Review of The Rose (1979) by Danny B — 18 Feb 2006

[b]The Rose[/b], directed by Mark Rydell, is a story of an ill-fated rock star facing the pressures of fame, the road, booze and drugs, and the ultimate lonliness of it all. The film is said to be loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, and certainly comparisons can be made, but this definitely isn't the Janis Joplin story. Bette Midler stars as Rose, who is burning out on the road and wants to take a year off from touring, much to the chagrin of her manager Rudge (Alan Bates) who sees Rose more as a product than a person. The two frequently are at odds, and Rose becomes more unpredictable and unstable as the film progresses. The center of her self-destruction is not her addictions, but her emptiness. Enter Dyer (Frederic Forrest) a chaffeur Rose meets during a drunken stupor. For a moment Rose finds the one man who will love her as she is. However is love enough to save Rose from self-destruction?

On the surface one can view [b]The Rose [/b]as another faceless entry into the "rock star" genre, as there isn't anything groundbreaking about the script. However the mesmerizing performance from Bette Midler elevates this film above more pedistrian fare. She is simply riveting as the emotionally volatile Rose. She's no Janis Joplin, but the music is pretty good and Midler is convincing as a rock star. Although her supporting cast (Frederic Forrest, Alan Bates, Harry Dean Stanton and David Keith) is strong, it's Midler's vehicle all the way, and she succeeds with a thoroughly memorable performance.