Nadine (1987)
Dir: Robert Benton
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Rip Torn
Here is a fun little romantic comedy. Concerning movies like Nadine, it’s important to manage your expectations: and this is not to say that Nadine isn’t an entertaining film. All I’m saying is, has been making very different kinds of movies over the past ten years than Nadine. I feel they’re either “event” pictures, or they’re really small and goofy and only exist to fill the slate and balance the budget. Films like Nadine are becoming a rarity: medium sized in budget but still with star power.
In the opening scene, writer-director Robert Benton establishes Austin Texas in 1954. You have Kim Basinger’s title character trying very hard to get her “artistic” photos back from the town photographer (played by none other than Jerry Stiller). It seems the photographer promised Nadine that he had a personal relationship with Hugh Hefner and that this could be a great break for her. Well, Nadine’s changed her mind, and while she waits in his back room for him to find the photos, she hears a ruckus. Seconds later, Nadine sees the photographer collapse through the room with a knife through his heart.
Now, when our hero takes the file labeled “NADINE” back to the beauty salon where she works, she expects to see some scantily clad photos of herself. Instead, Nadine finds confidential photos of a State highway plan. Just when she needs a moment to think, there’s a knock on the salon door – and this is a superb example of “primary frame”. Nadine goes to the front door and instead of opening it, pulls the roll-up shade, revealing her husband Vernon, played by Jeff Bridges. If you take a minute to pause the film, you’ll see Bridges’ kind of leaning with his elbow against the door frame, his head cocked, grinning and wincing at the same time… And he’s not afraid to yell through the glass window at his “soon to be ex-wife”. Think of how much we know about this character just from this first look at him!
What ensues, of course, is a nice little adventure with Nadine and Vernon growing closer together as they run from Rip Torn (the Highway construction/developer) and his thugs close at their heels. The chemistry between Bridges and the gorgeous Basinger is genuine. The setting of Austin Texas is fun – particularly if you’ve been there – and supports the unique & zany dialogue unique to the setting. While others online gave this film a rough review, I think it’s simply charming: as long as you’re not expecting too much!
Issues/Observations/Comments – Not Necessarily Positive ***
If you’re going to establish that we’re in Austin Texas in 1954, please don’t allow the Costume Designer (note capitalization!) to dress Basinger in a high school prep-coat with the number “71” very clearly visible on the arm sleeve.
Relevant Links:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093596/
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19870807/REVIEWS/708070301/1023
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nadine/
*** All of the issues/observations/comments/complaints in this section come with the understanding that I am aware I surely sound like a jerk in calling them out! No, I’ve never made a feature film. Yes, I understand how difficult it is to do so. No, I don’t think these things ruin the film. I’m just calling them out, that’s all…