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Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I never saw the original, version, so I loved it.
Review:


John Goodman and Melanie Griffith played their parts suberbly.

This is about a millionaire scrap metal tycoon who turns real estate mogul (John Goodman) whose clueless girlfriend (Melanie Griffith) finds herself without a clue in the Washington-Merrie-Go-Round. So her boyfriend (Goodman) hires Paul Verrall (Don Hohnson) to help her with the special skills, small talk, etc.

A problem: boyfriend Goodman, like almost everyone else, as the story demonstrates, are not nearly as smart as they lead everyone else to believe, like the reporter for NPR who pretends to have read de Toqueville, but has not, as Griffith discovers. It is all an act, designed to impress others.

The script is so true to life, full of flakes and phonies, that it is almost laughable.

A great movie, and one you will probably remember for a long time. It shows how we all get bullied by the people with real power over us. Very entertaining, too.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and mainenance
and other books



Rating: 4 stars
Summary: For Baby Boomers Looking for a Good Movie
Review: As I become one of the "older generation", I become more disappointed at the Theater with what is being shown. I love comedy and this is a "girl" or "guy" flick that hits the spot for me. It's smart, romantic, humerous, with "gotcha" moments I took so much pleasure in that I sought it out to buy (something I am very selective about). I'm finding re-makes of "old" Hollywood films so charming (i.e., "Sabrina"). I thought the 1993 version to be so good and enjoyed the casts' performance so that I got curious to see the first version; I ordered both!
These flicks did not offend me; they're not vulgar, violent, full of distasteful language, but ARE very entertaining.

Debye McWaters, Augusta, Georgia

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: For Baby Boomers Looking for a Good Movie
Review: As I become one of the "older generation", I become more disappointed at the Theater with what is being shown. I love comedy and this is a "girl" or "guy" flick that hits the spot for me. It's smart, romantic, humerous, with "gotcha" moments I took so much pleasure in that I sought it out to buy (something I am very selective about). I'm finding re-makes of "old" Hollywood films so charming (i.e., "Sabrina"). I thought the 1993 version to be so good and enjoyed the casts' performance so that I got curious to see the first version; I ordered both!
These flicks did not offend me; they're not vulgar, violent, full of distasteful language, but ARE very entertaining.

Debye McWaters, Augusta, Georgia

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Movie The Should Have Never Been Remade
Review: Don Johnston in the William Holden role? Melanie Griffith (a very bad actress) in the Judy Holiday role? (Yes, nothing is sacred) who are they triying to kid. This was a somorphoric, naive and tedious movie. It has the old cliche of having one of the characters read one single solitary book (Democracy in America no less) and become instantly enlightened and wise. Quite a clunky movie, borders on unwatchable, do yourself a favor and get the original.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: VERY WATCHABLE DESPITE THE AIRHEAD BLONDE CLICHE..
Review: It's difficult for me to tell which group this light film satirizes more: bimbo blondes (our protagonist blonde miraculously amasses sparkling intellect through avid reading of a dictionary and the Constitution) or boorish politicians.

Because the new film can't really tell audiences anything about the idiocy of politics that they don't already know, I'd say Born Yesterday is principally about the blonde's enlightenment and her humiliation of her pompous politician husband.

Overall it is a fairly inoffensive that lesirely goes about its comic business. I've seen it a couple of times and finished it on both occasions. And it's in colour (to counter-argue the whole Original vs New debate that other reviewers seem to be fascinated with).

Recommended rental for sure.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: Melanie Griffith seems to have a real knack for picking good material. The funny thing is that I usually don't think her films are going to be that good. 'Milk Money' and 'Bonfire of the Vanities' were both pleasant surprises for me.

She is perfect as the beautiful yet kept woman of a powerful businessman (John Goodman). Mostly however she is kept in the dark. Intellectually that is. When John Goodman has to go to Washington on business he decides to hire a tutor (Don Johnson) for Billie (Melanie Griffith) so that she will at least be able to make conversation on the Washington party circuit.

But along the way Billie's eyes and mind are opened to a myriad of new ideas which have both good and bad consequences.

And even despite the film's predictability it is highly entertaining.

Definitely worth viewing but not necessarily worthy of a purchase. See for yourself.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: Melanie Griffith seems to have a real knack for picking good material. The funny thing is that I usually don't think her films are going to be that good. 'Milk Money' and 'Bonfire of the Vanities' were both pleasant surprises for me.

