Film Review: The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

Film can deservedly win rave reviews, have decent box office and even become subject of pop culture references, yet at the same time they can remain an acquired taste. For example, if you want to properly enjoy The Fabulous Baker Boys, 1989 film written and directed by Steve Kloves, you must like jazz music, traditional pop standards and old school romantic dramas Hollywood ceased to make long time ago.

The title characters are Jack (played by Jeff Bridges) and Frank Baker (played by Beau Bridges), brothers who make a living as piano duo in lounge bars in and around Seattle, Washington. They worked hard for fifteen years but lately their business is getting worse and Frank suggests that they enhance their act by hiring a singer. The audition is won by Susie Diamond (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), incredibly beautiful and talented woman who, despite the lack of experience and finesse at her debut gig, wins audience and gradually helps Baker Brothers business. However, her presence also begin to create tensions between the brothers, namely because Frank, who is less talented but more business-savvy brother, warns wild, heavy-drinking and smoking Jack not to fall in love and start romantic relationship with Susie. However, when family emergency makes Frank suddenly depart during New Year’s gig, Jack and Susie are left alone and the inevitable happens. The romance doesn’t last very long and Susie, who has built fan base of her own, decides to leave the band for the sake of solo career, while brothers are left to re-evaluate their character prospects or whether they would stay together.

This was directorial debut for Steve Kloves, based on his script which was partially inspired by Ferrante & Teicher, real life duo of pianists who enjoyed minor fame for their light covers of classical pieces, pop tunes and film soundtracks from 1940s till 1980s. Kloves also wrote the script based on his keen observation of the lounge bar scenes, during which he recognised lounge musicians as the working class equivalent of show business. This led to The Fabulous Baker Boys having both realistic and melancholic approach to the lower rungs of music industry, which is for the most people far from glory, glitz and glamour and instead consists of factory-like drudgery of playing the same tunes again and again. Although the actual story isn’t that original and although its resolution appears to be predictable, Kloves improves it with flawless characterisation and small bits of humour to make it more digestible for large segments of audience. Kloves as director does fine job, aided by famed cinematographer Michael Ballhaus who skilfully creates atmosphere of night clubs, luxurious hotels as well as not so glamorous Jack’s apartment. Although most of the film takes part at night and although most of it was shot in Los Angeles, The Fabulous Baker Boys puts Seattle to good use, helping it to become one of the more “hip” US cities for 1990s Hollywood.

However, the most memorable aspect of the film is cast. Michelle Pfeiffer, one of the most beautiful Hollywood actresses of her generation, plays what should become the best and most iconic role of her career. Susie Diamond is not only immensely attractive woman and talented singer (with Pfeiffer, after meticulous preparations, actually providing her voice), but also multi-dimensional character who isn’t that successful of hiding her vulnerability and dark past of a prostitute. Pfeiffer’s talent is best seen in famous scene during which she sings “Making Whoopee” on Jack’s piano, displaying passion and irrestistible seductiveness rarely seen since the days of Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel or Rita Hayworth in Gilda. Another great casting coup was hiring real life brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges to play fictional on screen brothers. Two actors used some of their real life sibling relationship to create characters and both did very good job. Older (and less popular) Beau Bridges is quite convincing as smarter, wiser and “good” brother who tries to anchor himself as a family man with a house in suburbs. Jeff Bridges, on the other hand, is also great as more talented and more sensitive brother who is less happy with artistic and other compromises made during the career, and who tries to purge that frustration through cigarettes, liquor and one-night stands. The trio of main actors is perfect, and the rest of the cast, which includes many notable names in small roles (like Xander Berkeley as their manager or Jennifer Tilly as comically talentless wannabe singer) is good. Kloves complicates things a bit with subplot involving Jack allowing his apartment as temporary shelter for young girl (played by Ellie Raab) from neighbouring dysfunctional home. But, this little flaw shouldn’t discourage audience, at least those with less contemporary music tastes, to enjoy this piece of quality cinema.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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