Review of Bogie (1980) by Robert D — 10 Dec 2013

Uninsightful biopic of Humphrey Bogart. The film essentially recounts the high points of film career from performing "The Petrified Forest" on Broadway up to his death, and some of his romantic life.

Where this film fails, as do many other biopics, is that it focuses on events more than the person. Also, when doing a biopic of a highly familiar person, there is always the decision to do an impersonation of the person or to embody the essence of the person (not focusing on making the person look, sounds and acts exactly like the person).

This film chose an impersonation, which Kevin O'Connor does a fine job of (even his laugh!), but that distracts the audience from looking at Bogie as a person. None of the other famous folks who pass through the film look or sound particularly like their originators, but the decision to go with an impersonation seems in keeping with the film's choice to just recount events rather than provide insight.

It's definitely TV movie quality of filmmaking, but it's worth watching for O'Connor's impersonation and for very young, pre-ET Drew Barrymore as his and Lauren Bacall's daughter. I also liked Richard Dysart as Jack Warner, but no one reading this probably knows who he is by name.