Review of Marvin's Room (1996) by Miedy B — 23 Aug 2007

The reason why Marvin?s Room is great because the script are genius. I always believe that to create such a smart story doesn?t really need some complicated ideas. It could work with story simple based on everyday life. That?s the power of Marvin?s Room.

I?ve been watching this one for more than three times. Every time I just got more and more impressed. The movie is just fun to watch, entertaining and full of surprise.

The surprise factor however isn?t coming in in the interesting ?twist and turn? type like we often see in thrillers or horror movies, but only from simple dialogue. You?d never guess what the actors would say in this movie. But once they do, suddenly you got a memorable movie quote. In this movie mostly comes from it?s supported actors/actress. In this case are Gwen Verdon and Dan Hedaya.

I?d say again that the most responsible of the succeed (maybe not financially, but on how it affect the audience) of the movie itself is the script. But what?s the point of having a great script without a great actors to deliver it. This movie is lucky to have it all.

Meryl Streep is amazing as Leigh, a mother who tries to be independent but at the same time try to build the relationship between her and her oldest son, Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Diane Keaton played as Bessie, the sister of Streep?s character who just learned that she got Cancer and need bone marrow. She decides to call Leigh who she hasn?t been talked to in 20 years. Keaton earned an Oscar nomination for this one. Though, I must say that Streep and DiCaprio also deserves to get nomination as well.

Leigh packed her bag and brought her two sons to Florida to meet Bessie and their dying father who she also hasn?t seen in many years. There were awkward moment when the two meet.

However, the story isn?t about Bessie and her disease. It?s about everyone who lived in Marvin?s house. Oh, that?s the name of the dying father, by the way. That?s why I think it was called Marvin?s Room.

Robert DeNiro only has small part in this one as a doctor who treated Bessie. It?s probably small but important and interesting. You should see how he handle stuff with the help of hist brother Bob, who played so amazingly funny and brilliant by Dan Hedaya. It?s probably one of my favorite scene in the movie.

Well, I actually have A LOT of favorite scenes. I think that?s a good sign of a good movie, right? I like all the scenes with Gwen Verdon, I like the scene on Disneyworld between Streep and Keaton. I like the inside Marvin?s living room with Streep, Keaton, Di Caprio and Hal Scardino (played as Charlie, Frank?s younger brother) on their infamous ?potato chip? scene (you?ll know what I am talking about when you see this movie).

My husband said he?s tired watching movie about dysfunctional family anymore. I do too, to be honest. But Marvin?s Room is different. Maybe because it has more energy, less depressing, and actually funnier than some comedies and it?s not even one!