fazil (03/10/83)
I had the chance to see the movie "Frances" last night. This movie had the critics raving about Jessica Lange's performance as Frances Farmer. Frankly I cannot see what they're raving about. The only reason I would recommend this movie is because J. Lange has had an Academy Award nomination for this role and this would help show that nominations don't mean everything. She did a much better job in Tootsie. Some of my impressions are:- 1. During her lifetime Frances Farmer kept very comprehensive diaries which have been published as a book. The introduction to the movie states that the movie is based upon the book. All I can work out is that the writers read the book and then wrote a whole new story about an actress who ends up in a mental hospital. 2. According to the book, Frances' main problem was having a very domineering mother who tried to turn Frances into something the mother had always dreamed of. The portrayal of the mother shows a very weak mother and is totally out of character. 3. In real life the only man in Frances' life was her husband. The writers for the movie introduce this fictional "Harry". The only reason I can see for such a love interest is to turn the movie into a sloppy tear-jerking story with a romantic ending i.e. let us make money out of Frances F.'s life rather than try and explain some of the hardships and unfairness this woman had to go through. After all, Hollywood exploited Frances during her lifetime, why shouldn't they do it now that she is dead? I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy this movie but I think that if you read the book before seeing the movie, your opinion might be different.