Up the Sandbox

This is a top 70's flick and highly underrated. I can imagine that it caused a stir in its release and still puts some viewers off. If David E. Kelley didn't get ideas for Ally McBeal from this, I'll go hee! Wonderful performance by Babs and hits the mark nicely.

This is one of Barbra Streisand's funniest films, if not the funniest.

This comedy, about a young woman's plight about whether she should tell her husband she is pregnant, has more weight than most of today's dramas and more imagination and humor than Woody Allen's last three features combined. The character she plays is an indominitable spirit who seems to use her imagination to survive in a very dark world, and the very bleak situation she finds herself in. It is very hard to tell exactly when the line between fantasy and reality has been crossed in many of the scenes, which makes a point about the world on its own. This movie was years ahead of its time and remains fresher than any modern comedy to date. It also holds up as well after the tenth viewing as it does after the first, because of the number of surreal vignettes, poignant moments, and Barbra's performance.

A must-see for any comedy fan, and a Streisand fan should run out immediately and rent it; you'll be kicking yourself not to have seen it before. The movie stands on its own as a testament to the human mind and spirit in the face of all circumstances.

Low-keyed, but nevertheless wicked and funny comedy-drama that sneaks up on you. Barbra Streisand, in terrific comic form, plays a stressed-out, unsatisfied New York housewife afraid of telling her brilliant husband she's pregnant for the third time. The film is made up of her many daydreams, some of which are hilarious (the bit where she enlarges her breasts at a party) and some that meander without much point (the assault on the Statue of Liberty). Nevertheless, Barbra's lovely and is completely at ease in this non-flashy role, just as content to sit and listen to her girlfriends bitch in the park as she is telling off Fidel Castro at a political rally. David Selby is nicely understated as Barbra's husband and Jane Hoffman is a hoot as her meddling mother. I have many favorite lines from this film, but you rent "Up The Sandbox" and discover them for yourself. A minor treat. *** from ****

In this small, unknown gem from 1972, Barbra Streisand plays Margaret Reynolds. Margaret is a bored housewife who wishes to do more than what her life holds for her. She has two children and a loving husband Paul (played by "Dark Shadows'" David Selby,) but its not enough. She finds out that she is carrying a third child and is scared of what might happen when she tells Paul. He feels the world is overcrowded as it is and that it would be wrong to bring another child into it. So, Margaret escapes into her fantasy life. The fantasies range from confronting the woman whom she believes is sleeping with her husband (good scene,) to interviewing Fidel Castro (which ultimatelky unvails his "secreet,") to slamming her mother's face into an anniversary cake!

All in all, the film is incredible. The only negative aspect would be the loss of so many scenes which leads the viewer to sometimes take a moment to catch back up with the fact that she is in her fantasy world. Not quite as gritty as the novel (not once does she mention wanting to leave her son at the playground or drop him on his head!,) but still a definite must see.

Overall rating: A-

Probably the best Barbra Streisand movie nobody has ever seen, director Irvin Kershner's expose of urban angst is funny and sad but ultimately uplifting. Streisand plays a NYC housewife, sick to death of her disengaged husband, impossible mother, and overall lack of confidence. She finds release in fantasies: one moment she's frolicking with a very surprising Fidel Castro and the next she's helping to blow up the Statue of Liberty. Streisand has rarely been better. Director Kershner gets a very toned down performance out of her. David Selby, as the husband, is duly caddish and Paul Benedict, Conrad Bain and Isabel Sanford have small roles. Benedict is particularly funny as an especially inept great white hunter!