The Mirror Has Two Faces

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Barbra Streisand's self-absorbed remake of a 1958 French film stars Jeff Bridges as a college professor tired of sexual politics. He makes a deal with a dowdy colleague (Streisand) that they provide companionship for one another, with no thought of getting into bed. She agrees but soon becomes frustrated, the agreement only reinforcing her unfulfilled desire to have a complete relationship with a man. Mimi Rogers is on hand as Babs's striking sister, and Lauren Bacall received an Oscar nomination for her role as the heroine's selfish mother. The film is OK, but it becomes an irritating vanity piece for Streisand (who directed as well as stars). Her character constantly gazes upon her own reflection and is told at least a dozen times, one way or another, just how attractive she is. One wants to shout out, we get it already--you're pretty! The DVD release presents the film in both widescreen and pan and scan versions, plus a Dolby soundtrack. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Bah humbug.......2007-08-03

I don't care what some of the other reviews on here say, this was a great film filled with joy and laughter. It was genuine, sort of honest and had all sorts of heart. It is, by all definitions, a chick flick - and a damn good one!

I can relate.......2007-07-04

I read a review on this site where the reviewer - obviously a man - said that the entire film is dedicated to the characters telling Barbra Streisand she's beautiful. Spoken like someone who has never felt - or been told - they are ugly, only to realize later in life that they're beautiful after all, even if just to one person. That's the premise: what is beauty, after all? Does inner beauty trump the external? (Goodness, we hope so!) How much does physical appearance matter? What is the nature of attraction? How can sex mess up a perfectly great relationship? The dialogue isn't a barrage of people telling Barbra she's beautiful at all. She looks in the mirror, trying to think of herself as beautiful, and fails. This is something that echoes the literary classic Jane Eyre (the book) that I relate strongly to. How many of us have looked in the mirror and seen only the flaws? I love this film. It makes me think about these issues. In a world where Paris Hilton makes headlines on less than zero merit, the questions this film asks are as relevant as they were when the film was made. And let's face it, we ALL want to dance in the street with Jeff Bridges! NOTE: Finding this film in widescreen format is a Herculean feat. In fact, amazon accidentally sent me the wrong disc to begin with, and I had to exchange it. (The guy who said that the film was all about Barbra Streisand's ego was also wrong about the DVD containing both formats: it does not.) If you're cool with pan-n-scan, the full screen might do for you, but if you're like me and want your movies in their true original format, make sure you are getting the widescreen.

Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan.......2007-04-02

This is kind of like a Howard Hawkes movie. You'll enjoy it more if you spend less time worrying about how the story unfolds and instead just delight in the performances of the actors. Lauren Bacall is such a treat. Streistand playing against Bacall, Brosnan, Rogers, Vaccaro and Segal is fun stuff. Unfortunately, Jeff Bridges is in completely over his head. He's awful (but then he always is). The fact that there's no real chemistry between him and Streistand probably goes unnoticed by most people because some might think his character is not supposed to be physically attracted to Streistand's Rose. But in reality it really hurts the move because there's no simmer between the two. The ending is really killed by the lack of chemistry. Bridges looks as if he's being forced to kiss an aunt with a mustache and Streistand appears to be replused by his presence.
I guess like Hawkes, Streistand doesn't like to reuse a pretty face. That's too bad because just about any of her previous leading men would have improved this otherwise very goood movie.

The Mirror Has Two Faces.......2007-03-12

This is a favorite movie of mine. All the stars are great in it and the story is very endearing and humorous with a redeeming message.

Amazing family story........2007-01-10

This film could be associated with many families, as a matter of fact the story and the caracters have a lot of similarities with my clan....A very enjoyable story with lots of meanings to it.Excellent and very worth while movie to see; I recomend it.

The Barbra Streisand Collection (The Mirror Has Two Faces / The Prince of Tides / The Way We Were)

Average customer rating:

the best of the best
Definitive Trilogy of Streisand's Three Romantic Wallows
The Barbra Streisand Collection
A DOUBLE KNOCKOUT OF A TRIPLE DVD SET!!!
Good value for money

The Barbra Streisand Collection (The Mirror Has Two Faces / The Prince of Tides / The Way We Were)
Starring: Barbra Streisand
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0006SGYM4
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

the best of the best.......2007-05-13

I loved this movie package...I am a big fan of Barbra Streisand and love getting this 3 movie package. "Prince of Tides" is my favorite movie of all time....I also loved the price.....I have been collecting all of her music and movies.....

