Mister D: This subject matter seems to rear it’s head twice a year, but I’m printing it anyway. As far as I’m concerned the jury should just close for Madonna. I enjoy most of her CD’s, but as far as screen acting, she has about as much charisma as a turnip. It’s just my opinion, but her record in movies kind of prove it. Even “Evita,” in which she was nominated for an Academy Award. I don’t know what she did to pull that one off. She didn’t have the voice nor the acting skills to earn that. But we know now the Oscars have become very political.
Singers acting up
By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
(Original Publication: August 17, 2007)
Elvis Presley broke barriers as a performer. Here are some other performers who have followed in the King’s blue suede footsteps singing, dancing and acting.
Barbra Streisand: “Babs” won an Oscar for her film debut, 1968’s “Funny Girl,” and continued her savory performances in “The Way We Were,” “Yentl” and “The Prince of Tides.”
Will Smith: Sitting through “Independence Day” and “Bad Boys” (1 and 2) might have been a chore, but “Ali” earned Smith a well-deserved Oscar nomination. He’s drifting farther from memories wrapped around his Fresh Prince character.
Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M was superior in “The Rose,” “Beaches” and “For the Boys,” but she was a riot in comedies “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” “Ruthless People,” “Outrageous Fortune” and “Scenes From a Mall.”
Cher: Oscar enjoyed “Moonstruck” more. But don’t forget “Mask” and “The Witches of Eastwick.” Maybe Cher should retire from singing and just stick to acting.
Madonna: “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Shanghai Surprise” and “Who’s That Girl?” were smartly entertaining. We’ll forgive “Dick Tracy” and “Body of Evidence,” but in “A League of Their Own,” Madonna held her own.
Jennifer Lopez: Her film “The Wedding Planner” and her album “J. Lo” were No. 1 the same week in January 2001. She’s had some film and album flops, but she’s still J. Lo, and that’s bankable in Hollywood.
Beyonce: Her film credits include “Dreamgirls,” “The Pink Panther,” “The Fighting Temptations” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” She’s the most-hyped R&B songstress, and for good reason.
Ludacris: He had a pivotal role in the Oscar-winning “Crash,” and now his acting seems to be on a better course than his rap career.
One thought on “Bette Midler: Actors Turned Singers – Yet Another Article On This Subject”
Hey Mr D!
Manny here from Sydney Australia. Long time no speak, hope your doing well.
Personally, I think Bette is one of the most underrated Actresses in the world today. No matter what movie she is in success or flop, she really carries the film.
Like her music, she manages to tap into a pool of emotion that she has tucked away deep inside of herself and manages to bring it to the surface to really make a person believe that the character on the screen is not Bette Midler, but the character she is portraying. She craps all over her male co stars and gives her female co stars a major run for their money. Sure, like any other Actor male or female, she can walk onto the set and do the part as Bette Midler and just wing it like so many others do, but she is way to professional to do that, just like she will never walk on a stage before a performance and think to herself, “I’ll just sing the songs and leave because I’m Bette Midler and I can do that.”
I have seen and read so many interviews in the past with directors who have all said that Bette is a gem to work with, and they have been known to say things along the terms of, “She takes direction very well and is keen to learn.” or “No matter how perfect the take was she would insist on doing another because she felt she could have done better.”
It’s a shame the “Academy” haven’t taken notice of this when Bette was nominated for Oscars as “Best Actress” in the past, it’s sad to see their lack of acknowledgment of a real “Institute of Talent” just go by and not noticing it for what it’s worth when it’s staring them right in the face.
Apart from Barbra Streisand, there has never been another performer(in my books)who has such a huge library and knowledge of music and styles dating all the way back to the early 1920’s and celebrating these styles of music almost 100 years after they were written or first performed and making them a part of today’s current music styles.
I’m glad that Bette Midler made her way into our lives when she did and I am glad that I am old enough to have understood where she was coming from, me being a child of the 70’s, growing up with her music, being a teenager and adult of the 80’s until present, growing up with Bette Midler a LEGEND of the silver screen.
I still think that the best Bette is yet to come and when it does, it’s going to knock those who aren’t ready so hard on their asses that they may never recover from what hit them, and finally the “Academy” will realize that her acknowledgment was way overdue.
Hey Mr D!
Manny here from Sydney Australia. Long time no speak, hope your doing well.
Personally, I think Bette is one of the most underrated Actresses in the world today. No matter what movie she is in success or flop, she really carries the film.
Like her music, she manages to tap into a pool of emotion that she has tucked away deep inside of herself and manages to bring it to the surface to really make a person believe that the character on the screen is not Bette Midler, but the character she is portraying. She craps all over her male co stars and gives her female co stars a major run for their money. Sure, like any other Actor male or female, she can walk onto the set and do the part as Bette Midler and just wing it like so many others do, but she is way to professional to do that, just like she will never walk on a stage before a performance and think to herself, “I’ll just sing the songs and leave because I’m Bette Midler and I can do that.”
I have seen and read so many interviews in the past with directors who have all said that Bette is a gem to work with, and they have been known to say things along the terms of, “She takes direction very well and is keen to learn.” or “No matter how perfect the take was she would insist on doing another because she felt she could have done better.”
It’s a shame the “Academy” haven’t taken notice of this when Bette was nominated for Oscars as “Best Actress” in the past, it’s sad to see their lack of acknowledgment of a real “Institute of Talent” just go by and not noticing it for what it’s worth when it’s staring them right in the face.
Apart from Barbra Streisand, there has never been another performer(in my books)who has such a huge library and knowledge of music and styles dating all the way back to the early 1920’s and celebrating these styles of music almost 100 years after they were written or first performed and making them a part of today’s current music styles.
I’m glad that Bette Midler made her way into our lives when she did and I am glad that I am old enough to have understood where she was coming from, me being a child of the 70’s, growing up with her music, being a teenager and adult of the 80’s until present, growing up with Bette Midler a LEGEND of the silver screen.
I still think that the best Bette is yet to come and when it does, it’s going to knock those who aren’t ready so hard on their asses that they may never recover from what hit them, and finally the “Academy” will realize that her acknowledgment was way overdue.
O.K, I’ve jumped off my soap box now!
Manny