The Birdcage
BBB.5
(out of 5)
Hysterical adaptation of the popular French comedy classic La Cage Aux Folles isn’t as well written as the original, but is still provides plenty of good laughs. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are a couple who are delighted when son Dan Futterman appears at their South Beach home for a visit, announcing that he is getting married. The trouble is his fiancee (Calista Flockhart, right before Ally McBeal brought her fame) is the daugher of a conservative Senator (Gene Hackman), and by the time he and his wife (Dianne Wiest) get to the paternal parents’ home for a visit, Williams and Lane will have had to “straighten” the place up a bit. Getting everyone into the act, the two zany comedians change their furniture, buy a new wardrobe, put away their makeup and pretend that the sexy dance club below their apartment belongs to someone else. Everyone in the cast, down to the smallest part, brilliantly brings Elaine May’s dialogue to the screen with zest, but the writing finds itself without an ending and concludes abruptly. However, the sight of Hackman in the final scene is worth the money, and if you like a good laugh you’ll be sure to enjoy this colourful film.
USA, 1996
Directed by Mike Nichols
Screenplay by Elaine May, based on the screenplay by Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret, from the play La Cage Aux Folles by Jean Poiret
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki
Produced by Mike Nichols
Music by Stephen Sondheim
Production Design by Bo Welch
Costume Design by Ann Roth
Film Editing by Arthur Schmidt
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This entry was posted on July 5, 2013 by Bil Antoniou in 111toformat, 1996, BBB.5, Mike Nichols and tagged Academy Award 1996, Al Rodrigo, Amy Powell, André Fuentes, Ann Cusack, Ann Roth, Anthony Giaimo, Arthur Schmidt, Barry Nolan, Bo Welch, Brian Reddy, Calista Flockhart, Christine Baranski, Dan Futterman, Dante Henderson, David Sage, Dianne Wiest, Dorothy Constantine, Edouard Molinaro, Elaine May, Emmanuel Lubezki, Francesca Cruz, Francis Veber, Gene Hackman, Golden Globe 1996, Grant Heslov, Hank Azaria, Herschel Sparber, J. Roy Helland, James H. Morrison, James Hill, James Lally, Jean Poiret, Jim Jansen, John Pontrelli, Kevin Alexander Stea, Kirby Mitchell, Lee Delano, LGBT Cinema, Luca Tommassini, Luis Camacho, Marcello Danon, Marjorie Lovett, Mary Major, Michael Kinsley, Mike Nichols, Mike Starr, Nathan Lane, Robert K. Baruch, Robin Williams, Ron Pitts, Scott Kaske, Stanley DeSantis, Stephen Sondheim, Steven Porfido, Sylvia Short, Tim Kelleher, Tom McGowan, Tony Gonzalez, Tony Snow, Trina McGee, United Artists.Shortlink
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