Film Archive

Death Becomes Her (1992) “You Gotta Have Friends” Blogathon

Moody Moppet

Thanks to Debbie of Moon in Gemini for hosting this exquisite blogathon!

Here’s a topic well used in films, TV shows and what not. Friendship. I immediately thought of Death Becomes Her, friendship at its fabulous worst – a 1992 fantastic black comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini. I super love this movie and never sick of talking and writing about it. This is not my first review of it, and perhaps not my last, who knows?

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And so, here’s how it goes. Madeline (Meryl Streep) and Helen (Goldie Hawn) are long time frenemies. Except for their hair color, they practically compete over every single thing. Their resentment for each other is sugarcoated with fake smiles and hugs, as they’re supposedly very happy to see each other again after so many years. Madeline has flourished into an overdue actress very much disliked by her audience. She looks marvelous and very much admired by Helen’s fiancé, plastic surgeon Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis).The plot shifts. Deserted and obese Helen winds up in a psychiatric hospital. Her thoughts are dedicated to one thing, and one thing only – Madeline Ashton!

7 years later.

Much older and displeased Madeline and alcoholic hubbie Ernest, now despising each other, are invited to Helen’s party to celebrate the launch of her new novel “Forever Young”. Eaten with curiosity and contempt, Madeline suddenly sees a slim and beautiful Helen that looks like a movie star. Radiant with star quality and looking mighty sexy, Helen approaches Earnest to lure him against his bitter and unappreciative wife – “she’s killing you” and plot together to get rid of her. Depressed by Helen’s new appearance Madeline goes to see a woman named Lisle (Isabella Rossellini), a mysterious socialite that claims to be 71, though looks a few decades younger. When Madeline offered to drink a pink and odd looking secret potion that promises eternal youth, that’s when things go fabulously downhill. It seems Madeline wasn’t the only one to sin with obsession to youth.

“Drink it!”

Here collide two of the most powerful women on cinema and it’s damn hard to pick a side.

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Mad(eline) and Hel(en), a pearl Blondie and a fiery redhead, malicious, sneaky, plotting against each other, with poor Earnest stuck in the middle, used for his plastic surgery skills to conduct unusual bodily reconstructions. The two women cannot die, you see? And this is the outcome of an envious competition and a tiny potion.

Madline and Helen befriend again after a healthy meltdown. They decide their envy with each other has led to nothing but years spent hating each other. “You stole my boyfriends” – “You thought I was cheap”.

37 years later with nothing but each other,Mad and Hel are attending Earnests funeral – peeling, rotting and looking for a lost spray paint. And that’s a true friendship right there, folks.

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22 thoughts on “Death Becomes Her (1992) “You Gotta Have Friends” Blogathon”

  1. Pingback: Overboard (1987), The Addicted to Screwball Blogathon – Moody Moppet

    1. Thank you, Virginie :-)) It is quite weird, I guess, but it’s the kind of weird I 👍. Isabella is gorgeous and gets into her Lisle character perfectly. I do love her. I love her outfit with the jewels. Seems very uncomfortable but beautifuly designed ☺

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  8. I love this film. It’s great to watch Meryl embracing her inner ice queen, but Goldie matches her blow for blow. Bruce Willis is surprisingly great. And Isabella Rossellini is perfect as the immortal Lisle, sexy and a total riot. You know a cast is great when they can all keep up with Meryl. Totally awesome.

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    1. Couldn’t this be the older equivalent to your Ryan – Pfeiffer? Streep and Hawn are amazing rivals / friends / divas playing side by side. If you’d ask me, I think I’m more of a Hawn fan than a Streep one, but they’re both exquisite. It’s really great how Bruce Willis isn’t overshadowed by these two queens like you’d think he’d be. Earnest is just a fantastic character!

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    2. You’re a mind reader!
      I was going to say as much in my comment, but I didn’t want to sound like a stuck record. Meryl and Goldie are invincible, but I’ve always thought Pfeiffer and Ryan would have had a blast in those roles.

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  9. Pingback: Announcing the “You Gotta Have Friends” Blogathon! – MOON IN GEMINI
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    1. Thank you! I thought it was the perfect choice for this blogathon. I think it’s awesome you father loved this. Goes to shows he had an exquisite taste! Looking forward to reading your entry! Have a fabulous weekend! 🙂

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