Death Becomes Her

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), performing on Broadway in an elaborate dance number. In attendance in the audience are her childhood friend, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), and her fiance Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis). Helen shortly after feels that Ernest has fallen for her friend's glamorous charms, and her fears soon prove to be correct, when their engagement falls apart, and Ernest marries Madeline.This causes Helen to fall into a depressive spiral, in which she gorges on ready made cans of frosting and becomes obese, living in an apartment with numerous cats. Her days generally consist of her watching a film starring Madeline, in which her character is killed, with Helen rewinding this scene over and over again. After she is evicted for failing to pay rent, Helen is put into a mental institution, but even after several months of therapy, she still has not shown any improvement. Her psychologist (Alaina Reed Hall) advises Helen that she needs to completely eliminate Madeline from her mind. In a twisted way (unknown to the psychologist), Helen takes this advice to heart.During the this time, Madeline Ashton's career has slowly waned. Now obsessed with holding onto her once youthful looks, and having an affair with a younger man, which is not unknown to Ernest. Ernest meanwhile has become an alcoholic mortician and is miserable in his married life.One day, Madeline receives an invitation for her and Ernest to attend a book release party from Helen. Madeline goes, eager to see Helen as an overweight woman... only to find her old friend now a svelte, and beautiful woman.Helen's 'rejuvenation' causes Madeline to slowly lose her mind. After she angrily chews out her spa technician, the owner of the spa gives Madeline a business card to someone he claims can help her. The card he gives Madeline translates to Street of Flowers in French. Madeline just scoffs at this, and goes to see her young male lover...only to find that he's cheating on her! Now more upset than ever, Madeline then looks at the card she was given, and goes to see Lisle von Rhuman (Isabella Rossellini).Lisle resides in a large, Gothic mansion, and reveals to Madeline a potion that will restore her youth and make her live forever - however Lisle isn't too clear on that last point, simply telling Madeline to "Take care of your body since you would be together a long time". Madeline eagerly takes the potion, holding it over her mouth to get every last drop. Before she leaves the mansion, Madeline looks in a mirror, and is amazed to see her wrinkles disappear, and her body become taut and firm again. She remarks to the guard "I'm a girl!" and the guard simply puts his finger to his lips, indicating the level of secrecy Madeline must now adhere to.Meanwhile, Ernest has been visited upon by Helen, who attempts to seduce Ernest into helping her kill Madeline. Her plan is simple: After drugging Madeline, they'll stage a drunk driving accident starring Madeline that will get Madeline out of both of their lives.Helen leaves shortly thereafter, and Madeline returns home, happy to be youthful again. Feeling better than before, but having been tempted by Helen's plans, he ends up pushing Madeline down the stairs instead of saving her after Madeline repeatedly calls Ernest flaccid. Unsure what to do next, Ernest places a call to Helen, revealing their plans as he thinks Madeline dead... only to find Madeline revived, with her head twisted backwards! After straightening her head, the two then go to the local hospital.While there, the doctor is surprised when his stethoscope picks up no heartbeat, and no pulse, which would technically mean that Madeline is dead. Ernest goes out for a little bit, only to return and find they've taken his wife to the Morgue. After finding her there, Ernest declares that Madeline is some kind of miracle, and decides to take care of her. It seems he totally forgot Helen's plans. But Helen hasn't!Returning to the mansion, Ernest notes that Madeline has lost color, and goes to the mortuary where he works to pick up formaldehyde, tubes, paints and other things. He then paints her body and does her makeup. However, this process is interrupted by Helen, who has come in regards to Ernest's panicked call to her reporting Madeline's lethal (he thinks) fall down the stairs.As their voices get higher, Madeline overhears Helen's intended death plot for her, and appears before the two, brandishing a shotgun. Madeline ends up blowing Helen into the garden pool with a gaping hole in her abdomen. Ernest is freaked about having a dead body on his hands (again), but gets another shock when Helen emerges from the pool, still alive, save for the hole in her stomach.As Ernest watches, the two women then accuse the other of taking Lisle's potion, and then engage in a shovel battle, at which point Ernest goes back upstairs.During the fight, the two end up hurting each other physically, but then begin to lay out their own emotional feelings...before finally coming to a reconciliation. Going to Ernest, they say they have made up, and ask him to fix them. Ernest agrees, but on the condition that he is allowed to leave them forever once he has finished. The girls agree immediately to never contacting him again.After repairing the girls, they are at first overjoyed, but then realize that their bodies require upkeep