Michelle Pfeiffer

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

 

 

When a murder occurs on the train on which he's traveling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case. 

 

An Agatha Christie adaptation and a remake complete with a contemporary star cast simply adds production value and pace to the familiar plot, but not much more; still, it's entertaining, and has a nice touch casting Johnny Depp as the behated victim.

Scarface (1983)

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.

Deliberately sleazy, but engrossing gangster saga (clearly an Oliver Stone script!) with no redeeming character in sight with screechingly over-the-top performances by Pacino and Pfeiffer, a gawdawful 80s soundtrack (which was already dated at the time of its release) and lots of explicit violence.

Halliwell (no star): "Absurdly brutalized remake, with detailed violence and a superabundance of foul language; the film seems to want to make a political statement."

Maltin*1/2: "...but this film wallows in excess and unpleasantness for nearly three hours, and offers no insights except that crime doesn't pay. At least the 1932 movie moved. Even so, this has become a pop-culture phenomenon, with Pacino's Montana an underdog hero!"

Michelle Pfeiffer

(ph: Mikael Jansson)

Michelle Pfeiffer

(ph: Herb Ritts)

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Pfeiffer

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

The lives of two struggling musicians, who happen to be brothers, inevitably change when they team up with a beautiful, up-and-coming singer.

Not particularly original and a bit slovenly paced, this movie comes alive by its star cast - Michelle Pfeiffer is especially convincing - and sure-handed direction.

Halliwell*: "Enjoyable excursion into the lower depths of show business."

Maltin**1/2: "Writer Kloves' directing debut is stylish and self-assured, but it skimps on story - and never really fleshes out Jeff Bridges' sullen character. The real-life Bridges brothers are perfectly cast, Pfeiffer is ideal. Her steamy rendition of "Makin' Whoopee" atop piano considered a minor classic."

Scarface (1983)

Mother! (2017)

 

 

A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.

 

Over-the-top thesis play in two parts starts off fairly ominous, but (deliberately) blows out of proportion in the second half, and the whole thing is an easily decipherable allegory and appears more like an unintentional satire; well-made, though, with a good cast.

The Family (2013)

The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.

Mildly entertaining, but lacklustre Mafia gangster movie spoof; it's not the casts' fault, which is accurate for the occasion; however, the movie only works in bits and not as a whole.

Maltin**1/2: "Farcical situation is well played..., but the screenplay...is lazy and leaves a lot to be desired. Watchable enough because of that cast but gets awfully "cute" when it makes winking references to a famous American mob movie."

Chéri (2009)

The son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman who educated him in the ways of love.

Good production value and a worthy cast hardly prevent that the result is only vaguely compelling and somewhat sterile.

Maltin**: "...but this costume dramma...goes awry...Bates stretches patience as Chéri's mother, but Pfeiffer still has enough aging luminosity to suggest what the movie might have been."

Stardust (2007)

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.

Good production value and a star cast can't conceal that this fairy tale's story is overburdened and quite confusing.

Maltin***: "Wondrously imaginative fantasy yarn, adapted from Neil Gaiman's novel, creates a world all its own and is dotted with colorful characters, but goes on far too long."