Definitive Trilogy of Streisand's Three Romantic Wallows.......2006-10-17

This collection of three epochal films from Barbra Streisand's film career all share the swooning romanticism that has become her cinematic trademark as both actress and filmmaker. All succeed in satisfying her fans even if there are undeniable lapses that may try the patience of other viewers.

The earliest is 1973's "The Way We Were", which has becomes an emotional touchstone for a generation who saw it as the ultimate opposites-attract romance. Director Sydney Pollack does an exceptional job in delineating the somewhat preposterous love story, and he guides Streisand to one of her most subtle and touching performances. Veteran screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote a strong, multi-dimensional character for her in Katie Morosky. It's quite a journey from young Communist college radical in the late thirties to glamorous Hollywood wife in the early fifties, but Streisand seems fully committed in conveying her character's idealism and blind idolatry. Matching her every step of the way is Robert Redford, who was then at the peak of his matinee idol popularity as well. He smartly underplays the lionized Hubbell Gardiner, fleshing out a character that could have remained a cipher but instead seems to understand his own limitations. It's interesting how all the other characters fade completely in the background as a result of the mega-wattage generated by the star coupling.

In essence, the movie consists of three distinct parts: the college years when they first make impressions on each other, the WWII years when they meet again and start an unlikely romance, and the Hollywood years when they are married and get mired in the studio system. The first two parts are excellent and filled with memorable moments. When the story moves to Hollywood, the movie gets a bit more problematic. The star-crossed couple is challenged by the revelation to Hubbell's studio that Katie was a former Communist, which in turn makes Hubbell, now a rising screenwriter, a target for blacklisting. What should have been the most interesting part of the film becomes muddled as to what exactly is happening to cause their inevitable break-up. Ironically though, the film's most powerful scene is in this section, the train station confrontation between Katie and Hubbell over people and their principles.

But bottom line, there is no narrative connection between the Hollywood blacklist and their separation, which just seems odd given the build-up of the story to that point. I am not certain whether reinstating several crucial scenes (cut at the last minute by Pollack) would have helped after seeing some of them in the extensive and insightful documentary included as part of the DVD package, "The Way We Were: A Look Back". I have to agree with Pollack (and disagree with Streisand) that the deleted scenes don't really fit in with the pacing and emotionalism during this part of the movie even though they do provide added context. Of course the coda outside the Plaza Hotel is still classic, mainly due to the brevity of dialogue, the swooning Marvin Hamlisch music and the tear-jerking stares and gestures.

The second film is 1991's "The Prince of Tides". In only her second directorial effort (after "Yentl"), Streisand proves to be a masterful storyteller with an almost exaggerated romantic sensibility and an unfettered preoccupation with psychoanalysis. She obviously found the perfect vehicle in Pat Conroy's epic novel about Tom Wingo, a Southerner whose failing marriage and career reflect a deep suppression of an abusive childhood, the memories of which are triggered by his twin sister's suicide attempt. That the story revolves around a man's personal crisis versus a woman's may strike some as odd given Streisand's particularly female perspective, but she actually makes Tom's complex personal journey resonate with greater sensitivity as a result. In fact, the emotionalism Streisand invests in her musical performances is very much in evidence here, and her lush, almost Baroque style fits the contours of this soap opera very well.

The movie is helped immeasurably by a galvanizing performance from Nick Nolte, who captures all the layers of pride, regret, anger, sadness and humiliation in his character. He propels the storyline with the unbridled passion of an actor sinking his teeth into a juicy part as only a female director could define it. In fact, Streisand steps back to play the subordinate role of Dr. Susan Lowenstein, the pricey New York psychiatrist treating Tom's sister, Savannah. It is probably her most subtle work onscreen even with the touches of excess that often detract from her performances. She also hands out plum parts to both the wonderful Kate Nelligan, who gets to age convincingly as Tom's upwardly driven mother with a dark secret, and Blythe Danner, dependably effective as Tom's conflicted wife. Both especially excel in their revelatory conversations with Tom, the dialogue insightful without delving too much into psychobabble. Credit should be given to Conroy and Betsy Johnston, who wrote the superb screenplay.

