Death Becomes Her (1992)

If Robert Zemeckis's mega-hit Forrest Gump was too sweet for your taste, you may enjoy the undiluted bitterness of his previous movie, a cynical black comedy that was ahead of its time. Death Becomes Her, an outlandish parable about America's obsession with youth and vanity, exposes the corrosive side of Zemeckis's comic sensibility, the sort of scathing satirical edge he gleefully flourished in his overlooked 1980 Used Cars, which has developed a cult following. Meryl Streep has a ball as the deliciously vicious Madeline Ashton, a flamboyantly mannered actress who makes Bette Davis's formidable Margo Channing in All About Eve look like a wallflower. Goldie Hawn is also in razor-sharp comedic form as Madeline's long-time "best friend," Helen. Sensing a bargain she just can't resist, Madeline steals Helen's meek, plastic-surgeon husband Ernest (Bruce Willis) for her own convenience, and the two women become sworn enemies. But the real complications arise when the two are introduced to a secret anti-aging formula by a mysterious and exotic woman (Isabella Rossellini, delightfully ridiculous) that not only smoothes away wrinkles but actually guarantees immortality. As their undying bodies are twisted and mutilated by violent attacks on each other, both women grow increasingly dependent on Ernest for cosmetic repair. The pioneering digital effects inflicted on Streep and Hawn are as grotesque as they are imaginative and hilarious. Like James Cameron (The Abyss, Titanic), Zemeckis loves a technical challenge, and the new visual tools developed for this movie made his later work (in Forrest Gump and Contact) possible. The digital video disc includes a short feature on the movie's production. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com essential video

liked it, loved it, want some more of it

I always wanted to get this movie but never could find it in stores.
That's one of the many things I love about amazon, I usually can always find exactly what I'm looking for.
Anyways the movie of course. ^^
Its a great comedy, very dark, very elegant, and very disturbing at some points. If your similar to me a normal person and like to collect certain movies like edward scissor hands, beetlejuice, the goonies and such then this one is for your collection! I enjoyed it when I was a kid and enjoy just as much now! Its still got it. Goes to show you how vengefully crazy some people can get, and how very fragile we actually are. October 3, 2008

mindless humor

What a perdictable but funny movie in an age where women go to great lenghts for perfection. Enjoyed it with my sisters who are undergoing plastic surgery. June 27, 2008

Great content/Poor Technically

Great, funny movie with great stars. However, this is only a 4x3 movie (strange since the old laserdisc was letterboxed), with no 5.1 dolby, only dolby surround. June 15, 2008

A black comedy sure to brighten your day...

My best friend's wife told me about this movie a couple months ago, but it wasn't until the other night that I had a chance to sit down and watch it. I don't know why it took so long for me to actually do since I absolutely adore all three of the films stars. Bruce Willis was for the longest time my favorite actor (I grew up on his macho action films); and seriously, is there any actress as talented as Meryl Streep? Goldie Hawn is a newbie to my list of great actresses, mostly because I never truly have her the time of day until recent years. My wife is a huge fan and so I was forced to accept her and after some time I realized that I had come to really enjoy her and what she brought to each and every role.

`Death Becomes Her' is, as many have noted, a black comedy. It is dark and mysterious and utterly hilarious. At times it is disturbing, at times it is sexy; at all times it is uproarious. The film revolves around two rivals, the successful actress Madeline Ashton and her homely school friend Helen Sharp. Before Helen ties the not with fiancée Earnest Menville she brings him to one of Ashton's shows where he meets and falls for Madeline. After Earnest leaves her for Ashton, Helen slips into depression only to discover a secret that gives her the extra boost she needs in order to exact her revenge against Madeline. The only problem is that Madeline has discovered the same secret; a potion that guarantees them immortality, at a price.

Bruce Willis may be better known for his action performances, but when you analyze them you realize that comedy is not beyond him. His quick witted hero in `Die Hard' is known for those chuckle-worthy one-liners that helped cement him as an iconic character. Here Bruce shines as Earnest, fully fleshing out his characters simple nature which adds to his endearing qualities. A stark contrast to his co-stars, Willis plays down his looks and develops a character that is goofy and reserved and ultimately adorable. Goldie Hawn is fantastic as the witching Helen Sharp. Her beauty is on full display as she seethes and loathes her way into our hearts; seriously.

This film BELONGS to Meryl Streep, though. Her performance is insanely perfect; so much so that I actually felt bad for Goldie Hawn to have been upstaged so drastically. Each and every one-liner just melted off her tongue as if it were liquid gold. In talking to my wife afterwards I told her how you never really think of Meryl as a comedic actress because her dramatic turns have always garnered her more attention. It really wasn't until her double-whammy in 2006 (with `The Devil Wears Prada' and `A Prarie Home Companion') that I took notice of her comedic timing. This is a brilliant example of her range as an actress. Honestly, I don't think there is any performance she can't pull off. Like I've always said, Meryl is always solid; even when she isn't `amazing' she is still better than half of everything else out there.

`Death Becomes Her' may not be ingenious. It's plot is not intricate or necessarily `smart' or `mature' but the script is tightly written in order to keep the laughs bellowing from you mouth throughout the films entire running time; and those Oscar winning special effects (I don't think I'll ever get the image of Meryl's head sinking into her neck out of my head; and quite frankly I don't want to) only help to elevate the films comedic as well as dramatic worth. Zemeckis knows how to get the best from his actors; even when his films are less than brilliant. Here he marvelously draws pure comic gold from his cast, which includes a mystifying turn from Isabella Rossellini as Lisle con Rhoman, the witch responsible for this boatload of laughs. June 13, 2008

great and easy transaction!

Great and easy transaction--fast shipping and product arrived in great condition. I would definitely recommend this seller! May 31, 2008

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