The Mirror Has Two Faces *** (1996, Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Lauren Bacall) – Classic Movie Review 1298

Both faces belong to Barbra Streisand, and (as usual) several hats too, as she’s star, director, co-producer and songwriter of this 1996 release, then her first film for six years. for all its apparent serious pretensions, it is a piece of the purest, flimsiest fluff, made by the star in preference to her long-mooted film of the AIDS drama, The Normal Heart.

The first face is the supposedly plain, unmade-up one she wears as sad spinster teacher of a course in romantic literature at Columbia University, where through a personals ad she meets emotionally-scarred maths professor Jeff Bridges. He proposes marriage based on – wait for it – friendship, respect, love and not, absolutely not, sex.

The second face is the gorgeous, glammed-up one she acquires through dieting, massage, beauty treatment, a frizzy hair-do and aerobics after Bridges resists her clumsy amorous advances. Based on a forgotten 1958 French romantic comedy film Le Miroir à deux faces written by André Cayatte and Gérard Oury, this is preposterous, old-fashioned escapist stuff, which even in 1996 had a past its sell-by date feel to it.

Almost miraculously, however, for most of the time it does work, certainly up until Streisand gets her new visage, which was entirely unnecessary since the old face is really very pleasing, far more attractive actually than the new one which makes her look like a Streisand-lookalike drag queen.

The film’s success is entirely due to Streisand’s commitment and belief in such a daft project, plus endless truckloads of Hollywood professionalism and care lavished all over the place. Richard LaGravenese’s screenplay, Dante Spinotti and Andrzej Bartkowiak’s cinematography, and Marvin Hamlisch‘s score must all be heaped with praise.

Streisand’s acting turn is very appealing and amusing, though she never truly convinces either as a sad spinster or university lecturer. Bridges gives a subtle, steady, stalwart support performance that again proves his special value. Mimi Rogers has a good time as Streisand’s lovelier, bitchier sister enjoying a run of fine put-downs. But the film’s finest turn is, unexpectedly, from Lauren Bacall, who (once you get over the shock of her casting as Streisand’s mother) is superb as the scheming, heart-of-gold old Jewish mama.

After a 50-year career, Bacall received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Streisand’s mother but, though considered a sentimental shoo-in, she didn’t win.

The Mirror Has Two Faces would have been even better with a top comedy director but it would still have been a flimsy, light-as-air soufflé. Something serious next time, please, Barbra.

Streisand also composed the film’s theme song ‘I Finally Found Someone’ with Marvin Hamlisch, Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange and Bryan Adams, and sings it on the soundtrack with Adams.

Dudley Moore was cast in the George Segal part and apparently fired by Streisand.

The Normal Heart finally got made in 2014 as an HBO movie for TV, with Mark Ruffalo.

Adored screen legend Lauren Bacall died on August 12 2014, aged 89.

http://derekwinnert.com/yentl-1983-barbra-streisand-classic-film-review-1234/

http://derekwinnert.com/funny-girl/

http://derekwinnert.com/hello-dolly-1969-barbra-streisand-walter-matthau-classic-film-review-1233/

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1298

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more film reviews: http://derekwinnert.com

Derek Winnert is the author of Barbra Streisand Quote Unquote.