Director: Steve Kloves
Year Released: 1989
Rating: 2.0
Predictable story about two lounge pianists who run auditions for a lead singer (the first thirty-some are purposely average-looking/pathetic, the last, of course, is the gorgeous/talented Michelle Pfeiffer) because their act is getting old. Jeff Bridges has to be one of the least convincing loner/bad-asses I've seen in a movie, and Pfeiffer doesn't really fit as the former escort turned sultry chanteuse; Beau Bridges, as the older brother/curmudgeon, is the only character who talks sense: I get the feeling we're supposed to side with Jeff B.'s revulsion at being a nightclub act (and secret desire to be a jazz pianist), but Beau's character - and stance - is the most realistic and meaningful: he has an obligation to his family (Jeff B. has none) and therefore has to keep up the night-act, even though he admits it isn't the best (he is only wrong in refusing to change the act, which is stale and outdated). The ambiguous 'where do we go from here?' ending sort-of works.
