Marvin's Room

Starring:Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn, Gwen Verdon, Hal Scardino, Dan Hedaya, Margo Martindale, Cynthia Nixon, Kelly Ripa, John Callahan, Olga Merediz, Joe Lisi, Steve DuMouchel, Bitty Schram, Lizbeth MacKay, Helen Stenborg, Sally Parrish, Victor Garber
Director: Jerry Zaks
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Scott McPherson's off-Broadway hit made a strong transition to the screen in this 1996 film by director Jerry Zaks. Diane Keaton stars as a woman who, while taking care of her vegetating father in Florida, discovers that she has leukemia. Only her long-estranged sister (Meryl Streep) or the sister's children can provide a possible match for a bone-marrow transplant. But the reunion is a rocky one, marked both by Streep's guilt at having abandoned her sister to take care of their father, and by the explosive dynamic between Streep and her rebellious, pyromaniac oldest son (Leonardo DiCaprio). As grim as this all sounds, there is a strong vein of black humor running through it that has the viewer laughing at unlikely moments (particularly Keaton's visits to her distracted doctor, a surprisingly funny Robert De Niro). But rest assured: tears will flow, even as the film makes you reassess all of your own family relationships. --Marshall Fine

Description

Leonardo DiCaprio (TITANIC, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN) drives an electrifying performance as the criminally rebellious son in this funny and stirring tale of one family's humor and heartache. Seventeen years ago, fiercely independent Lee (Meryl Streep -- ADAPTATION) left home ... and left behind her kindhearted sister Bessie (Diane Keaton -- THE FIRST WIVES CLUB) to care for their father, Marvin (Hume Cronyn). But now Lee is returning with her teenage son (DiCaprio), for a homecoming that's sure to turn the entire household upside down! Also starring Robert DeNiro (CASINO), this entertaining motion picture proves that people you know the least may be the ones you need the most!

Customer Reviews:

Very good film, with minor flaws..........2007-07-02

This film is over a decade old and is a gem overall. It deals with what has become all too common these days, care of our elderly (and sometimes relatives, and parents) and how such situations can often tear surviving family members and families, even extended ones, apart. While it does not deal with "wealth" as it often concerns better senior citizen medical and "nursing" home conditions and treatment, or how the whole corrupt medical "industry" in general mistreats the most innocent among us (only they're "old"), or any overt political/social issues, it indeed succeeds in showing the human (and "family") costs of its general subject. Especially in estranged and squabbling potential and actual "caretakers."

Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Robert DeNiro and Hume Cronyn lead a truly stellar cast in telling the sad, sometimes darkly at othertimes lighthearted humorous, and dramatic tale of a few individuals in a family who are trying to decide the best interests and care of their aging and bed-ridden, demented and childlike, elder.

Diane Keaton has been the caretaker for years of Hume Cronyn, her father. And that of Meryl Streep as well, though the latter has been out of touch for years, and has two kids, and long ago made the decision to concentrate on her own life rather than give needed aid to her sister. Meryl has two kids, one a troublesome teenager in Leonardo. Diane is dying of cancer, struggling to offer personal home health care to her dying father, with a limited income, and only another aging, half-crazed "aunt" to help her. When Keaton's character is diagnosed by DeNiro (who is sort of wasted here), she contacts Streep to come down to Florida and "visit."

What follows is a real trip, and the introductory scenes of exposition are very well done. When Keaton and Streep finally meet up, so much comes from them, and they interact in extremely stressful and at times, combative ways. Leonardo's character is fully realized and he makes not only an amazing transformation from beginning to end, but in a way, is the catalyst for a reconcilliation between the feuding sisters.

Filled with genuine pathos and ironic and subtle humor, and great performances by all, "Marvin's Room" will touch anyone (like me) who has ever dealt with the emotional storms behind family conflicts in dealing with just how to deal with our elders, and how it all interacts (and sometimes selfishingly interferes) with individual lives, lifestyles, and "survivor" plans for the near and far future. Even if you have not been involved in similar situations however, there is enough generally good stuff here to dent even the most hardened soul.

