Death Becomes Her
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis, Written By: Martin Donovan & Martin Koepp, Starring: Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Run Time : 104 Minutes, Release: 1992
When a novelist loses her man to a movie star and former friend, she winds up in a psychiatric hospital. Years later, she returns home to confront the now-married couple, looking radiant. Her ex-husband's new wife wants to know her secret, and discovers that she has been taking a mysterious drug which grants eternal life to the person who drinks it. The actress follows suit, but discovers that immortality has a price.
Have you ever thought about what really goes on in Hollywood? Have you ever looked at your favorite actresses and actors who have been around for 10 to 20 something years and thought, “why do they STILL look good, like they haven’t aged”? Well look no further than Death Becomes Her where writers David Koepp (writer for Jurassic Park, Stir of Echoes, and Mission Impossible), and Martin Donovan (writer for Apartment Zero, Somebody is Waiting, and Legs of Infamy) along with director Robert Zemeckis (writer for Back to the Future and Forrest Gump) craft a visual story full of dark humor telling of what people will go through to live forever and keep their youth intact.
The story follows the feud of Madeline (played by Meryl Streep) and Hellen (played by Goldie Hawn), two frenemies that suffer from three challenges that run their life. These are envy, jealousy and aging, where Helen and Madeline allow their lives to be turned upside down as they seek out a mysterious woman (played by Isabella Rossellini) who offers them a potion giving them eternal life. From there the hilarity continues as they navigate what new challenges they have to face with being immortal.
This film came out in 1992, I was 8 years old when I watched it as a child and I LOVED it. The dark humor, along with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as they go at it with each other, coupled with Bruce Willis (as the man caught between their feud) in one of his rare dark comedic roles shows why they are Hollywood acting legends. I wanted to watch this movie again with the current rumors flying around that a remake could be in the works with Lady Gaga and Meryl Streep to return. Now, even though this is just a rumor I had to check out this movie to try and get a vision of what a remake of this movie could look like.
Well, after rewatching this movie, I have to say that it’s still good. This movie showed that everyone involved knew what this movie was. The tone never changed, while keeping true to its lesson and in true 90s’ fashion they say the predominant lesson this movie shows along with not saying other lessons that have the same level of substance. The acting was great, and the story was simple and doesn’t take too long to get to the point, as well as doesn’t overstay its welcome. The special effects of this film is great as well. I recommend this movie if you want a dark comedy that’s light on the dark and just right on the comedy to lift your moods on a Saturday morning or night. I watched this movie on both occasions and it will be a memory I will never forget due to the enjoyment that this movie provides.