Up Close & Personal

Ethics, love, dedication and overcoming, these are some of the basic ingredients to achieve success in all fields, both personally and professionally. This may be the alchemy that made "Up Close and Personal", a sweet, true film capable of touching audiences around the world. Jon Avnet, expert in the art of emotion, without using cliché, or even resorting to fetched subterfuge, managed once again to tell a story with the delicacy and subtlety that the human soul needs.

Sally Atwater (Michelle Pfeiffer) plays a girl who dreamed of becoming a journalist. Even without professional training, she creates a video to ask for a job in several stations. Sally, totally confused, arrives at TV Miami and finds the head of journalism, Warren Justice (Robert Redford), a veteran journalist, passionate about the profession and who doesn't sell his ethical principles for fame or money. Because of this he has his career boycotted. Position to some extent questioned by colleagues in the profession, being, among other things, considered a difficult person to deal with.

Justice, a name that enhances the personality of the editor-in-chief, even knowing that Sally Atwater has no experience in the area, manages to see her potential and accepts her as an intern, becoming his mentor. One day, after making Sally serve too many coffees, he lets her be the weather girl, then, by fate, she has the opportunity to be live in a story. Over time, she gradually becomes established professionally and the relationship between him and his mentor becomes a great passion.

A kind of "A Star is Born" within journalism, "Intimate & Personal" is a production that does not reach all its potential. Not even remotely close to the brilliance of his "Fried Green Tomatoes", Jon Avnet delivers a work that is just right, albeit often with excessive narrative simplicity. Robert Redford doesn't have much to do in the shoes of Warren Justice, a character without great complexity, and even Michelle Pfeiffer, despite her charisma and talent, can't go beyond the limits of a protagonist portrayed with insecurity by the script: in the first half from the film, Tally is a romantic comedy character, with even some humorous scenes (which don't always work); and in the final stretch, she assumes the air of a tragic heroine, with tearful moments underlined by the beautiful "Because you loved me", in the voice of Celine Dion. This almost schizophrenia of the film is what makes it difficult for the audience to fully engage in its story - it can even move the most sensitive, but, compared to what it could have been (especially with all the dramas lived by Savitch, its original inspiration), it's just a derivative and predictable drama.

Still, the romantic drama is a well-crafted mix of technical, textual, visual, and sound aspects. From the selection of actors - Michelle Pfeifer and Robert Redford identified with the characters forming an accomplice and captivating pair - to the choice of songs - the film won the Oscar for best song with the aforementioned "Because You Loved Me"-, in everything we try to convey the message of renewal to the public in a simple, beautiful and sensitive way.

The film uses many metaphors, even by genre, working on the meaning of words to insinuate the context. Some examples are when Warren refers to Tally as commenting that "she devours the lens", foreshadowing her competence and success, or when he tells her that she is "not good company in the morning" to warn that he was not good with relationships. But the film's deepest metaphor is the one that refers to the true value of a journalist, "what we in the news cannot forget is that we are worth the stories we tell".

Warren and Tally's characters were built on a stereotype of the television journalist as someone very concerned with the image and little with the message, with the purpose of transmitting to millions of viewers a fact that, although it may not interest them, positively or negatively influences your life. Warren is an upstanding, honorable, idealistic, committed and serious journalist who, for that very reason, is considered difficult, intractable and has a "thorny" career. (One particularity: this role played by Robert Redford, is very similar to his personality. The actor, like the character, is considered in his environment a difficult person, who only does things his way).

Tally, on the other hand, is a sensitive and hardworking woman, with a strong yet captivating personality. Her identity construction takes place throughout the film, allowing the audience to reflect on how an inexperienced reporter, if well guided, can become an excellent journalist. Tally, always worried about appearing early, finds herself suddenly being rejected by the public, devastated by the rival anchor who exposes her to ridicule in certain situations, shaking her self-esteem and shaking her career, until Warren helps her see: "Give it to me." them Tally Atwater, he says. Where is Tally Atwater? To earn the trust of millions of viewers, you need to hear what they say." And Tally finally understands what it means to be a reporter and surprises herself by doing a great story alone and conquering the highest position of a journalistic career.

An aspect of great formal beauty in the work is the scene in which Tally decides to improvise, instead of following what was written on the teleprompter, at the moment of her thanks. And speaking with the voice of her heart, freeing herself from patterns and definitely taking possession of herself, she thanks those who really deserve applause. "I'm just here to tell a story," she concludes. In "Up Close and Personal", the idea behind the romance of the characters Tally Atwater and Warren Justice, seems to be to demonstrate to the general public the human frailty. Using the love plot, the author seems to denounce, in the exposition of the characters' daily lives, the great struggle of all of us against our own weaknesses and ills. He then seeks to demonstrate the need for hope, determination, and character.

But in the end, there has to be some conflict. Something has to be problematized for the film to sustain itself. And director Jon Avnet knows his craft. He introduces the viewer to the intimacy of TV without offending anyone, but does not let naivety organize the narrative. Build a group of very nice but not silly characters. In addition, Avnet is lenient with the institution he analyzes, TV, but he does not fail to point out some thorns. And, above all, he values his actors, making an efficient vehicle (for protagonists and supporting actors).

"Telling the story of the couple of journalists", the author proposes a deeper reflection of journalistic ethics. And most interesting of all... Through the film, he says exactly what his characters experienced: that he (the author) is there, making this film, to "tell a story"... And, who knows, offer the public a new nuance of facts for reflection... In the film, the great debate is the eternal doubt between getting an audience at any cost and discovering the truth of facts and being. It is wrong to think that it is an exclusive story for communication professionals. It is a love story framed by ethics, dedication and overcoming that enchants and makes everyone reflect.

