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Funny Girl, 1968
In this based-on-a-true-story film, Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand) goes from being an unsuccessful dance hall girl to a successful comedienne and stage performer. Along the way, however, she must grapple with her complicated relationship with professional gambler Nick (Omar Sharif).
As with many biographical films, I had to give myself some distance with this one. As I just wrote about with tick tick BOOM!, I always struggle with the knowledge that I am being shown a "true story" where in reality alterations have been made to suit a narrative film.
That said, this is a mostly very charming film and Streisand's lead performance is palpably a breakthrough moment.
I read a lot of trivia about how mad people were about how controlling Streisand was on the set of the film. My main reaction? Good for her! This trivia actually mirrors one of the points of the film that I thought was most impactful: Fanny is (in the reality of the film) not a pretty girl. She's a funny girl. And she is very sensitive to the difference between being laughed AT and laughed WITH. Even more specifically, she wants to have control over moments in which she is being laughed AT, with it being important that moments of self-deprecation are by choice.
I enjoyed many of the musical numbers in the film, especially a comedic take on "Swan Lake" that comes later in the story. Streisand is an assured performer, whether in the within-film setpieces or in scenes like one where she is asked to perform on roller skates. "I thought you said you could roller skate!" protests the stage manager who is also her good friend and ally. "I didn't know I couldn't!!" Fanny exclaims, propelling herself back into the chaos of the piece. It's solidly entertaining.
Sharif, as love interest Nick, is also perfect in his role. In the first half, we see his confidence and how this seduces Fanny. But later in the film, we see the way that her success takes a toll on him. I have a friend who split from her husband, and a huge issue in their marriage was the fact that she is more successful and recognized in her career than he is (they are both writers). Nick's building resentment is wonderfully portrayed by Sharif, and capably counterbalanced by the way that Streisand shows how Fanny's attempts to "help" Nick only make him feel more bitter toward the situation.
I do have to say that I found the first half of the film a lot more fun and interesting than the second half. While the dynamics of their marriage are portrayed in a way that is realistic, it's also not very fun watching a woman trying to please a man who is so insecure that he takes her success personally. The first half where we watch Fanny fight for her place on the stage and also fight to do numbers her way is really good stuff.
Overall a solid film and a particularly good first half.
Funny Girl, 1968
In this based-on-a-true-story film, Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand) goes from being an unsuccessful dance hall girl to a successful comedienne and stage performer. Along the way, however, she must grapple with her complicated relationship with professional gambler Nick (Omar Sharif).
As with many biographical films, I had to give myself some distance with this one. As I just wrote about with tick tick BOOM!, I always struggle with the knowledge that I am being shown a "true story" where in reality alterations have been made to suit a narrative film.
That said, this is a mostly very charming film and Streisand's lead performance is palpably a breakthrough moment.
I read a lot of trivia about how mad people were about how controlling Streisand was on the set of the film. My main reaction? Good for her! This trivia actually mirrors one of the points of the film that I thought was most impactful: Fanny is (in the reality of the film) not a pretty girl. She's a funny girl. And she is very sensitive to the difference between being laughed AT and laughed WITH. Even more specifically, she wants to have control over moments in which she is being laughed AT, with it being important that moments of self-deprecation are by choice.
I enjoyed many of the musical numbers in the film, especially a comedic take on "Swan Lake" that comes later in the story. Streisand is an assured performer, whether in the within-film setpieces or in scenes like one where she is asked to perform on roller skates. "I thought you said you could roller skate!" protests the stage manager who is also her good friend and ally. "I didn't know I couldn't!!" Fanny exclaims, propelling herself back into the chaos of the piece. It's solidly entertaining.
Sharif, as love interest Nick, is also perfect in his role. In the first half, we see his confidence and how this seduces Fanny. But later in the film, we see the way that her success takes a toll on him. I have a friend who split from her husband, and a huge issue in their marriage was the fact that she is more successful and recognized in her career than he is (they are both writers). Nick's building resentment is wonderfully portrayed by Sharif, and capably counterbalanced by the way that Streisand shows how Fanny's attempts to "help" Nick only make him feel more bitter toward the situation.
I do have to say that I found the first half of the film a lot more fun and interesting than the second half. While the dynamics of their marriage are portrayed in a way that is realistic, it's also not very fun watching a woman trying to please a man who is so insecure that he takes her success personally. The first half where we watch Fanny fight for her place on the stage and also fight to do numbers her way is really good stuff.
Overall a solid film and a particularly good first half.