The Fabulous Baker Boys

source: The Fabulous Baker Boys

Beau and Jeff Bridges, the sons of Lloyd Bridges really developed their careers apart from each other. Neither piggybacked on the other's success and while their father's name might have opened a door or two, Beau and Jeff never piggybacked on him either. When they did a joint project each had a well respected career. The Fabulous Baker Boys is about a pair of musician brothers who have a double piano act, something like Ohman&Arden from the Thirties or Jose and Ampara Iturbi, brother and sister in a more classical vein. But they're not anything as successful as the examples I mentioned. They eke out an existence in the clubs in Seattle trying to scratch a living at what they love. Beau takes a lot of guff to keep them employed as he's married with children and Jeff puts up with nothing. To liven up the act they decide a sexy girl singer is what they need and after some dismal candidates they find Michelle Pheiffer. But Michelle dishes out her own brand of guff and she causes The Fabulous Baker Boys to reexamine themselves and their lives. Pheiffer got a Best Actress nomination one of four categories of Oscar nominations the film received. She dominates the film when she's on and not through sheer beauty. It was a well deserved performance, I love the scenes when she cuts Jeff Bridges down to size. She isn't easy on Beau either. Lots of the kind of music I like, vocal and instrumental, is found in The Fabulous Baker Boys. That's a guarantee right there I would enjoy the film. It's only too bad that Beau and Jeff could not work their father into this one.

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a movie with a plot that's been done countless times before. There's two partners (in this case, the Baker Boys) who have had a lounge act for over fifteen years and suddenly have their lives thrown upside down when a gorgeous lounge singer enters the act. Jack (the unsettled playboy brother played by Jeff Bridges) falls for the showstopping Suzie (Michelle Pfeiffer), much to the dismay of responsible family man Frank (Beau Bridges). The whole setup is so corny and predictable that it's hard to believe writer/director Steve Kloves fashioned something so wonderful out of it. The Fabulous Baker Boys overflows with style and class. The cinematography by Michael Ballhaus is lush and atmospheric. Kloves' direction is smart and so his script, which artlessly combines humor, romance, and drama in a surprisingly poignant story about hopes and dreams. Dave Grusin's jazzy score and the gorgeous melodies only enhance the mood. Best of all, though, are the performances. Casting the Bridges brothers as the Baker boys was inspired. It's fascinating to determine how much of their real-life relationship is played out here. Beau brings numerous grace notes to what could have been a stereotypical character and Jeff gives one of his best performances as the miserable Jack. But, the big news in this movie is Pfeiffer, who became a star with this sharp, confident, stunningly sexy turn. The screen literally jolts to life when she appears. And that now-classic scene where she sings "Makin' Whoopee" on a piano is certain to immortalize her as one of the great movie stars of this century (and one of the best of current actresses as well). Pfeiffer's in a class all by herself, and so is this movie.

I always thought Michelle was something to watch out for (even in Grease 2) she has a way of smoothing out a role whether she's playing it sweet or sassy. When she walked into the audition late and unapologetic, you could tell there was going to be trouble. Her opening of "10 Cents A Dance" builds slowly and when she finally belts "Makin Whopee" on that piano while Jeff Bridges (accomplished artisan that he is)plays on as though it were simply a job, she is legend!! There is a slow burn to the romance between these two and even the stoic Beau can't defuse it. FBB is a brilliant movie that gets better with time, you realise there are quirks that you missed before each time you watch this gem of a movie. Superb acting from two of Hollywood's most talented, Michelle and Jeff. 10/10

Real life brothers, Beau and Jeff Bridges, play brothers, Frank and Jack Baker in The Fabulous Baker Boys. The Baker brothers have been playing together for thirty-one years, and professionally for fifteen years. We learn early on, by Jacks' tone, that he is not a 'happy camper'. His remarks are short, flip, and sarcastic. Frank is the big brother, protector, organizer, and their work manager. Frank tends to play the games of life while little brother, Jack fights them. Professionally, they are not doing so well, so Frank comes up with the idea to "take on a singer." From the minute, Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) strolls into the audition late, we see that she has an edge to her just like Jack. She is wise-cracking, gum-chewing, and sarcastic, but wonderful singer that turns this duo into a trio. From the first song she sings with them, there is a real transformation--first of the group, and later in the film as individuals. After the first night on the road together, Frank says "Mark my words, from this night forward our lives will never be the same." And he is right. Jack turns out to be not as tough as he appears.This is shown by his relationship with his neighbor's young daughter, whom he teaches piano lessons to, and his love for his dog, Eddy. But everything changes on a New Year's Eve road gig. By now, Frank senses there is something between Jack and Susie, and makes it known to his little brother that he doesn't like it. Frank gets called away and while he is gone, the sparks fly between Jack and Susie. The next two scenes are really intense. The first between Jack and Susie. Their dialog cuts like a knife. They each have each other's number and manage to say things that cut to the core of one another. At one point, Susie says, "You know I has you pegged as a loser the first time I saw you. But, I was wrong, you're worse, you're a coward. Ouch! Cut to Frank and Jack playing in a telethon. Jack, not being happy about the gig, says, "You let that guy turn us into clowns tonight. Where is your dignity?" Frank answers, "...I have to be responsible." And that speaks volumes about the relationship between the two of them. I don't want to give any more of the movie away. It is very well acted by Beau and Jeff Bridges, and by Michelle Pfieffer. They do a great job. And let's just say, it is very realistic especially when Frank keeps referring to Jack as "little brother." You just imagine that is how Beau talks to his little brother, Jeff.