She is perfect as the beautiful yet kept woman of a powerful businessman (John Goodman). Mostly however she is kept in the dark. Intellectually that is. When John Goodman has to go to Washington on business he decides to hire a tutor (Don Johnson) for Billie (Melanie Griffith) so that she will at least be able to make conversation on the Washington party circuit.

But along the way Billie's eyes and mind are opened to a myriad of new ideas which have both good and bad consequences.

And even despite the film's predictability it is highly entertaining.

Definitely worth viewing but not necessarily worthy of a purchase. See for yourself.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fun but just doesn't come up to par with the original...
Review: Melanie Griffith stars in this 1993 film as Billie Dawn, an ex-showgirl bimbo to millionaire businessman Harry Brock (John Goodman). Unbeknownst to the 'slightly' stupid and clueless Billie, Harry has a plan to lobby agendas that are friendly to his construction plans. He goes off to Washington DC to start his campaign taking Billie along with him. After a while, Billie is found to be an incredible embarrassment to all social situations, forcing Harry to make a quick decision. Instead of sending her away, he gets reporter Paul Verrall (Don Johnson) to help Billie 'get some more smarts'. While Billie begins to fall for the handsome reporter, she also discovers herself becoming intelligent and starts questioning her boyfriend.

When I watched the 1950 version of the movie "Born Yesterday", I instantly fell in love with it. With the incredible acting done by Judy Holliday and William Holden, "Born Yesterday" is just a classic! So when I saw the 1993 version at the rental store, I just had to see how it would be. Unfortunately, the movie just suffered by comparison to the original though standing by itself it's not that bad.

The story itself pretty much stays along the guidelines of the original plot. It was a bit disappointing though that a sense of the patriotism Americdans have towards their country isn't given to the viewer at all. When Judy Holliday was going all over Washington DC visiting all the sites, for example the White House, you couldn't help but be drawn through the visits yourself. The movie has it's very funny moments, but some of the time the lines just didn't seem to be delivered well.

The best acting in the movie was done by Don Johnson and John Goodman. Don Johnson is DEFINITELY no William Holden, but he does hold his character together. Plus I couldn't really compare William Holden with Johnson since their characters were different. In my opinion, if they really wanted to cast someone as William Holden, I would have chosen Kevin Costner or Robert Redford, who I'm sure could have done it fairly well. John Goodman was just incredible, I could see a lot of "The Babe" from him in which he starred as Babe Ruth. Unfortunately, Melanie Griffith was pretty awful, sorry to say. While Judy Holliday had gotten an Oscar award for best actress, Melanie Griffith received the Razzie award for worst actress. I don't know about being the worst actress, but I do agree she just couldn't seem to handle her character of Billie.

The movie is rated PG for some innuendos and language so parents should be sure to watch with younger kids. I can't say I really recommend this movie but I do urge people to see it if they were interested. But I must I can recommend people to see the 1950 version "Born Yesterday". Certainly a fantastic movie, it's a family favorite of mine and I HIGHLY recommend it!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Almost 50 years after the original, it still works!!
Review: One of the biggest problems with remakes is often that they are extremely dated. Born Yesterday, the 1993 remake of the wonderful 50's comedy, starring the irrepressible Judy Holliday, and a gruff, teddy-bearish Brodrick Crawford--holds up beautifully. The basic story remains the same,(remember: "Do me a favor, Harry...drop dead!!!") but the details, the dress and the language are totally 90's. It's a delightful, and really--a touching story of a young woman (Melanie Griffith) who is brought to an appreciation of herself as something well beyond a gorgeous face. Her teacher is a kinder, gentler Don Johnson; and her Neanderthal-type husband, John Goodman is Harry, a nasty 'Fred Flintstone Goes To Washington' kind of guy! It all works till a bit of a let down near the end, but truly, there's a several minute rendition of the first 17 or so Ammendments to the Constitution sung (with energy) to the tune of the "12 Days of Christmas" that, alone, would be worth the price of admission!! Rent it, buy it; somehow, try it!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining, and good acting
Review: This is a delightful story with appealing characters and actors - even the "villain" played by John Goodman is endearing. Don Johnson as the intelligent journalist and Melanie Griffith as a ditzy kept woman who discovers that she has more value than her looks are both convincing. It is just plain fun from beginning to end.


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