Stella (1990)

From DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS to BEACHES, superstar Bette Midler has wowed audiences worldwide with her music, humor, and charisma! Midler now delivers a most engaging performance in her latest hit, STELLA! Tough and fiercely independent, Stella discovers that she is pregnant after a brief relationship with Dr. Stephen Dallas, but is too proud to accept a marriage of convenience from him or her well-meaning best friend, John Goodman (O BROTHER, WHERE ARE THOU?). Ready to face life without regrets, Stella single-handedly raises her loving daughter Jenny (Trini Alvarado). Through the years, the two share a very special relationship, until Stella faces the truth -- that she cannot provide her daughter with a life of advantages her wealthy father can give her. STELLA is a warm, humorous, and thoroughly entertaining film that speaks to the heart of all audiences!

good view

Bette Midler shines in "Stella". This is one of her great performances. It is very heartwarming and anyone can relate to it.The entire cast is excellent! Kudos! February 28, 2008

Very good but...

Writing this review was something I wanted to do after I got done seeing "Stella" with Bette Midler (DVD rental). I didn't expect much because even though I like Bette she has never moved me as others have like Barbra Streisand but I was surprised how much I liked the movie. I think the acting was wonderful and everyone was good in his or her roles. Finding someone to play Bette Midler's daughter probably was not easy but the casting department hit a home run with Trini Alvarado.

This movie could have been better if it were treated more importantly. While watching the movie I kept thinking that with the right cinematography (more close ups of Bette, especially when she is trying to make her daughter believe that she doesn't want her anymore...she is at the sink in the kitchen and she has to turn around and let her have it...you could tell Stella was thinking "okay, here it goes, this better be good) and to dim the lights in the bar...too much light...didn't look realistic). A strong director and better editor could have polished this movie up to a high gloss shine.

Some of the story did not ring true and could have been more consistent...like Stella going down to Florida and dressing and acting outrageously, while during the rest of the film her appearance was not so extreme.

Sorry the DVD did not have extras...it also was not treated very importantly.

All in all very entertaining...thank you, Miss Bette, you are divine!
October 17, 2007

ANOTHER STELLAR PERFORMANCE FROM THE DIVINE MISS M!

This movie was Bette's best performance since "The Rose". Definitely worth seeing and having for your DVD library. The pain she went through when she decided she wanted to give her daughter up to a better life was just amazingly unselfish. I would have given it a 10 if there were 10 stars! I only wish the Divine Miss M would make more movies like this! February 16, 2007

One of my most favorite movies

This is a great movie and it really shows the lengths that a mother will go to give her daughter a better life. January 11, 2007

Mommy Dearest

I love this movie. Bette Midler and Trini Alvarado deserve oscars in my oppinion. "Stella" is about the relationship of a mother and daughter (in reality it could be any dysfuncional family) and how fate deals it's cards to the "unfortunate". It doesn't help that Stella is jaded and a B@#$%. This movie captures a mother's maturnal instinct who wants the best for her only child. Stella deals with the cards that are dealt to her in the game of life. She is impoverished but well read and because of the "BS", OVER IT. Bette Midler captures this type of character with a realness you rarely see on film. I see similarities to my own mother so I guess that's why I can indentify with her. Although I can practically memorize the dialogue it remains one of my favourite films. August 4, 2006

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