BERLIN 66 Reviews by Alex. Panorama. image1.jpeg "The Fabulous Baker Boys" 1989, by first time director Steve Kloves who later made the Harry Potter films. Seen as part of a retrospective of the films of famed Berlin born DOP, Michael Ballhaus, Now 82, who gets a Silver Bear this year for his life's work as a dependable Hollywood cinematographer who worked with many top directors. This however isn't one of the. Film features the real life brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges as two fictional Brothers, Frank and Jack Baker, who are not particularly fabulous but play dual back-to-back jazzy piano gigs at cheap night spots in Seattle. Whe the jobs get slim they decide that they need a female singer to liven up their fading act. After many hopeless auditions guess who turns up -- an incredibly scruffed down Michelle Pfeiffer who happens to have a knockout voice like a white Billie Holiday and a very come hither stage presentation. Her dynamic style injects new life into the Baker Boys act with a highlight reached when she drapes herself all over Jeff's grand piano as if copulating with the instrument during a sensational singing number -- "Making Whoopee" -- the memorable high point of a fundamentally forgettable picture. Unfortunately, for the rest of the film, although she has become pianist Jeff Bridges' lover and there are extended groping and snuggling scenes between them -- there is, oddly enough, no screen Chemistry between them -- zilch -- and the film dies a slow death from there. Whether it was the direction or some kind of real disattraction is hard to say, but despite the fact that both Jeff and Michele are at the height of their early screen attractiveness what one sees on screen is sheer mechanical sham. One device overly used in the Film is Jeff constantly with a lit cigarette in his mouth as if he were supposed to be Bogart in Casablanca or Gainsbourg in Paris. It just doesn't fit his look or personality and everything else in the picture including Pfeiffer's overdone raggedness is out of kilter. Even the Ballhaus cinematography is nothing to write home about. The brothers end up hassling each other heavily for no good dramatic reason and in the end Bridges rejects Pfeiffer, or was it the other way around? Anyway, she walks off into driftlessness as the picture finally ends. I normally like Bridges movies but this was a surprising disappointment from every angle considering the promising cast. One down and many more to go in a packed festival week.

Well-acted but funereally-paced, with a seriously muddled sense of period (when IS this supposed to be?), and character-development, especially with the Jeff B. and Pfeiffer roles, that, as with TV soaps, depends more on one's recollection of other, better-written dramas than on anything that actually occurs in this film.

THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS (1989) ***1/2 Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Beau Bridges, Jennifer Tilly, Ellie Raab. Excellent character driven comedy/drama with some above average low-key performances with real-life siblings Bridges as a lounge act facing stagnation until they decide to take on a chanteuse in the appealing form of Pfeiffer (Oscar nominee) who comes from the school of hard knocks, together making beautiful music. Beau's best work, Pfeiffer sizzles (particularly her steamy singing atop a piano) and Jeff is perfect as someone trying to maintain his sanity (and dignity) despite his setbacks. Great script also by rookie director Steve Kloves who also garnered an Oscar nod.

After playing small club gigs for over 15 years, the "Baker Boys" finally come to grips with some realities. "Susie" comes into their act and lives. She's a former "escort" and blues singer, whom they hire to rejuvenate their somewhat tired act. This she does, in more ways than one. "The Fabulous Baker Boys" is an accurate and frank depiction of musicians' lives-on-the-road. It reveals what happens after the audience goes home and the musicians retire to their nice hotel rooms. But after years, one nice hotel room is the same as another. Likewise, their music routines can become as stale as leftover tobacco smoke in their vacated clubs. Jeff and Beau Bridges execute some the finest work of their careers in this film. Likewise, Michelle Pfeiffer equally supports them, as well as does her own singing. Dave Grusin and John Hammond's soundtrack piano renditions are excellent, as is Peggy Holmes' choreography for Ms. Pfeiffer. Sydney Pollack was wise to financially support this production as executive producer. Writer director Steven Kloves came up with a winner here, marred only by some general slow pacing and an ambiguous though appropriate ending. "The Fabulous Baker Boys'" reputation continues to grow and be appreciated by more audiences, through cable and DVD distributions. It signifies a rare glimpse at backstage life-on-the-road of musicians who so enrich our lives, yet are all too often taken for granted.

Frankly, years after seeing this, all I remember are two things: 1 - Michelle Pfeiffer laying on a top of a piano singing and looking very alluring; 2 - The Bridges boys, Jeff and Beau, arguing with each other brutally in the last 30 minutes of the film. All three of these actors have one thing in common: they all play in a lot of profane roles, as they do here. They all have garbage-mouths and love to use the Lord's name in vain. These are scummy actors but the story is good until the nastiness takes over the last half hour. Earlier, the Baker boys - Jack (Jeff Bridges) and Frank (Beau Bridges) are fun for at least half the movie. I like Pfeiffer's name in here: Susie Diamond, an apt name for someone crooning "Makin' Whoopee." Overall, a modern-day soap opera with too much profanity and not worth seeing just for one scene.