Judy Berlin (1999): Dir: Eric Mendelsohn / Cast: Aaron Harnick, Edie Falco, Bob Dishy, Barbara Barrie, Madeline Kahn: Beautiful black and white photography wasted on a film so dense. Final film for Madeline Kahn who believes her husband is having an affair. Bob Dishy plays a high school principal showing interest in a teacher played by Barbara Barrie. Edie Falco plays Judy Berlin who wishes to be in movies. Aaron Harnick plays Kahn's son is detached who hardly notices anything going on around him. Director Eric Mendelsohn shows little promise and the screenwriter shows even less. This all takes place during an eclipse although the screenplay could have easily done without it. Of the cast only Dishy and Barrie pull off performances with elevated levels of interest. Harnick and Falco play characters that never seem to clue in and are a distraction within their idiotic mannerisms. Rarely are two individuals as difficult to watch as these two are here. They are not sympathetic and viewers may likely care less for their visions on life. How sad it is that Kahn's final film appearance is within a film as stupid as this one. She is best remembered for her great comic moments in Mel Brooks as well as What's Up Doc? This is an unfortunate send off. Supposedly about family dysfunction but it is so unfocused and boring that the only thing that comes across as dysfunctional is the screenplay. Score: 2 / 10
Review of Judy Berlin
