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Up Close & Personal (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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14 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
Everyday we have, is one more than we deserve, 10 April 2003
Author: Old Joe from Hamilton, Australia

The struggles in reporting the news are shown in such an interesting way in the 1996 movie, 'Up close and personal'. It also shows that a little bit of luck can help a person go a long way in an industry like that of TV journalism. This movie's story, which has a strong and very emotional romance within it, also has some surprising twists that I am sure people will not expect once they have watched it.

Sally Atwater is fresh from a small-town trailer park when she arrives in Miami, overdressed and overeager to be the weather girl. He debut is disastrous but her boss, experienced newsman, Warren Justice, admires her spunk and takes her under his wing, making her an on air reporter. As Justice moulds Sally into one of the county's most sought after journalists, the pair fall in love, only to have their relationship threatened by the very success they have created.

Here is one of the great romance movies I have seen in a longtime. I love the way that the main stars first meet and how their relationship develops. By the time that Tally is a great journalist, what is more important than her career, is the man that she loves that being Warren Justice. The screenplay for this movie was beautifully written by John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. I love how the two main stars are able to fall in love, but at the same time, able to do what they do as a career. Sure it might take a little while for the movie to show that this is important, but I feel that the time needed to be taken, so that both Tally and Warren fall deeply in love.

The director of 'Up close and personal' was Jon Avnet, who has been a part of some great movies such as that of 'Risky Business', 'When a man loves a woman', and the 'Mighty ducks' trilogy. In this movie, I love the way that Avnet shows Tally Atwater at the start, to be someone who is a struggler, ignored and made fun of. Then to make her character be so vital and important in the whole make-up of the film, was great. This I believe is the good work of Avnet and makes the movie all the more compelling. I also like the world that Avnet has created for the film, that of the pressurised, TV journalism environment.

The stars of the movie are two of Hollywood's better known actors in Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. The pair have a good chemistry in this movie, with the way that they fall in love very believable. I also like how Redford's character, Warren, refers to Tally at the start of the film, saying that 'she eats the camera'. This scene shows that Warren not only likes Tally as a journo, but as a woman as well. I also like the way that Pfeiffer appears in this film. She looks very much like a reporter does on the news and it is in her appearance that this needed to be so definite.

The supporting cast of 'Up close and personal' is a pretty good one. I like Marcia McGrath (Stockard Channing), who is the tough as nails anchor girl, who is pushed out of her position by the rising career of Tally Atwater. She treats Tally pretty bad in the film, if the truth be known. I also like Joanna Kennelly (Kate Nelligan), who we find out is one of Warren's former wives. She is one of the reasons why Warren has had a turbulent journalism career. Do not discount the little role taken on by Tally's cameraman Ned Jackson (Glenn Plumber). He is an incredibly brave cameraman, who admires Tally for the work that she does. Trust me I would not have liked doing the camera work that he was doing in the prison.

'Up close and personal' might not have the greatest of sound tracks, but it does have one song that I really like. That song is 'Because you loved me' sung by Celine Dion. It is a song which was used well in the film and its lyrics suit this movie beautifully. How great a song this was, made me want to watch the film all the more. By the way, there is one scene in the movie that shows Pfeiffer's character singing 'The impossible dream' at an empty football stadium in front of Warren. All I will say about this is that Pfeiffer should stick to the acting game, because she does not sing that well.

This movie, is such 'a good drama love story', because it shows how tough the 'TV journalism' area can be, and does not shrug away from showing how difficult and dangerous such a career can be (the prison scene is wonderfully shot and one of the great parts of the film). I also like how this movie concludes, and I am not afraid to admit that it has gotten me upset both times I have watched it. You will notice, that I say that Sally Atwater's name is actually 'Tally'. I will not reveal how this change happens, just to say that I like it. I believe it was placed in the story for a bit of fun. But I am not so sure I would like my name changed for my chosen career. Would you?

