STARDOM

Imagine that could see highlights of your life as others see them through the lens of a video camera with a soundman to capture your every word. The results could be embarrassing or exhilarating depending upon your needs at the moment. These needs could be dictated by your station in life. Another person might have the luxury of editing their life and controlling what others see and hear. If you are a public personality, like super model Tina Menzahl (Jessica Pare) in "Stardom," every instance of your recorded image and speech would be spoon fed to the media to satisfy the appetite of a fickle public. They could hold you up on a pedestal to be admired, or look down upon you for some indiscretion. If you’re lucky, they may even pity you for not living up to their expectations. If you happen to be an impartial observer, you can see the media images for what they are - figures of shadow and light manipulated to sell an intangible product called Celebrity. Like any product, Tina’s celebrity satisfies some tastes and disappoints others, like the lovers and future husbands who line up to become part of her private life. Like Rita Hayworth said, her husbands were thrilled to go to bed with Rita Hayworth, the Hollywood star, but got a rude awakening when they found Rita Cansino (Hayworth’s real name) with them in the morning. Tina likewise couldn’t possibly live up to the glitzy packaged image created by her super agent Renny Ohayan (Thomas Gibson). The failed lives of the men in her life become part of the media tableau in Tina’s downward cycle of fame when she must step aside and make room for someone else primed to take her place in the spotlight.

"Stardom" is alternately funny and pretentious. If the story doesn’t grab you, maybe the style will. It held me in its sway - for awhile. The movie’s conceit lays in its conception - a model’s life is seen as an assembly of pre-existing video footage that traces her meteoric rise to stardom, and courses through her high profile successes and scandals amidst the whirlwind of world events. Wars in far off lands are put on hold by the evening news for the latest sound byte on Tina Menzhal. Director Denys Arcand along with co-writer J. Jacob Potashnik are often right on target with the public’s endless fascination with the rich and famous, but have sacrificed character development for technique. Many of the vignettes could stand on their own as comedy sketches but the in the end, "Stardom" is unsatisfying despite the best efforts of supporting players like Dan Akroyd and Frank Langella.

Copyright 2000

"A Star is Born" (1937) - Director William Wellman co-wrote the story with a scathing screenplay by Dorothy Parker for this classic about the meteoric rise of an actress and the decline of her alcoholic husband. With Mitzi Gaynor and Frederic March.

"A Star is Born" (1954) - Dir. George Cukor. Screenplay by playwright Moss Hart. Another classic version that molded the updated plot of the 1937 original to the talents of Judy Garland. James Mason is equally amazing as the husband, Norman Main. This was restored in the mid eighties to its original theatrical premiere version. Great drama and great music make this a must. (The Barbara Streisand remake of 1976 is for Streisand fans only. The music’s good but the drama pales in comparison.)

"Darling" (1965) - Dir: John Schlesinger. Julie Christie shot to international stardom in her Oscar winning role as a woman who rises from rags to royalty in this cynical look at the rich and famous. With Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Harvey. This is one of the Greats.

"The Star" (1952) - Bette Davis plays an over the hill actress given a second chance in a supporting role playing a woman her own age. She has to choose between the chance for a comeback or the man who loves her, played by Sterling Hayden. Bette makes this one.

"The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952) - Dir. Vincent Minelli. Story about a ruthless Hollywood producer who longs for a comeback whose fall from grace is told in flashback by the people who loathed him, but admired him. With Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Lana Turner, Dick Powell and Oscar winner Gloria Graham among others.

"Decline of the American Empire" (1986 - French Canadian with subtitles) - Talky but insight comedy of sexual manners and attitudes among a group of intellectuals The men cook the meals, the women play at the gym and genders collide at the evening meal.