Death Becomes Her
Plot
Madeline Ashton is an egocentric actress, who thinks she is the next… Meryl Streep? She had a tumultuous relationship with her lifelong “BFF” Helen Sharp for decades, that ended in 1978 – when Madeline stole Helen’s boyfriend, surgeon Dr Ernest Menville.
Cut to 14 years later, and now Helen, recovered from a years long mental breakdown is back in the lives of (the now unhappily married) Madeline and Ernest… Just as Madeline has found the ‘fountain of youth’ in a magic potion from the mysterious Lisle Von Rhuman.
But how will this love triangle unfold???
Direction
Directed by Robert Zemekis, this was considered an achievement in computer imagery at the time. considering it is nearly 30 years old… it still holds up.
A great effort, with some terrific sets, including Lisle’s castle among others. I loved his uses of reflection, hiding characters (the Mr Chagall moment), and some great use of lighting that is similar to Morticia Addams.
Cast/Characters
Meryl Streep of course plays Madeline, and proves why she is one of the Greatest actresses of all time… playing an actress who cannot act. She is sensational alongside the marvelous Goldie Hawn who delivers a great performance – often heartbreaking (when she has Ernest stolen from her) to hilarious (in a brilliant fat suit), and terrifying (when she has a hole in her stomach).
Bruce Willis gives arguably one of his best performances as Ernest Menville. He is so convincing as the broken down Dr, you forget that he’s Bruce Willis.
Isabella Rossellini plays Lisle, who gifts them ‘eternal youth’ as well as ‘life forever’ – but will they all take it?
Sydney Pollack has a fun unbilled cameo as a Dr who Madeline goes to after her ‘accident’.
Breakdown
Starting with a humourous opening musical number, based on a movie that shouldn’t have been a musical – we are introduced to the trio of characters. All getting equal billing in this one.
The narrative is well paced, with the first 40 minutes of the film dedicated to the dynamic of Madeline/Helen and Ernest – as well as Madeline struggling with aging in Hollywood. She doesn’t take the magic potion until this part of the film, and from then on the narrative is nothing but exciting.
There is terrific special effects, especially in the violence inflicted by Madeline and Helen to each other (as well as Madeline’s ‘fall’ down the stairs. Some of these are especially significant considering the film was made in 1992 (Helen’s stomach and Madeline’s ‘dislocated neck’).
The final arc, in which the now ‘living dead’ Madeline and Helen must try to get Ernest to take the potion too, does feel a little rushed, there are some fun “dead” celebrity cameos including Elvis, James Dean among others.
I loved the ‘epilogue’ of 37 years later (which we are closing in on) to see where Mad/Ern &Hel are ‘now’.
As his scores usually are, Alan Silvestri gives an instantly recognisable musical number.
Overall
Even over 30 years later, this still holds up extremely well – with special effects that are on par with, or better than films made today.
The ‘frenemyship’ between Streep’s Madeline, and Hawn’s Helen is still great viewing, and this is just another film that Streep is brilliant in.
Quite possibly one of Willis’ best performances while he was in his prime. A strong recommend.
4/5
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