Bootleg Betty
Video: Bette Midler – Deep Purple T-Shirt – Stepford Wives – 2004
Mister D
June 23, 2024
The Stepford Wives is a 2004 American science fiction black comedy directed by Frank Oz. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, and Faith Hill. The movie is a reimagining of the 1975 suspense classic. Here’s the plot:
Joanna Eberhart, a successful TV executive, suffers a nervous breakdown after shocking events. She and her husband, Walter, moved from Manhattan to Stepford, Connecticut’s chic, upper-class planned community. There, they discover that the Stepford men are replacing their wives with compliant robots12. The film received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box office failure, grossing $103 million worldwide on a $90–100 million budget.
The 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives differs from the original 1975 film in several ways:
Setting and Period:
-The original film is set in the 1970s, while the remake is set in contemporary times (early 2000s).
-The location changes from Connecticut to a fictionalized version of Stepford, Connecticut.
Tone and Genre:
-The original is a suspenseful thriller with horror elements, whereas the remake leans more toward black comedy and satire.
-The remake injects humor and exaggeration into the story.
Characterization:
-Joanna Eberhart (played by Katharine Ross) is a photographer and artist in the original. In the remake, she’s a successful TV executive (played by Nicole Kidman).
-The male characters in the remake are more overtly robotic and stereotypical.
Technology and Robots:
-The original film’s robots are more subtle and lifelike, while the remake’s robots have exaggerated features and behaviors.
-The remake emphasizes using advanced technology to create the Stepford wives.
Social Commentary:
-The original film critiques gender roles and conformity. The remake adds commentary on consumerism, feminism, and the quest for perfection.
-Overall, the remake takes a lighter, more satirical approach, but both versions explore themes of identity, gender, and societal expectations.
In The Stepford Wives (2004), Bette Midler portrays Roberta “Bobbie” Markowitz. Bobbie is an acerbic Jewish writer who’s also a recovering alcoholic. She becomes good friends with Joanna Eberhart (played by Nicole Kidman) after moving to the upscale planned community of Stepford, Connecticut. Together, they uncover the eerie secret behind the blissful housewives in town: they’re all strangely doomed and robotic. Bobbie’s wit and curiosity play a crucial role in unraveling the mystery of Stepford’s perfect facade.
