a lack of real conflict to the plot, however. And any butting of heads or the big twist in the story (relating to their ambitions as authors) seem contrived. An opportunity was lost (or avoided) in trying to make something gel in dramatic, human terms. But it's all in an effort for some easygoing laughs, and some irony. Faint praise here isn't mean to quite condemn the movie, but it's true, this isn't ever going to be a great one, nor a flop. It might be attractive mostly to people who like either of the main actors.There is a weird (and fun) re-writing of the Paul Simon song "Mrs. Robinson" (and sung by some very good Simon and Garfunkel imitators). Add that to the Alfa Romeo driven by Brooks, and there is a slight reference to "The Graduate" built in, though I'm not sure it really is meant to go very far. But then, nothing in this movie goes very far. Just perhaps for some far enough.
Mr-Fusion
Though I haven't seen all of Albert Brooks' films, this is definitely my favorite, so far. Written and directed by Brooks, he's made a movie that is relatable to just about everyone. Brooks stars as a struggling writer who, after just completing his second divorce, decides to move back home and examine his relationship with his mother (Debbie Reynolds) as an attempt to iron out his love life. The decision is met with confusion by his mother, and jealousy by his brother (the favored son, played by Rob Morrow).Anyone who's ever had a mother can appreciate the frustration Brooks encounters, whether it's his mother's penchant for nervously telling complete strangers about his troubled love life, or her indecisive driving (I can certainly relate, although mine tends toward the reckless). Their relationship is all about pushing each other's buttons; Mother as she picks apart everything in his life, and Brooks as he blames her for being the root of his lady problems. A terrific scene (one that sets the tone for all of their scenes to follow) involves Brooks being flabbergasted by his mother's food stock; the wilted lettuce in her salad, the three-year-old block of cheese, the freezer-burnt "sherbert" (housed beneath the "protective ice"). I've never met someone who can't relate to something akin to this, and it's symptomatic of a well-written "slice of life" screenplay. It also doesn't hurt that the two leads are extremely well-cast. Brooks is all about the miserable neurotic, while Reynolds embodies (with radiance) everything about the irritating mom who judges but doesn't listen. And when the two finally discover the root of their dysfunction in the film's climactic scene, it feels entirely heartfelt and not contrived. There's development to Reynolds' character; she's someone well-rounded, with hilarious results.8/10
Gatto Nero
I watched this movie with an open mind and I came out disappointed. I had never seen a movie try so hard to be funny and really wasn't! I sort of like Brooks but this movie I really didn't care for.Debbie Reynolds did an okay job as Mother. She was quite sexy in a "cougar-type" of way! Ha-ha So it's very believable when her son discovers she occasional meets up with a 'Charles'(Peter White) for occasional sex! Original choice Nancy Reagan would have been interesting casting. But she declined because of her husband's condition at the time.Rob Morrow is the other son. As Brook's brother they seemed to play off each other rather well. Lisa Kudrow appears for a bit as a blind date gone wrong for Brooks. John C McGinley appears also for a bit as Brook's pal trying to console him about his recent divorce. Others that were wasted were: Isabel Glasser as Morrow's wife, Vanessa Williams(Not the singer) as Kudrow's roommate.Joey Naber(Angel Town) had a nice bit as the TV delivery man as did Peter White as Reynold's "occasional" lover.The song by Simon and Garfunkel, 'Mrs. Robinson', was changed to accommodate the words and storyline of this movie by Brooks. Now called "Mrs. Henderson".
Rosemary (zelda1964)
Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds star in this family mayhem of laughs; When A 40 year old sci-fi novelist tries to work out life and relationships, he wants to move back in with Momma(Reynolds). He wonders about his divorces, and hopes to solve his problem. Rob Morrow plays brother Jeff, someone who needs a bit of therapy himself. Lisa Kudrow, also stars as sister-in-law Linda.What John realizes, is that his mom was not always "perfect" as he had imagined. Jeff,apparently gets messed-up, and John becomes the most well-adjusted son.This viewer thinks crazy film is sweet, that you want to analyze your own Life as John does. Bravo and Wonderful!