now, and only Ernest can provide that. Helen suggests they drug him, and both girls attempt to have Ernest drink an alcoholic drink with a drug in it. However, Ernest then considers that he drinks too much, and refuses. In desperation, the girls hit Ernest over the head, knocking him unconscious.Ernest wakes up in the swimming pool area of Lisle's mansion, dressed in a tux. Lisle is swimming and steps out of the pool naked but for a long scarf and high heels. (Note: this is a naked body double, and not Ms. Rossellini.) Lisle is throwing a party for her clients tonight, but has taken time to meet with Ernest at Madeline and Helen's request. Lisle shows Ernest the effects of the potion, and encourages him to take it as well. However, Ernest is reluctant, seeing a downside to living forever: he'll watch all the people around him get old and die, and most likely end up having to cope with Madeline and Helen forever.Ernest attempts to escape, but first encounters Lisle's party (at which Greta Garbo, Jim Morrison, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, Elvis, and James Dean are just some of the attendees). Ernest runs away with Helen and Madeline, as well as the guards Tom, Dick and Harry, in hot pursuit. Ernest ends up dangling precariously above the glass windows over the swimming pool, where Helen and Madeline find him. Ernest still has the potion in his possession, and the two at first plead, but then demand that he take the potion.Realizing his 'importance' to them, Ernest drops the potion, and explains to the girls, "You're on your own," before plummeting into the glass and the pool below. There he encounters Jim Morrison with a woman who is taking off her clothes prior to swimming. After Ernest falls through the stained glass ceiling and lands safely in the water, Jim Morrison asks him if he's done with the pool yet. Ernest assures him that he is done!Ernest escapes the mansion in a vintage Porsche (which belongs to James Dean). Helen and Madeline, acting on Lisle's orders, attempt to track Ernest down, first returning to Madeline's place, only to find Ernest has already packed and headed for the airport. It is then that they realize that they are now stuck with each other.37 years later, Ernest finally dies, and a funeral is held for him. The preacher (who you may recognize as the preacher from the film by David Byrne/Talking Heads entitled True Stories) eulogizes about Ernest's accomplishments in those last 37 years. In the time he had left, Ernest made more of his life than he had previously, becoming a mountain climber, remarrying and having 6 children with his 2nd wife, starting clinics for alcoholics, as well as one to understand and study women and their behaviors. During the sermon, the preacher claims that Ernest has obtained true immortality through his family, and the lives of those he had touched through his generosity and giving nature. The preacher even mentions Ernest the Prankster's long time "jokes" about the living dead in Beverly Hills.In the back of the church, Helen and Madeline, wearing heavy black veils to cover up their faces, are listening, and upon hearing this, Madeline mockingly says, "Blah blah blah blah blah blah," and the girls exit the church.Outside, the two women (whose faces look far, far worse due to their constant touch-ups), begin to argue, before Helen accidentally slips on a can of spray paint she dropped. Helen is in danger of falling down the chapel steps, with Madeline just smiling smugly. However, Helen isn't going down alone, and grabs her 'friend.' The two of them tumble down the stairs, before their bodies shatter into various pieces at the bottom.In their shattered state, Helen's decapitated head asks Madeline's head the one thing that is now on her mind: "Do you remember where you parked the car?"

Tags: comedy, dark, murder, cult, satire, revenge

Review:
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn have never been so good (plus this is the only film in which Bruce Willis doesn't do his trademark smirk even once).Every role is played to perfection and the script is a comedy work of art.I won't bother defending it to those people who need their jokes hammered home to them by comedy actors whose only way of getting a laugh is to gurn and fart.
Bruce Willis is marvellous as Ernest, the unhappy mouse caught in the middle of their game; the voice of reason amid lunacy.The writing is witty and sometimes painfully sharp, emphasising in almost every scene that beauty does not equal happiness, and the closer you come to attaining an obsessively pursued physical perfection, the further you get from real happiness and fulfillment.
"Death Becomes Her" is one of those movies that guarantee great entertainment (but it's kind of a given with Streep, Hawn and Willis as the top three) and on top of it all, give you something to think about, even merely 17 years after it's been released..
While Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep play great opposite roles as the two jealous fighting women who fight over differences and yet have to live together inspite of it.
What do you get when you put the 2 greatest actresses alive today (Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) together with the incomparable Bruce Willis and thrown in a little Isabella Roselini for good measure...you get a hilariously funny comedy that had to have been just as much fun to make as it was to watch!
