Death Becomes Her (1992)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers (WGA):

Martin Donovan (written by) &
David Koepp (written by)

Release Date:

31 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

Some people will go to any lengths to stay young forever. But Madeline Ashton and her old friend Helen Sharp are about to go TOO far.

Plot:

When a woman learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.

Plot Keywords:

Rival | Eternal Life | Revenge | Drunk | Immortality

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Madeline Ashton
Bruce Willis	...	Dr. Ernest Menville
Goldie Hawn	...	Helen Sharp
Isabella Rossellini	...	Lisle von Rhoman
Ian Ogilvy	...	Chagall
Adam Storke	...	Dakota
Nancy Fish	...	Rose, Madeleine's Maid
Alaina Reed Hall	...	Psychologist
Michelle Johnson	...	Anna, Chagall's Aide
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Vivian Adams
William Frankfather	...	Mr. Franklin
John Ingle	...	Eulogist
Clement von Franckenstein	...	Opening Man
Petrea Burchard	...	Opening Woman
Jim Jansen	...	Man #2

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some nudity and off-color humor.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Italy:T | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the scene where Helen sits down onto a shovel handle, she didn't sit in the way she was expected to do, so the SFX people had to morph the image to make it look like the shovel handle was pushing up into her chest.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene before Helen is shot, Bruce Willis' grayish makeup can be seen to end at his jawline, allowing a big patch of rosy skin to show through.

Quotes:

[Helen has a gaping hole in her abdomen after being shot into a pool]
Helen: Look at me, Ernest! Just look at me! I'm soaking wet!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Charmed: Styx Feet Under (#7.5)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Me

From The Sublime To The Ridiculous

There is so much greatness in this unexpected Hollywood comedy that the cheap shots are really cheap and, quite frankly, unbearable. Buried somewhere between the special effects (extraordinary by the way) is one the wittiest satires to come out of Hollywood in many, many moons. Meryl Streep is sensational and Bruce Willis is, I swear, unrecognizable in the best possible way. The movie hits the highest moments when, for instance, Meryl asks Isabella Rossellini how much the magic potion costs and Isabella replays: "Oh the sordid topic of coin" sublime, exquisite, funny but with enormous regard for its audience. But when Bruce calls Goldie Hawn to explain the "incident" at home he goes through a TV style monologue that seems to belong to a sit-com and not to the elegant vulgarity of this three sad, magnificent wannabees. The dialog, for the most part, is the best in any American serious comedy since Billy Wilder. The structure of the script is flawless and inventive. The costumes are atrocious and certain scenes seem directed by a 3rd assistant. I don't know how to explain it. However, I have it, I own it and sometimes I put it on with my finger in the fast forward. What's good is so good that makes the whole thing really worth it.