CMRS gives 'Up close and personal': 4 (Very Good Film)

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16 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
The Politics Of 'Up Close And Personal', 9 September 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

While this is definitely a "women's movie," a man can enjoy this, too. I did, but not enough to see it twice or to purchase it. Supposedly, it's the story of former television news reporters Jessica Savitch and Ron Kershaw.

Robert Redford is good at playing the veteran newsman teaching Michelle Peiffer (Savitch) the business. He does more than that, of course, being her lover and then her husband. With Redford, you know you are going to get a dose of Liberal politics in the mix and in here, it's let's-feel-sorry-for-the-prison inmates. The preaching is "they are in jail to be rehabilitated." Well, that sounds nice but whatever happened to jail as a form of punishment for someone committing a crime against someone else? Liberals - like Redford, who is never shy about giving us his views in movies like this - sometimes seem to have more compassion for thugs than they do victims of crime! He goes so far in here as to preach that if you don't treat prisoners with kid gloves you deserve to have a riot on your hands.

Outside of all that heavy-handedness, you get a nice romance with solid acting all around, not only from the two leads but the supporting case with people like Stockarrd Channnng, Joe Mantegna, Kate Nelligan, Glen Plummer and James Rebhorn.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
No, no no,...this is NOT a good film!, 16 July 2006

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I think the overall score for this film is way too high and may be related to the fact that people like the stars. But their performance in this dreary retread was just sloppy and dull. Nothing about the film in any way made me prefer it to the original A STAR IS BORN with Janet Gaynor or the remake with Judy Garland. Both of these older films are marvelous classics, whereas this film looks like both the stars just did it for money. Additionally, while in this case it's becoming a top news anchor instead of a movie star, the films are essentially the same and any hack writer could have created the script--as there is nothing NEW or IMPORTANT to say in the film. Anyone who saw the original films KNOWS that Redford will ultimately buy the farm and Pfeiffer will be the next Barbara Walters.

Ultimately, I could have summed up the film with "WHO CARES?!", but IMDb doesn't allow such succinct reviews.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Good Cast, Mediocre Story, 28 May 2002

Author: gws-2 from United States

"Up Close and Personal" proves again that charismatic stars and good production values can overcome a weak story. This story of two television journalists (Redford and Pfeiffer) has few surprises, no fresh insights about the news business, and its big moments are both predictable and overblown. Nevertheless, Redford and Pfeiffer provide enough star power to make for a reasonably entertaining couple of hours. There is one particularly funny line, though. When the Pfeiffer character says of a co-worker, "He's so stupid!" her boyfriend, the Redford character, with a quizzical expression on his face, says, "He's an anchorman." 6 out of 10, marginally recommended.

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8 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
In the dictionary under "guilty pleasure", 29 October 1999
Author: Sean Gallagher (naes@cgocable.net) from Oakville, Ont. Canada

You know how there are some movies which you know you're not supposed to like but end up liking anyway? That perfectly describes this movie. This umpteenth re-telling of A STAR IS BORN is sappy, unbelievable(while previous "Norman Maine" characters are down because of alcohol, Redford's character is down because of his "integrity." Yeah, okay), and contains an unbearable Celine Dion(of course, in my opinion, unbearable and Celine Dion is redundant, but that's my opinion). But darn it if the romantic chemistry between Redford and Pfeiffer doesn't make this worth watching. And say what you want about director Jon Avnet(and I'm not a fan of his), he knows how to direct actors. Joe Mantegna, Stockard Channing, and Kate Nelligan are all excellent here. You may not like yourself for liking it, but there you go.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Love Story "via" Satellite, 22 May 2001

Author: gazineo-1 from Brasilia, Brazil

Vivid love story between a new and talented reporter (Michelle) and her sometimes anger, sometimes sweet chief (Redford). This movie could be a misfire but the good cast and the witty dialogues make this a special example of how to make if not a brilliant but a reasonable romance movie.

I give this a 06 (six).