Hawn and Streep are excellently cast as the two feisty women competing over Ernest, desperately hanging on to their long-gone youth and stopping at NOTHING to get what they want - the bitch fight between the two gals is a scene NOT to be missed!All in all, "Death Becomes Her" is a deliciously dark comedy with a brilliant cast, great direction and some pretty convincing special effects - considering it was made way back in 1992!.
But still to this day, I really enjoy watching Death Becomes Her. It has a very clever story, amazing effects and three great actors: Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn.
But also the whole essence of eternal youth, beauty and living forever, and Death Becomes Her handles the subject very well.Actress Madeline Ashton and writer Helen Sharp are longtime rivals.
I think it was a lot of fun and had some good laughs, especially the fight between Madeline and Helen, they discover that there's really no point to inflicting physical pain but keep going at it with each other.
Then she receives her rival Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), who is an aspiring writer, and her fiancé Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), who is a plastic surgeon, in her dressing-room.
"Death Becomes Her" is an American black comedy with excellent special effects even after twenty-three years after the release and great cast.
Directed by the amazing Robert Zemeckis, "Death Becomes Her" features a clever script, an awesome cast, and mind-blowing special effects that most Hollywood films lack nowadays.
Meryl Streep plays Madeline Ashton, an actress who is obsessed with keeping herself looking young and beautiful.
Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), is a plain looking author with a brilliant surgeon, Dr. Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), for a fiancé.
When a glamorous awful actress by the name of Medeline Ashton (Oscar-Winner:Meryl Streep) always stole boyfriends from her friend:Helen Sharp (Oscar-Winner:Goldie Hawn).
Their death forever by turning greed, vanity, sex, immortality and life into one unusual difficult crazy buoyancy.Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future Trilogy, Cast Away, Contact) made a unique, unusual, different kind of Black Comedy mixed with fantasy.
Streep and Hawn are an ideal comedy pairing, taking turns playing the pitifully aging middle-aged celebrity and pancake made-up bitch....And you'll love watching Isabella Rossellini as 'Lisle Von Rhoman!'her voice is amaretto-smoothness, and her precision-paced acting makes for a delectable pseudo-villain.
This is one of the best comedies of the 1990's and it is now lived up to the true classic that foretells every woman's nightmare and every man's horror when the Witch Queen of full Beauty wants to stay as the Snow White.Madeline Ashton is a washed up Actress (played marvellously​ by the versatile Oscar winner and the best actress in show business according to critics and audience is Meryl Streep) and when her Childhood rival Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) brings in Fiancé Dr Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) and swiftly​ before Helen can say "smiley faces", Madeline takes Ernest away and betrothed, then Helen plots revenge that is better than murder, and soon Madeline encounters the mysterious Mr Chagall and recommends the answer to faded flower Madeline's​ wishes of ageless Beautiful enchantress and witch Elesle Van Rhuman (Isabella Rossellini).
In her role Meryl Streep gave us so many wonderful,depicting and amusing little things that she does.Detailes,detailes!Goldie was also very funny,and Bruce was certainly unusual(but in a good way).
Bruce Willis is a far cry from the character he plays in Die Hard, but it's good to see he's not one of those wooden people who can't change their image for anything, and Goldie Hawn is excellent as the crazy Helen Sharp.
Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) and her fiancee Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) are in the audience, and after the show Madeline greets old friend Helen backstage, and promptly steals Ernest away from her for marriage.
Flash forward seven years; Helen is overweight, living alone with dozens of cats and endlessly rewatching movie star Madeline being murdered in a scene from one of her films.
Death Becomes Her has great special effects and is an excellent 'black comedy'..
So one might speculate whether or not the potion that thwarts aging and restores youth have been given to the movie as well...The story is about the rivalry between two friends; Helen Sharp (played by Goldie Hawn) and Madeline Ashton (played by Meryl Streep).
12 years later, Helen walks back into the lives of Ernest and Madeline, and things are taking a very unexpected turn...It is a combination of storyline, acting performances and special effects that keep this movie fresh and up to date.
Yes, even while the movie is from 1992, the special effects are quite good and still do manage to stand up to the effects of today.The music score for the movie was quite good, as it should be of course at the hands of Alan Silvestri.Director Robert Zemeckis managed to turn writers Martin Donovan and David Koepp's story into a very enjoyable movie on the screen.If you haven't already seen "Death Becomes Her", then I can strongly recommend that you find the time to do so, should you happen to get the chance, because this is a rather nice movie..
