Bette Basher Bites Back At BetteHeads…LOL

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Sketch: Sammy Miro

Mister D: Looks like some of us wrote and received responses from ‘Miss Jones’, the script reviewer. From the sound of it, some of you guys and gals weren’t holding back on your feelings:-) Anyway, the aforementioned Miss Jones wrote a blanket e-mail defending her statements concerning Bette in the role of Bobbie in the remake of “The Stepford Wives”.

The e-mail had some bite to it…a little dry humour…which I love and the lady made some good points. She did try to point out that she was talking about Bette “the actress” as opposed to Bette, “the person”.

I fortunately did see the original and Paula Prentiss was wonderful in the role. The film that Oz is making though will be very different from early buzz. It is not going to be sinister as the original, but will play more to the dark, comedic edge of the book. I’m sure it will have to be updated in many ways to take into account the social/ecomomic factors of our time to make anything remotely believeable….hence we know already a gay character is introduced who will be transformed into a straight man…

I think most people are finding it hard to imagine Bette and Nicole being best friends like they were in the original…I guess because of the age gap…however I think that’s overreacting…I know alot of people in that type of situaution. I myself have a hard time envisioning it, but I also have the foresight to see that it can work….

Unfortunately for Miss Jones… I have a feeling that this version will be somehwhat over the top…Bette’s character is already described as a “cranky, sarcastic, non-exercising alcoholic”….which is over the top on the spot, and not like Paula Prentiss’s character as much. Then you have Glenn Close and Cristopher Walken as the “evil-doers”. Tell me these great actors have never played over the top, and now they are playing the masterminds behind the evil in the town. And then take a good look at Nicole’s stabs at comedy, especially the brilliant “To Die For” and parts of the manic musical, “Moulin Rouge”….

All in all, this may not be the pic Miss Jones will like period. It’s just going to be different than the original…period. And from the description, Bette’s character will be played with that over the top quality. What will be interesting is to see how she plays the robotic Bobbie…Bette’s performances have never been known for their subtlety…the closest she came was probably in “Scenes from a Mall”. That doesn’t make her a bad actress…some people just dont like that kind of acting. Her personality is so Big and her face so theatrical…it’s hard to play subtle….do I think she could ever do it? Hell Yes!!! But it will take the right role, script, and director. But I’m guessing this role and movie will not be based on subtlety…and that, in and of itself, is not bad…

It’s so hard to judge how something will turn out just by reading the script. I’ve read a few in my lifetime and you just never know if the film is gonna turn out the way it was planned. That’s why one finds themselves saying “why did they take that part in the first place?” or “What happened?” Oy!!!!! This film may be horrible in the end, or great, or somewhere in that mediocre zone. We’ll never know until it comes out. In the meantime, I’m just glad Bette’s back in action!

For what it’s worth…I thought it was fabulous that Miss Jones wrote back to defend herself and her beliefs. There will always be someone out there that doesn’t like Bette or whomever for their own reasons. You know we all do it. So I really was not offended by all this. It’s just a disagreement. Some people think that if you have a different point of view, you’re the enemy…and believe me I know from experience. They know nothing of debate or how to counterargue without calling the other person names. Anway, I admire Miss Jones for writing back and defending herself…(I would have left out some pithy comments, but I presume that is part of her humour or personality…hell, I can be pithy:-)) I have the site bookmarked now, because it may prove to be quite an interesting place to visit for upcoming scripts…let’s just ask Miss Jones to give Bette the benefit of the doubt sometimes…at least she knows she has some readers, now…good going!!!

Wow…I am talky talky today…here’s the letter from Miss Jones for those who may not have gotten one:

Hello,

Miss Jones, aka Dawn, here. Thanks for reading the review and feeling provoked enough to respond. I appreciate your questions and comments. Do continue to visit the site.

Seems like there is a Bette Midler cult out there, worshipping this woman and willing to give up their firstborn. Hmm.

First and foremost, I don’t particularly care for Bette Midler on film. She had her hayday, and that was great, but she isn’t anywhere near the top or middle of my list for excellent film actresses. Sure, she was nominated for two Academy Awards, but considering that numerous actors and actresses of better skill and natural ability haven’t won any or even been nominated for any, an Academy Award association means very little in my book. It’s an industry honor, and that’s about it.

My comments against Bette Midler have nothing to do with Midler the person. I haven’t met her, and don’t particularly care to..that is, unless she can help out with my own career interests, haha. My comments are directed towards Bette Midler, the actress, playing Bobbie. First, I question her and Nicole’s believability in the relationship they’ll have to have for this film. Right now, I’m not buying it. Considering I review screenplays and not movies, I obviously haven’t seen the final version, and my ‘critique’ is directed towards my first impression. Sorry, people, that’s what I do.

Second, if you have seen the original Stepford Wives, perhaps you could understand why I don’t think Bobbie’s character needs to be recreated or redefined. I will say that Bette Midler will have the energy and livlihood needed to play Bobbie. Whether she will be as cool, laid back, beautiful, and loveably rebellious as Paula Prentiss in the original, I have my serious doubts. I don’t want an overdramatic, theatrical, let me try to be funny, Bobbie, which I see Bette Midler becoming. Bette is a good actress who, I feel, is much better on the stage, just as one of my all time favorite actresses, Lauren Bacall. There’s an amazing film presence, and there’s amazing theatrical presence. They’re different, and while one can most certainly do both, one isn’t exactly amazing at doing both.

Thank you for your disagreement. I love debate, and I’m sorry I couldn’t see eye to eye with you on Bette. I certainly hope that I’ll see the movie and be proved wrong, and if I am, I’ll email you back and let you know how sorry I am for badmouthing all that is sacred about Bette Midler.

Feel free to email me back,
Dawn

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