Cher Film Collection

There are a rarified few entertainers that are so popular, so singularly known to the public that a single name suffices to identify them. When you hear the name Sinatra or Madonna no one asks ‘which one?’ the specific individual is immediately known to everyone. One name that has secured a firm place on such a list is Cher. She has mastered every endeavor she has set her sights on. Cher has won Grammys for her music, Emmys for her television work an academy award for Best Actress to name just a few of her many accolades. Even now at 64 Cher can sell out a huge area in minutes and open a box office hit movie. Cher is a fashion icon and considered by many to be a goddess in the gay community. MGM/UA as gathered six of her films into a DVD collection that not only is a must have for the legion of Cher fans but is necessary for any complete, serious film collection. This DVD box set contains representative films from her movie career running the gamut from her Oscar winning performance to a couple of the campiest roles possible that helped to kick start cinematic vocation. Not only does this collection focus on a very talented woman but it is ideal to trace the progression of a career from early almost silly parts to roles that permitted her incredible talent to shine through. You might notice one of her critically acclaimed films. ‘Mask’ absent from this set. This is a collection of films Cher did for MGM/UA; although notable the distribution rights to that movie are in the hands of another distributor. Even with that caveat this is a box set that should not be missed whether you are a fan of her from her albums, stage show, television or film.

Chastity (1969)

Writer: Sonny Bono

Director: Alessio de Paola

This was her first time out in a dramatic role written specifically for her by her then husband and singing partner. It was the only credit for de Paola and although some critics have commented that this movie killed his career before it could start the film is not that bad; well parts of it are watchable. The flick does exhibit the first glimmers of what would wind up a noteworthy acting career. Cher plays her title character with sassy confidence but allows just a hint of vulnerability peek through. This is definitely a vanity project and traditionally they are not notable cinematic efforts. The movie is a one woman road trip movie that takes Chastity from one dicey situation to the next as she winds her way across the country. Bono didn’t have the experience in screen writing to really make this story interesting enough to hold your attention for the duration of the flick. When combined with the lackluster directorial style it is best to focus of the emerging acting ability of Cher.

Good Times (1967)

Writer: Tony Barrett / Nicholas Hyams

Director: William Friedkin

This film was basically intended to cash in on the popularity of the duo, ‘Sonny and Cher’ eventually leading a decade later to the couple’s television variety series. The little plot that does exist here is Sonny is offered a part in a movie and talks Cher into joining him. As it turns out the script is awful so the couple set out to perform their own material instead. What follows is a mélange of singing, dancing and comedy skits. This is another vanity project but one notable factor is the director would go on to helm one of the greatest horror movies of all time’ ‘The Exorcists’ and the definitive crime action flick, ‘The French Connection’. The skits are uneven but a number of the work and the songs are classic for the time.

Mermaids (1990)

Writer: June Roberts

Director: Richard Benjamin

This is the first film in the show case to highlight Cher’s ability to really act. Based on the bestselling novel by Patty Dann the story of an unorthodox mother raising two daughters on her own made critics and audiences sit up and take notice of how well Cher could master this aspect of a constantly diversifying career. The film also started the film career of Christina Ricci and as the follow up movie for Winona Ryder after her success in ‘Edward Scissorhands’ cementing her way to stardom of her own. This movie was a major work in the directorial resume of comedic actor turned director, Richard Benjamin. Under his guidance Cher began to blossom as an actress taking on the most emotionally complicated role she faced up to that time.

Moonstruck (1987)

Writer: John Patrick Shanley

Director: Norman Jewison

If anyone still doubted Cher’s acting talent this was the film that gave her credentials. Cher walked away with the academy award for Best Actress for her portrayal of an Italian widow working as a bookkeeper caught in a romantic triangle of her fiancé and his brother. The scenes she shares with her co-star Nicolas Cage are nothing short of genius. Olympia Dukakis played the mother of Cher’s character earning her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The director, Norman Jewison received one of his seven Academy Award nominations for his work here. By far this is one of the best movies in this collection.

Silkwood (1983)

Writer: Alice Arlen / Nora Ephron

Director: Mike Nichols

This was another Oscar vehicle obtaining nominations for Cher as supporting Actress, Best actress for Meryl Streep and Best director for Nichols. Based on a true story Cher steps off to the side portraying the best friend of Karen Silkwood (Streep) who worked in a plutonium processing plant giving her life to expose criminally unsafe procedures. This movie demonstrated that Cher could hold her own going toe to toe with the best cinema had to offer. There were some of the most memorable and intense performance you could imagine contained in this movie.

Tea with Mussolini (1999)

Writer: John Mortimer / Franco Zeffirelli

Director: Franco Zeffirelli

This is an odd but extremely powerful film based on the autobiography of Franco Zeffirelli. Cher plays a British woman used to the life style afforded to a proper English woman. This is threatened as World War two approaches. An excellent film that does not always get the recognition it deserves. It’s reassuring to see it including here.

Posted 11/16/2010