Death Becomes Her is a gay movie.I mean that it has a gay sensibility - it's catty, bitchy, and oh, so kitschy in the best senses of those words.I never saw the film when it first came out, I first saw the last part about 5 years ago, and I could not stop laughing at the humour.It was only recently when I watched the film from it's wicked beginning to it's end - from Ms. Streep's physical humour as Madeline 'Mad' Ashton in 'Songbird' - a musical version of Sweet Bird of Youth.From her sly references, to the oh, so-period 'discofied' music, and dancing boys' moves, I knew this was a movie I would like.Ms. Hawn's 2nd appearance - as the gone-to-(HUGE)-pot Helen 'Hell' Sharp - in a fat suit, in a dirty apartment, over-run by cats (I'm no cat-fancier, so, I thought it was even more repugnant funny).The humour of Death is on several levels - the very simplistic pratfall, spit-take type, to the subtle verbal fencing between these 2 women.
When a witch gives her the chance for eternal life she good on board no matter the consequences.Goldie Hawn never looked better and plays the equally dashing Helen looking for revenge in a similar style to episodes of tales from the crypt.All the performances were top notch and with a script this good you couldn't lose no matter how it was cut.What makes it once and a life time film is that the talent that draw you in and make you feel sympathy for a life time wasted on petty life problems that could be solved in a psychiatrist's office in fifteen minutes.
Falling actress Madeline Ashton (Streep) learns of a secret potion that will regenerate her beauty whilst her long term enemy Helen (Hawn) looks set to steal her husband Black comedies are some weird and wonderful creations.
But despite the initially oddity of this picture, it is perfect comedy gold with a strange darkness and bizarreness to rival Tim Burton.The film begins with a song and dance routine with Meryl Streep in as good as singing voice as in her later role Mamma Mia!
After a couple of confusing scenes we see Helen has gone into depression after her husband got hitched with Madeline and it seems we have a soapy style love triangle but after Madeline gets her hand on a love potion and we see Helen return to the mix, everything becomes much more light hearted and very funny, with sharp physical comedy and maintaining that level of bizarre activity throughout.Goldie Hawn is the stand out with a wacky crazed character that is simply likable despite her vindictiveness.
The pairing of the three works wonders and is hard to imagine any other in such roles as the playful comic acting is in perfect harmony with the wacky script.The film revolves around the concept of vanity with the female protagonists looking to get their lives back with simply changing their appearances.
Echoes of Sunset Boulevard's excellent Gloria Swanson will be heard and there is almost a perfect intertextuality in the way Streep handles her character's selfishness.Winner of Best visual effects at the Oscars this 1992 comedy fantasy brings the comedy as well as the fantasy with some bizarre visuals including weapons through the stomach and a neck twisting scene that will make your neck turn the other way.Death Becomes Her is a must watch, simply because it is so out of sync with reality and maintains a strong level of comedy and fantasy that will make your head spin..
And luckily, director Robert Zemeckis knows how to give good movie, which he does with DEATH BECOMES HER.Written by the smart and snarky team of Martin Donovan and David Koepp (APARTMENT ZERO), DBH is all about the rivalry between eternal 'frenemies' novelist Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) and Madeline Ashton (a wickedly funny Meryl Streep), rapidly fading star of stage and screen.
Helen never met a man that Madeline didn't like - or couldn't steal away from her, and as the movie opens, her latest stolen conquest is Helen's so-to-be-ex-boyfriend, the noted plastic surgeon Dr. Ernest Menville, (an uncharacteristically schlumpy Bruce Willis).
Streep and Hawn have never been better as a match made in Helene Curtis Hell, and Bruce Willis actually dusts off the acting chops that shot him to leading man status in the first place, here doing a great job as 'Joe-Schmoe-with-a- scalpel' who realizes too late just how far in over his head he is.
In 1978, Broadway star Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) invites rival Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) backstage and steals her plastic surgeon fiancé Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis).
With 'Death Becomes Her' we have the visuals, a terrific Meryl Streep together with Goldie Hawn and the man they both like played by Bruce Willis.
Zemeckis has done much better with 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?', 'Forrest Gump', 'Back to the Future' and both of its sequels, but for a few laughs, Streep and (like in those other movies I mentioned) the visuals you might give it a try..
In this, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn become awfully good looking zombies hell-bent on manipulating a very funny Bruce Willis into helping them stay young and beautiful, even when they're dead.
Death becomes her is one of my favorite films.First scene of Merly Streep's performance is very nice,to dance and sing with guys.Actually she's not very good to sing but its totally great,i think.