Despite the star power, direction is linear and creative, production values and sets while obviously not budget-heavy, do a great job, and in the end, these enhance what could have been a more "downer" film than it might've been. There are many enchanting and challenging sequences scattered throughout which make this a movie worth repeated viewings, if for no other reason, to catch so many subtle and effective nuances. And there are many scenes and lines and interactions to keep it all moving at a good and entertaining manner.

While this could've easily been a "Lifetime" or other low budget, non-theatrical release, the celebrity actor heavy track, never interferes with what is one of the few Hollywood films to deal with this general subject at all, and remains ten years later, one of the best to do so. With "death" all around, all the characters are right out of many, many real life stories of a lot of us, but eventually, despite all of it, the movie has a life affirming, positive message in the end.

While I wished the movie's beginnings were trimmed and the endings expanded and elaborated on, this film is overall a winner, and except for minor detours and missteps along the way, should satisfy anyone with a basically decent heart and a recognition of simply "doing the right thing" when it comes to family and elder-care issues and individual concerns, needs, and wants.

TEARS FOR DAYS ON THIS ONE!!.......2007-06-19

Meryl Streep is excellent as always but Diane Keaton absolutely blew me away with her performance! The scene when she goes from laughter to tears when talking about her "carnie boyfriend" is pure acting magic and the clincher is the ending scene when she is picking up the presription pills from the floor with Meryl.....I can't stop crying because Diane's performance is so raw and so real! One of my all time favorite sit down at home rainy day weekend with a pint of ice cream kinda of movie.

Warm and compassionate.......2007-01-23

Simply one of the finest movies in recent years for those who are loving or those who wish to be. Superb performances by all, indeed all....even the old dying father is memorable. And the lovely Diane Keaton is so very touching and real, many things and characters that will remain in your mind and heart. I have watched this movie many times and suspect that you will too.

Great performances.......2007-01-09

in a great story, the ensemble cast is superb. To watch meryl Streep and Diane keaton at the top of their game. And the then young Leonardo Dicaprio, you can see that he can holdit against his older counterparts.
making this a memorable movie

a 12 year olds review.......2006-12-27

This movie is boring and it is NOT funny. When I rented it I thought it would be funny but it wasnt.its actuly sort of sad.

Average customer rating:

Very good film, with minor flaws...
TEARS FOR DAYS ON THIS ONE!!
Warm and compassionate
Great performances
a 12 year olds review

Marvin's Room [Region 2]
Starring: Meryl Streep , Leonardo DiCaprio , Diane Keaton , Robert De Niro , and Hume Cronyn
Director: Jerry Zaks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

This Boy's Life
Total Eclipse
The Basketball Diaries
One True Thing
First Do No Harm

ASIN: B00004RYKK

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Very good film, with minor flaws..........2007-07-02

TEARS FOR DAYS ON THIS ONE!!.......2007-06-19

Warm and compassionate.......2007-01-23

Great performances.......2007-01-09

a 12 year olds review.......2006-12-27

This movie is boring and it is NOT funny. When I rented it I thought it would be funny but it wasnt.its actuly sort of sad.

Average customer rating:

Marvin's Room
Starring: Meryl Streep , Leonardo DiCaprio , Diane Keaton , Robert De Niro , and Hume Cronyn
Director: Jerry Zaks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYC7

Average customer rating:

Marvin's Room [Region 2]
Starring: Meryl Streep , Leonardo DiCaprio , Diane Keaton , Robert De Niro , and Hume Cronyn
Director: Jerry Zaks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYBA

Average customer rating:

Marvin's Room [Region 2]
Starring: Meryl Streep , Leonardo DiCaprio , Diane Keaton , Robert De Niro , and Hume Cronyn
Director: Jerry Zaks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00006JI3T

DVD:

DVD

DVD: East Side Kids: 8 Movie Set (2 Discs)

Comedy Greats - Spike Milligan