The movie is not without flaws. First, after a powerfully cathartic scene that feels like the movie's climax, the story shifts to an inevitable affair between Tom and Lowenstein and a flagrant detour into Lowenstein's own catharsis, which brings up valid questions about her character's professionalism in even having an intimate relationship with a patient. This part of the story is Streisand at her most self-indulgent as both director and actor, as we follow these two smitten people on gauzy romantic walks and sweaty lovemaking by candlelight. Regardless, it's an impressive accomplishment to translate Conroy's lengthy, often florid narrative into a cohesive movie that retains the major themes of its source material, and Streisand has done a splendid job in pulling it all together.

The last movie is the weakest of the trio, 1996's "The Mirror Has Two Faces", still her last starring vehicle. While she shows a sure hand in maneuvering the inevitable shenanigans of a romantic comedy, the multi-hyphenated legend lets her intractable need to convey serious-minded, self-esteem-oriented messages weigh this 1996 movie down considerably. At an epic length of 130 minutes, the story, adapted by Richard LaGravenese from a forgotten 1958 French film, is quite slight as it focuses on Rose Morgan, a wildly popular Columbia literature professor but also a fortyish, baseball-obsessed frump long in the shadow of her beautiful sister Claire and glamorous mother Hannah. Her lot in life seems crystallized at Claire's wedding when she weds Rose's longtime crush Alex. Meantime, Columbia mathematics professor Gregory Larkin tires of bedding beautiful women who rile him toward irrational acts and wants to find a homely woman with whom he can have a platonic, intellectually-focused friendship and eventually a chaste marriage. Greg places a personals ad to which Claire responds unbeknownst to Rose. The budding relationship between Rose and Greg turns on the inevitable moment when Rose seeks intimacy from a disinterested Greg. This leads to a physical transformation and a message-driven finale.

As Rose, Streisand is quite good and sympathetic most of the way, even if she never looks terribly frumpy and overdoes her character's magnetic speaking skills in the lecture hall. Like the yearning Barbra of long ago, she achieves a palpable sadness when she feels humiliated on her wedding night. However, once Rose transforms herself, Streisand's ego takes over as her blonde highlights and aerobicized body bring back the execrable, soft-focus treatment from the lovemaking scenes in "The Prince of Tides". Looking more like his uni-browed brother and father as he grows older, Jeff Bridges plays Greg as a befuddling stereotype who grows more unrealistic as the story evolves. At the time of release, Lauren Bacall received all sorts of kudos as Hannah, though it is a relatively superficial performance in a showy role except for a wonderfully brave, make-up-free scene where Hannah admits to Rose how she valued her beauty while it lasted. Mimi Rogers provides sharp bite as Claire, while Pierce Brosnan lends the necessary smarminess to the shallow Alex and George Segal (Streisand's one-time co-star in "The Owl and the Pussycat") is relegated to a dispensable best-pal role.

This is a worthy collection for any Streisand fan.

The Barbra Streisand Collection.......2006-02-25

The dvd's were great-highly recommend this if you are a Barbra Streisand fan.

A DOUBLE KNOCKOUT OF A TRIPLE DVD SET!!!.......2005-10-31

I OWN THE BOX SET OF THESE MOVIES BECAUSE I AM A HUGE FAN OF MS. STREISAND'S.

EVEN THOUGH I'M GIVING THE SET 5-STARS, I REALLY DIDN'T ENJOY "THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES". I FELT THAT STREISAND MISCAST BRIDGES IN THE ROLE OPPOSITE HER. I ALSO FELT THAT THE PLOT DIDN'T HOLD UP.

"THE PRINCE OF TIDES" IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIES. IT PACKS AN EMOTIONAL WALLOP. THE ACTING WAS TOP-NOTCH AND I WAS RIVETED TO MY SEAT. STREISAND'S DIRECTION WAS RIGHT ON TARGET; AND REALLY GRASPED THE AUTHOR'S CONVEYANCE OF THE SUBJECT. I WAS VERY MOVED BY THE PERFORMANCES AND THE MOVIE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

"THE WAY WE WERE" IS A REAL CLASSIC TEAR-JERKER. I'VE SEEN THIS FILM AT LEASE 20 TIMES AND I GET EMOTIONAL EVERYTIME THE 'PLAZA SCENE' PLAYS. THE COUPLING OF STREISAND AND REDFORD IS A "MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN" EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED IN SO MANY OF THEIR BELIEFS. THE BACKDROP OF THE POLITICALLY-CHARGED MCCARTHY ERA KEEPS IT INTERESTING. BUT TO WATCH THEIR INTERACTION IS VERY SEDUCTIVE--EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. PLEASE CHECK THIS ONE OUT TOO.