The power trio leading roles were almost perfect,Meryl Streep was my favorite actress since Deer Hunter,gorgeous and sexy,Goldie in a step behind is beauty and funny as Private Benjamin,Willis as Ernest becames a clow in their hands in a fine acting,the picture was an criticism a endless seeking for eternal youth that disturb all women who getting older,this is starting point this clever and original black comedy which apeall too much by special effects that spoilled the whole thing, should be more unaffected by so manny effects,end up seems strained and then flopped down to me reaching at trash's level!!Resume:
Let me start by saying: Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, MERYL STREEP.
Although Meryl Streep was great (as always), she has said that it "was like being at the dentist" having to work in such a way to accommodate the special effects.
Even Isabella Rossellini behaves very well (albeit I am not sure I have seen her in other movies: being Italian, i remember her parents) Bruce Willis is very good, too, even if probably not exactly in the right role for is characteristics.
Bruce Willis was extremely funny, as was Merly Streep, who really should make more comedies.
Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, and Isabella Rossellini are outstanding, as always.
Meryl Streep needs to do more comedy, because she fit in absolutely perfectly with Hawn and Willis, both comedy vets, and her timing was impeccable.The movie is a very good skewering of LA/Hollywood culture, and obsession with youth and beauty over honesty and integrity.
The characters in this movie are cartoonish indeed (that's why Roger Ebert dismissed it), but this is the whole point.This is a sort of broad and unflattering satire on predominant attitudes in our western pop culture that may leave a lots of people offended, - if they would really understand the message.Brilliantly acted, especially Bruce Willis who was cast against his usual screen self.Few twists in the plot to make you feel like you are on a roller-coaster ride.Very satisfying end, touching on the taboo subject - death and how it could be good, not feared..
Much like the nightmarish classic, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane; Death Becomes Her represents the on-screen meeting of two it's heyday's biggest female stars, in this case appearing in the form of Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep.
Silly, bizarre, yet funny enough for kids and those adults who love Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis..
What follows is a quite silly and bizarre story which is best suited for young kids or for those who love Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis, because their acting is wonderful, even with this silly story.Director Robert Zemeckis is best known for the "Back to the Future" trilogy.
This is a unique and pretty fascinating dark comedy about drab Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) becoming a stunningly beautiful woman after obtaining immortality treatment, pitting her against her long-time rival, Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), who has also obtained the treatment.
As a result, they both duel it out and ultimately try to see who will win over love interest Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis).This is a movie that blends in dark comedy and fantasy, giving you some laughs and outrageously funny moments.
But, it is a well-paced movie with some sophisticated special effects and some good direction done by Robert Zemeckis.
This film is about these 2 women fighting over one man and the face and figure of a young person.I loved the special effects in this movie.
The main cast were Meryl Streep﻿, Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn.
It's not often Meryl Streep does a comedy, but between her, Goldie and Bruce they make this one perfect.
This is a story about two women (Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) wanting to stay young and a doctor (Bruce Willis) who is caught between them.
Hilarious in a twisted way, this dark comedy about a woman (Streep) who uses an immortality treatment to outdo her rival (Hawn).
Huuaaaah!i thought that when first time i saw this movie in cinema..i was laughing until death.it was shake my stomach...i couldn't reject how wonderfull this movie was...from cinematic element,plot outline,effect and acting of them(streep.willis.hawn)Also the director..is one of my favourite people ever!he is truly brilliant and genius...you should watch this movie and find yourself and your psychic in it.rent it!.
Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, and Isabella Rossellini all give terrific roles as a washed-out actress, psychotic writer, burned-out plastic surgeon, and enchantress, respectively.
This movie is so funny, Streep is wonderful, Willis is great, and Hawn is absolutly hillarious!
With a strong cast such as Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn that work well together this funny film thourougly deserves an 8 out of 10.
Death Becomes Her is a good interesting black comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep and Isabella Rossellini who do all a great job on this movie.
It's still a witty skewering of our society's culture of youth, and boasts the usual fine performance by Meryl Streep and a surprisingly good one from Goldie Hawn.Streep is a brilliant dramatic actress, but she also works well in comedy; she has one of the best deadpans in the business and impeccable timing.
This film has the eminently competent Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and Goldie Hawn giving their all, seamless and unexpected special effects, and an extremely sultry and sexy Isabella Rossellini (even her body double for some of her nude shots is none other than "JAG"'s heartthrob, Catherine Bell).
I loved this film from the first time I saw it, and I was never a big fan of Streep, Hawn, or Willis.