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5 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
On the best romance drama I've ever seen, 17 June 2004

Author: tanpole (tanpole@hotmail.com) from Moscow, Russia

It's one the most sensible movie I have ever seen and I've seen a lot. Great...no.... excellent performance of Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer creates a special romantic atmosphere. It's absoletely one of the most outstanding movie duet in the whole history of cinematografe. And some scenes make you heart stop for a moment, like in the news room during the editing or when she came to say him that she is going to Filadelphia.

I recommend it to everyone who crazy about romantic movies. And be ready to feel all spectrum of feelings with positive emotions.

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5 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Material not worthy of its cast, 23 September 2002

Author: Boyo-2

Robert Redford, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kate Nelligan, Stockard Channing, James Rebhorn, Joe Mantegna and Miguel Sandoval all should have sent their agents a skunk or a dozen rotten eggs with the RETURNED script for this yawner. The fact that they all agreed to do it indicates they were paid a lot, because it can't have been for any other reason.

To be fair, Nelligan and Redford have a pretty good scene together. They were married awhile ago and their chemistry and familiarity with one another seems genuine. When she says "I was seven years and three dozen asses ago...", you get a nice sense of their history.

There is also a pretty good scene in a jail - Pfeiffer is doing a story and a riot breaks out. Since this has nothing to do with the rest of the movie, it works well. But when a teary Michelle emerges without a smudge on her white blouse, the movie quickly returns to its sorry state.

To start at the beginning..Pfeiffer gets a job at a Miami television station. She is over-dressed, awkward and clumsy. He is dismissive, sexist and condescending. Naturally they are supposed to be together, its cinema law.

She moves up the television chain of command, for reasons that are never spelled out. Eventually she is a reporter, and with his infinite help and wisdom, a good one. So good, in fact, that she is soon off to Philadelphia (and the movie doesn't even get off a good joke at that city's expense!) but since she is without her MAN, she is faltering. He comes to Her Rescue. This is so stupid, so incredibly insulting to every woman that ever had a career and an ambition, that its amazing Redford and Pfeiffer allowed themselves to be a party to such drivel. No one loves Michelle Pfeiffer more than I do but its getting sickening having to tolerate her awful career choices. When she is sitting with Channing in one scene, Stockard might as well say, "WHY did you agree to do 'Grease 2'? Even I turned it down and I was Rizzo in the first one"!

And they all have these RIDICULOUS NAMES! Tally Atwater? Warren Justice? The best of all -- BUCKY TERRANOVA? Who thought these up, Vince McMahon? Jackie Collins?

Pfeiffer wins one prize for this - most makeovers in a two hour movie. Every time you turn around, she's dyed another color. No, wait..Shirley MacLaine in "What a Way To Go!" would win that. Sorry, TALLY. Ugh. 3/10.

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5 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
The life of TV journalists, 5 January 2002

Author: esteban hernandez from Italy

The film tries to give an idea of the difficulties of TV journalists to succeed and the problems they may face during the job. The director of the film seems to be interested of what may happen in Cuba, and the film touches partially the ethic of contra group in Miami. It also shows how mass media are always behind sensation of the news, sometimes sacrificing the life of the reporters, and this is what happened to Robert Redford, one of the heros of the film. This is not an easy film to be seen, but the argument is acceptable.

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Jessica Savitch, 24 May 2007
Author: haana86 from secret

Usually I like to research a movie for fun before watching it. I don't like to waste time watching a movie for 2 or 3 hours. What I learned is that this movie is based on "Jessica Savitch" who in the 1970s became the first female American anchor on television.

The movie was based on the book " Golden Girl: The Story of Jessica Savitch" written by Alanna Nash.

The movie is said not to be as accurate in detail and also over dramatize and exaggerate events. Also emphasizing on aspects that are debatable. So the movie might be leaning more towards fiction, then of true events. But that's debatable.

I didn't give the movie a rating because after 20 minutes i couldn't bare to watch anymore. The movie had nothing to draw me in at all. Nothing to captivate me into sitting there and watching it for free.

I suppose if you are the type that like to judge a movie after watching it then the best thing for you to do is watch the whole thing.

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