Review of Funny Girl (1968) by Victoria T — 28 Feb 2007

There has never been another Hollywood debut quite like Barbra Streisand's in [i]Funny Girl,[/i] and there probably never will be. Everyone knew she could sing beautifully, but this film proved that she was an actress, and excellent one at that! Streisand showed the world once and for all that she is a true star capable of enormous talent.

She is hilarious in the film's uproarious opening and is absolutely heart-breaking in the dramatic end, just watch her sensational performance of "My Man" in the film's finale. She picked up well-deserved Oscar for her work here.

The rest of the cast is also very good, Omar Sharif is especially sauve in the role of Nicky Arntein. The production values are high, the music is great, William Wyler's direction is lively, and story, though predictable, is touching.

But above all else, it is Streisand's versatile and extremely likeable performance that holds the whole film together. Watch to laugh, watch to cry, and watch to be entertained.