I don't know how anyone could watch this movie and not love it. The line up of actors in the move are amazing and maybe that's why some people expected a different kind of movie. The movie moves a long perfectly, telling the story in a great time line. It doesn't drag and there is not one part of the story that doesn't fit. It's as if a friend is telling you the main highlights of a friends' love life. I gave it a ten - Redford an Pfieffer make a great, believable couple and you can tell they put their heart into this movie. They both play people who are intelligent and aren't afraid to fight for what they believe it, something we all strive for. Get a tissue, you'll need it.

The struggles in reporting the news are shown in such an interesting way in the 1996 movie, 'Up close and personal'. It also shows that a little bit of luck can help a person go a long way in an industry like that of TV journalism. This movie's story, which has a strong and very emotional romance within it, also has some surprising twists that I am sure people will not expect once they have watched it.

Sally Atwater is fresh from a small-town trailer park when she arrives in Miami, overdressed and overeager to be the weather girl. He debut is disastrous but her boss, experienced newsman, Warren Justice, admires her spunk and takes her under his wing, making her an on air reporter. As Justice moulds Sally into one of the county's most sought after journalists, the pair fall in love, only to have their relationship threatened by the very success they have created.

Here is one of the great romance movies I have seen in a longtime. I love the way that the main stars first meet and how their relationship develops. By the time that Tally is a great journalist, what is more important than her career, is the man that she loves that being Warren Justice. The screenplay for this movie was beautifully written by John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. I love how the two main stars are able to fall in love, but at the same time, able to do what they do as a career. Sure it might take a little while for the movie to show that this is important, but I feel that the time needed to be taken, so that both Tally and Warren fall deeply in love.

The director of 'Up close and personal' was Jon Avnet, who has been a part of some great movies such as that of 'Risky Business', 'When a man loves a woman', and the 'Mighty ducks' trilogy. In this movie, I love the way that Avnet shows Tally Atwater at the start, to be someone who is a struggler, ignored and made fun of. Then to make her character be so vital and important in the whole make-up of the film, was great. This I believe is the good work of Avnet and makes the movie all the more compelling. I also like the world that Avnet has created for the film, that of the pressurised, TV journalism environment.

The stars of the movie are two of Hollywood's better known actors in Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. The pair have a good chemistry in this movie, with the way that they fall in love very believable. I also like how Redford's character, Warren, refers to Tally at the start of the film, saying that 'she eats the camera'. This scene shows that Warren not only likes Tally as a journo, but as a woman as well. I also like the way that Pfeiffer appears in this film. She looks very much like a reporter does on the news and it is in her appearance that this needed to be so definite.

The supporting cast of 'Up close and personal' is a pretty good one. I like Marcia McGrath (Stockard Channing), who is the tough as nails anchor girl, who is pushed out of her position by the rising career of Tally Atwater. She treats Tally pretty bad in the film, if the truth be known. I also like Joanna Kennelly (Kate Nelligan), who we find out is one of Warren's former wives. She is one of the reasons why Warren has had a turbulent journalism career. Do not discount the little role taken on by Tally's cameraman Ned Jackson (Glenn Plumber). He is an incredibly brave cameraman, who admires Tally for the work that she does. Trust me I would not have liked doing the camera work that he was doing in the prison.

'Up close and personal' might not have the greatest of sound tracks, but it does have one song that I really like. That song is 'Because you loved me' sung by Celine Dion. It is a song which was used well in the film and its lyrics suit this movie beautifully. How great a song this was, made me want to watch the film all the more. By the way, there is one scene in the movie that shows Pfeiffer's character singing 'The impossible dream' at an empty football stadium in front of Warren. All I will say about this is that Pfeiffer should stick to the acting game, because she does not sing that well.

This movie, is such 'a good drama love story', because it shows how tough the 'TV journalism' area can be, and does not shrug away from showing how difficult and dangerous such a career can be (the prison scene is wonderfully shot and one of the great parts of the film). I also like how this movie concludes, and I am not afraid to admit that it has gotten me upset both times I have watched it. You will notice, that I say that Sally Atwater's name is actually 'Tally'. I will not reveal how this change happens, just to say that I like it. I believe it was placed in the story for a bit of fun. But I am not so sure I would like my name changed for my chosen career. Would you?

CMRS gives 'Up close and personal': 4 (Very Good Film)

Even though I feel Robert Redford is getting a bit old to play the romantic hero, I did enjoy this movie. I liked the newsroom setting. I felt Michelle Pfeiffer gave a very good performance and that she and Mr. Redford had a very likeable chemistry. I didn't care for the ending, but it was good viewing on the whole. A good love story.

While this is definitely a "women's movie," a man can enjoy this, too. I did, but not enough to see it twice or to purchase it. Supposedly, it's the story of former television news reporters Jessica Savitch and Ron Kershaw.

Robert Redford is good at playing the veteran newsman teaching Michelle Peiffer (Savitch) the business. He does more than that, of course, being her lover and then her husband. With Redford, you know you are going to get a dose of Liberal politics in the mix and in here, it's let's-feel-sorry-for-the-prison inmates. The preaching is "they are in jail to be rehabilitated." Well, that sounds nice but whatever happened to jail as a form of punishment for someone committing a crime against someone else? Liberals - like Redford, who is never shy about giving us his views in movies like this - sometimes seem to have more compassion for thugs than they do victims of crime! He goes so far in here as to preach that if you don't treat prisoners with kid gloves you deserve to have a riot on your hands.

Outside of all that heavy-handedness, you get a nice romance with solid acting all around, not only from the two leads but the supporting case with people like Stockarrd Channnng, Joe Mantegna, Kate Nelligan, Glen Plummer and James Rebhorn.