Good value for money .......2005-09-08

Three different Streisand movies about love in one package: sounds like great value and it is, to some extent. If what you're looking for is the movies, then this is great value. This package lacks the extras that we associate with dvds - and this is the major flaw in this collection.

The Way We Were - long and at times plodding but characteristic of the romance movies of the 70s; the killer is the final 15 minutes of the film - makes the whole journey almost worthwhile.

The Prince of Tides - scrumptuous cinematography; the most 'arty' of Streisand's directorial efforts. Nick Nolte should've won an oscar for his layered and sensitive playing of Tom Wingo.

The Mirror Has Two Faces - competent romantic comedy. The gem in the film is Lauren Bacall.

Perhaps the package would've made more sense if it included all three of Streisand's directorial efforts so we can witness her range and growth as a director?

Average customer rating:

The Mirror Has Two Faces [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VXXX

Average customer rating:

Bah humbug
I can relate
Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Amazing family story.

The Mirror Has Two Faces
Starring: Lauren Bacall , Jeff Bridges , Lucy Avery Brooks , Pierce Brosnan , and Taina Elg
Director: Barbra Streisand
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 0800141857
Release Date: 1998-01-20

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Bah humbug.......2007-08-03

I can relate.......2007-07-04

Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan.......2007-04-02

The Mirror Has Two Faces.......2007-03-12

This is a favorite movie of mine. All the stars are great in it and the story is very endearing and humorous with a redeeming message.

Amazing family story........2007-01-10

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

As the digital revolution ushers in a new era of technology, the nation races to realize its possibilities. Author Daniel Burstein has written a new book on the topic, Road Warriors, which examines the social and economic implications of America's new technological frontier. Then, actress Lauren Bacall is on the show. She talks about her new movie with Barbara Streisand, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and her latest memoir, Now. Now follows Bacall's last memoir, By Myself, which won The National Book Award for Autobiography in 1980. Next, for the first time in Richard Avedon's career as a celebrated fashion photographer cum controversial portrait artist, he has given exclusive and intimate access to his life and work. Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light is the new documentary film by the Emmy and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Helen Whitney. Whitney and Avedon are both on to discuss the film. Finally, Pete Hamill talks to Charlie about his latest collection of essays, Piecework: Writings on men and women, fools and heroes, lost cities, vanished friends, small pleasures, large calamities and how the weather was. It brings together Hamill's work from the last 25 years.

Average customer rating:

Bah humbug
I can relate
Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Amazing family story.

The Mirror Has Two Faces [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004CYNT

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Bah humbug.......2007-08-03

I can relate.......2007-07-04

Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan.......2007-04-02

The Mirror Has Two Faces.......2007-03-12

This is a favorite movie of mine. All the stars are great in it and the story is very endearing and humorous with a redeeming message.

Amazing family story........2007-01-10

Charlie Rose with Samuel Huntington; John Cleese; Lauren Bacall (January 30, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Samuel Huntington; John Cleese; Lauren Bacall (January 30, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie talks to Samuel Huntington of Harvard University about an article published in The Journal of Foreign Affairs, The Clash of Civilizations that looks at world powers after the cold war. Next, Charlie speaks with John Cleese about his new film, Fierce Creatures that co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis. Finally, Lauren Bacall talks about her life in Hollywood and her current collaboration with Barbara Streisand called, The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Charlie Rose with John Chambers; Lauren Bacall (March 6, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with John Chambers; Lauren Bacall (March 6, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie speaks to CEO of Cisco Systems, John Chambers. Chambers discusses the start of the internet and the future of computer networking. He suggests the internet will grow to be the largest productivity tool in history. Plus, actress Lauren Bacall talks about winning a Golden Globe awards for her film, The Mirror Has Two Faces. She also talks about her marriage to Humphrey Bogart.

Average customer rating:

Bah humbug
I can relate
Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Amazing family story.

The Mirror Has Two Faces [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004RYIF

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Bah humbug.......2007-08-03

I can relate.......2007-07-04

Fun even if you're not a Streistand fan.......2007-04-02

The Mirror Has Two Faces.......2007-03-12

This is a favorite movie of mine. All the stars are great in it and the story is very endearing and humorous with a redeeming message.

Amazing family story........2007-01-10

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