Saturday, August 30, 2008

FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "THE BANGER SISTERS" !

Summer demands a "feel-good escape" in addition to the fact that I have always had a thing for Goldie Hawn. The tag line bears repeating: "Some friendships last forever... like it or not". Yes, we are quite late in posting this film with my laptop in the repair shop. I am renting a computer to post this much in the same way that the late Orson Welles once said, "As a filmmaker, I pay myself out of my directing jobs. I subsidize my work--in other words, I'm crazy. But the fact is that the films you've seen tonight might not have been made otherwise. Or if otherwise, perhaps they might have been better, but they certainly wouldn't have been mine". HERE, HERE! Nevertheless, as I stated earlier "The Show Must Go On"! The Plot:
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Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon are former groupies now entering their 50's. Lavinia "Vinnie" (Sarandon) is a very uptight Phoenix housewife with a lawyer husband, two daughters who are spoiled rotten, and a calendar full of politically correct events to attend. Suzette (Hawn) remained true to their past as one-half of the notorious rocker-lovin' "Banger Sisters" who gets fired from her job on the Sunset Strip as a bartender. So, she decides this would be a good time to look up "Vinnie" decades after the "Flower Power" movement ended (and according to TV Psychiatrist Drew Pinsky, M.D. we are now paying for with the likes of Paris Hilton and Tom Cruise). But I digress...This film is fun! Suzette, for all her character flaws helps Vinnie recover a life she buried for stability and materialism; the two had hilarious after photos of every guy they knew as back stage groupies from Roger Daltry to Jim Morrison (thus the name of the movie) long before having this much fun could kill you and "anything goes" ruled. Actor Geoffrey Rush adds some interesting twists as a stifled and conflicted guy whose career aspirations aren't working. This becomes serious and exactly how this will resolve is largely placed into Suzette's hands--a girl who is hard not to love, but has spent very little time doing anything for herself over the years.
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Hawn and Sarandon bring the story along about the initial effects of Suzette's "liberating" everyone with real life sensibilities. Sarandon's real life daughter Eva Amurri steals a scene that always cracks me up when she fails her driving test---probably because I failed mine at 16. Yes, a major crisis we can all relate to, but this is side-splitting! So, all-in-all, this is a fun ride with two funny, lewd, good-time ex-groupies. Bob Doleman wrote and directed a fun, sexy and funny film that is just perfect for Summer and leaves you feeling Good with a sense of Hope.
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Cast: Goldie Hawn....Suzette; Susan Sarandon....Lavinia Kingsley; Geoffrey Rush....Harry Plummer. Eva Amurri....Ginger Kingsley; Erika Christensen....Hannah Kingsley; Robin Thomas....Raymond Kingsley. NOMINATED in 2003 for a Golden Globe Award for Goldie Hawn, "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy". WINNER: Eva Amurri, for "Best New Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress".
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IT'S STILL SUMMER...
ENJOY IT!
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12 Comments:

At 7:36 PM, Blogger Heather said...

I've always wanted to see this one - what a perfect excuse to say you told me watch it! :D

 
At 8:40 PM, Blogger Cosmicrayola said...

One of my absolute all time favorites. I read your line, "the two had hilarious after photos of every guy they knew as back stage groupies." Wow, did you understate THAT! My only complaint was there were not enough close ups. Oh, my. Did I say that? As for Goldie Hawn, that woman has everything. She still has that cute little girl smile, she is gorgeous, she is thin, she can act, and she has Kurt Russell. How is it one woman can have all of that?? I adore her.

 
At 10:20 PM, Blogger 3 Magpies said...

Love, love, love The Banger Sisters! Great flick to put it all in perspective... Life is short, live large!

 
At 1:15 PM, Blogger Dianne said...

isn't it amazing how Goldie pretty much looks the same today as she did on Laugh-In - where I adored her!

 
At 2:49 PM, Blogger Glenn Bishop "Bish The Magish" said...

I always liked Goldie Hawn - even from way back in her "laugh in" days.

Great post Michael.

Glenn Bishop

 
At 6:25 PM, Blogger Teresa said...

I LOVE this movie.

I was listening to Sirius radio this weekend--the 80s station and Mark Goodson was interviewing Rick Springfield and he talked a lot about your friend Sahara. A couple of the tracks on his new album are about her. It made me think of you!

 
At 8:05 PM, Blogger Michael Manning said...

Heather: I am most willing to write you an "Excuse" on letterhead. Something like: "To Whom This May Concern: I have strongly suggested that Heather view 'The Banger Sisters'for comic relief. Should this require a day off from work, I should think that this would be time well spent resulting in a sweet disposition at the office for the remainder of 2008. Sincerely, Michael Manning, 'Friday movie Suggestion Night'". :D)

Cosmic: Hahaha, you liked my "understatement of the year"! Hey, friends of mine have actually run into Kurt at airline memorabilia shows, as he is a collector and a private pilot. I'm told he is very down to earth and easy to talk to. How cool!!!:) Or put another way: "How Cosmic!" :D)

3 Magpies: Yeah, I used to chat with a fellow news anchor I worked with. Whenever I asked how things were, he'd say "Just livin' large and lovin' life". lol!!!:D)

dianne: I laughed at her comment about her daughter when she said, "I realized, 'Oh my God, she looks so much like I did at her age!" :D)

Glenn: It's one of my few repeats, but I blame the paucity of computer access with mine in the shop. Glad you liked it!!! :D)

Teresa: Yeah, I've heard the CD and watched Rick interviewed. Sahara really touched so many of us--such a sweet and loving person. I was blessed to have met her. What a thoughtful note, Teresa! Thank You and (((HUGS))! :D)

 
At 11:42 PM, Blogger Green tea said...

Two of my Favorite actresses..
Loved this movie..
Glad you are back on line Michael..
GiGi

 
At 3:44 PM, Blogger Michael Manning said...

Green Tea: I wish I WAS back on line. Instead, I am borrowing computers through the good graces of friends until the Laptop is out of the shop. But lol!!!

 
At 11:17 AM, Blogger Monogram Queen said...

This is one I like alot!!!

 
At 11:35 AM, Blogger Walker said...

I really enjoyed this movie and mirrors my life to some point.
We tend to forget ourselves when we let respnsabilities take over our lives and it takes a whacky friend to infuse a little life back into our hundrum regimental lifestyles.

 
At 12:52 AM, Blogger Michael Manning said...

Patti: It is a fun "escape movie"! :D

Walker: It's hard not to love Goldie Hawn I will have to read her book (after I finish the 4 ahead of it, among them Adam Clayton's "Keith Richard ;)

 

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