THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS

US, 1989, 113 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Tilly.
Directed by Steve Kloves.

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a dramatic comedy about two brothers, piano players for many years, who have to change their act and come, eventually, to the parting of the ways. It is a very good star vehicle for Jeff and Beau Bridges, who work very well together, friendship and love, rivalry. It is also a star vehicle for Michelle Pfeiffer who is particularly striking - especially in a version of `Making Whoopee' at a New Year's party.

The film focuses on relationships, ruts in life, ambitions, frustrations. It also focuses on change and truth-telling. The film is long, has many comic sequences, but takes its gradual pace in drawing the characters and highlighting their relationships. The end is somewhat uncertain.

The film was written and directed (for the first time) by Steve Kloves (writer of Racing With The Moon).

1.A film about people, relationships, truth and change, show business?

2.The Seattle settings, the city, the homes, the clubs, the wealthy, the poor?

3.The musical score by Dave Grusin (and his doing Jeff Bridges' piano-playing)? The range of songs, popular songs, Michelle Pfeiffer's versions? The piano-playing?

4.The Baker Boys as a team, their age, experience? Frank and his organisation, arrangements and money? Their performances, skill in playing, working well together, their patter? The payment, the hostility of the managers? Lack of bookings? The mock-Hawaiian performance? Their feeling they had to stop, their arguments, needs?

5.The comedy of the auditions, the range of girls, the singing? Monica and her performance of `Candyman'? Suzie arriving late, her argument for an audition, her name? Singing `More Than You Know'? Success? Her lack of punctuality, the initial dress, Frank getting a new dress for her? The cue cards and her letting them fall? The brothers having to sing her lyrics about her life? The applause, making money, bookings, the Bakers saying that they would phone? The billboards? The possibilities for a career?

6.Frank and his enthusiasm, the older brother, the story of his family (but their not being seen)? His songs, the hairspray? Relationship with Jack? The auditions, the impact of Suzie? Glad of their success? The champagne? His having control of the group? Ups and downs with Jack, the warnings? His family memories, the memories of the brothers, his collecting all the memorabilia? The emergency and his leaving, the return? The New Year's party in his absence? His anger, Suzie leaving them? Going to the telethon and the clash with Jack? Jack's opting out, Frank's anger, in his workshop, the meeting, the reminiscences, their playing together? Frank's future?

7.The contrast with Jack, morose and jaded? The sexual encounter - and his not seeing the woman again? Arriving on time, spraying on Frank's hair? Nonchalant playing, despite his skill? Professional - but...? The auditions, the arrival of Suzie, attracted, talking with her, sexual attraction, her refusal? Success, on the road, the car, the hotel? Her relationship with Frank, the noisy night? Success and the champagne? His snooping in her bathroom and watching her? The New Year concert, the sexual encounter? No future? Suzie's opting out? Jack and his clash with Frank, the fight and the truth-telling? The telethon and his humiliation? Visiting Frank? Playing the piano with him? The glimpses of Jack's ordinary life, his apartment, the dog and its bad teeth, collecting the dog? His friendship with Nina, talking with her, watching television, teaching her the piano? Talking about her mother? His hurting her, going onto the roof and her understanding? His finally seeking out Suzie, hearing about her career? The possibility of seeing her again?

8.The clash between the brothers, the fight, the achievements, the gifts, Jack's memory? The hopes of the two men?

9.Suzie and her dramatic arrival, the escort agency, her singing, her memories, the dress, the cue cards, tough, success, her range of songs, on the road, in the car, the champagne evening? Snooping in Jack's bathroom? Keeping her privacy? Sexual relationship with Jack? Changing, wanting to go, Jack seeing her at the end - and her TV commercials? Her future?

10.The girl and her mother, talking with Jack, getting support from him, her being hurt by him, her sense of balance?

11.The glimpses of the restaurants and their patrons, the audiences, the managers, deals?

12.A blend of the comic and tragic, humane?