Roommates ** (1995, Peter Falk, D B Sweeney, Julianne Moore, Ellen Burstyn) – Classic Movie Review 11,385

Peter Falk’s Oscar-nominated aging makeup in Roommates (1995) took four hours a day to apply and remove.

‘Some people talk. Some people listen. When you’re 107 and going strong, you do whatever you want.’

Director Peter Yates’s 1995 Roommates stars Peter Falk as elderly Rocky Holeczek, who moves in with his grandson Michael (D B Sweeney), whom he has earlier adopted when the boy’s parents died, in a shakily written comedy drama that means well but outstays its welcome.

However, it is sensitively handled, and occasionally amusing and touching – and the two stars light some real sparks.

It is Oscar nominated for Best Makeup (Greg Cannom, Bob Laden, Colleen Callaghan). Falk’s aging makeup took four hours a day to apply and remove.

Also in the cast are Julianne Moore, Ellen Burstyn, Jan Rubes, Joyce Reehling, Ernie Sabella, John Cunningham, Noah Fleiss, Lisa Davis, Rohn Thomas, Raymond K Wong, William H Macy (uncredited cameo), Mengze Shi and Karl Mackey.

It is written by Max Apple and Stephen Metcalfe, based on a story by Max Apple.

The score is by Elmer Bernstein.

It was filmed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, including in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. Scenes were shot on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, including near the Admissions House, the Dieter-Porter Life Science Building, and Old Main.

Roommates proved a hard sell. On a $22 million budget, it earned $12,096,881.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,385

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