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Amazon.com Essential Video
Scott McPherson's off-Broadway hit made a strong transition to the screen in this 1996 film by director Jerry Zaks. Diane Keaton stars as a woman who, while taking care of her vegetating father in Florida, discovers that she has leukemia. Only her long-estranged sister (Meryl Streep) or the sister's children can provide a possible match for a bone-marrow transplant. But the reunion is a rocky one, marked both by Streep's guilt at having abandoned her sister to take care of their father, and by the explosive dynamic between Streep and her rebellious, pyromaniac oldest son (Leonardo DiCaprio). As grim as this all sounds, there is a strong vein of black humor running through it that has the viewer laughing at unlikely moments (particularly Keaton's visits to her distracted doctor, a surprisingly funny Robert De Niro). But rest assured: tears will flow, even as the film makes you reassess all of your own family relationships. --Marshall Fine
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Witty, Funny and Heartwarming
July 11 2004
Format:DVD
Taken from a play by Scott McPherson, "Marvin's Room" at first seems like it might be a dreary tear jerker of a drama. But wait, there is a dream cast involved and somewhat maudlin scenarios turn out to be sheer delights. Imagine a film with Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Robert DeNiro, Leonard DiCaprio and Hugh Cronyn and you cannot go wrong. Keaton is taking care of her long failing father (Cronyn) when she discovers she has leukemia. She contacts her long estranged 'beauty school graduate' sister (Streep) and pyromaniac nephew (DiCaprio) as possible donors. When the families unite in Florida, it's a flurry of funny, hard-nosed and real life dialogue. All cast members are at their best and Streep and Keaton juxtaposed as sisters is amazing. DeNiro plays Keaton's scatter-brained doctor and he is priceless. There's strong warmth and reality in this film and despite the occasional tear, the ultimate feeling is happiness. This movie is a keeper.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Good Performances In A Good Movie
Jan 28 2002
Format:VHS Tape
This movie is based on Scott McPherson's off - Broadway play. It has been turned into a wonderful little movie. A movie that is sort of one of those lost gems. Meryl Streep heads an impeccable all star cast as a woman who comes back in contact with her long estranged sister, played by Diane Keaton. Keaton's character has been taking care of her and Streep's very old and very ill father(played so realistically by Hume Cronyn). Keaton's character then finds out that she has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. The only donors that can help are Meryl and her wayward kids(headed by the solid Leonardo DiCaprio). Meryl and the kids head down to Florida where Keaton is and, well, they bring along some of their own little dysfunction. The movie is sad, but not in the ball your eyes out way. It avoids the usual scenes of death beds and a huge dying scene. None of that is here. The movie is about the family, and the two estranged sisters coming together. Not to mention Meryl's character coming to terms with her son Hank(Leo). The film definitley hits some emotional highs, but it's not, as I've said above, the usual way we've seen it a hundred times before. Robert De Niro appears in a fairly small role as Keaton's character. He also co-produced the film. Our main stars here all shine brightly. Keaton is great, as always. Meryl and Leo makes their characters believeable, if not very sympathetic. In the end, it's Keaton who shines the brightest. Marvin's Room is a nice family drama that was horribly overlooked and forgotten by most people. Give it a chance.
Excellent family drama
Jan 23 2009
Format:DVD
Kindly Bessie (Diane Keaton) has devoted her life to caring for her ailing father with no help from her estranged sister, Lee (Meryl Streep), the black sheep of the family. But now, Bessie is gravely ill and needs Lee's help.
I usually don't care for Diane Keaton's acting, but I did like her in this role. She plays an utterly selfless woman who could easily have been cloying, but was instead, quite sympathetic and noble. Streep does her usual expert job, playing a woman who won't win any Mother of the Year awards. And DiCaprio, looking very young a year before Titanic, steals all his scenes as a dangerous teen who hates his mother so much he burns down the house.
This is a poignant look at illness and dying through the eyes of three very different characters. I was sorry it ended so abruptly without resolving the story, but that makes it feel even more real. This is a movie I'll want to watch again when I'm feeling blue; it will help me keep things in perspective and remind me what's really important.
I usually don't care for Diane Keaton's acting, but I did like her in this role. She plays an utterly selfless woman who could easily have been cloying, but was instead, quite sympathetic and noble. Streep does her usual expert job, playing a woman who won't win any Mother of the Year awards. And DiCaprio, looking very young a year before Titanic, steals all his scenes as a dangerous teen who hates his mother so much he burns down the house.
This is a poignant look at illness and dying through the eyes of three very different characters. I was sorry it ended so abruptly without resolving the story, but that makes it feel even more real. This is a movie I'll want to watch again when I'm feeling blue; it will help me keep things in perspective and remind me what's really important.
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Most recent customer reviews
Remarquable
Ce film est un film tellement humain. L'histoire est vraiment touchante et pogne au coeur. Je regarde ce film très souvent car il m'aide à me rappeller les vraies... Read more
Published on Aug 25 2008 by moviesmusiclover
DEEPLY MOVING ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS
Instead of the usual over-the-top heavy-sentiment scenes in a dysfunctional family, Marvin's Room finds a clever, non-contrived way to end by leaving its characters at a magical... Read more
Published on April 3 2004 by Shashank Tripathi
DEEPLY MOVING ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS.
Close to a perfect movie as you can get. Instead of the usual over-the-top heavy-sentiment scenes in a dysfunctional family, Marvin's Room finds a clever, non-contrived way to end... Read more
Published on Mar 31 2004 by Shashank Tripathi
I am deeply touched..
Just a few minutes ago, I was watching this uniquely directed movie. I was deeply touched, from the bottom of my heart. Read more
Published on Sep 11 2003 by "kingjuicy"
Heartfelt
"Marvin's Room" is a great movie to watch with the whole family. This drama has many emotional scenes which explore the meaning of life vs. Read more
Published on Aug 14 2003 by David Anderson
An Emotional Rollercoaster
"Marvin's Room" is not only a wonderful movie that has both comedy and drama, but it has an excellent cast. Read more
Published on July 29 2003 by Lisa Verson
Elegant Story-Telling, with a Beautiful Cast
Dying, aging and dysfunctional famlies are subjects that do not prompt much laughter, but "Marvin's Room" a film, based on the stage play of the same title, manages to... Read more
Published on July 9 2003 by L. Piatkowski
An acting masterclass
What's so unusual about this film and what raises it far above similar films, are two things - firstly the balance of humour and pathos and secondly the incredible acting from all... Read more
Published on Jun 13 2003 by Jeremy
Simply unforgettable
I have watched this movie at least three times and everytime, it doesn't fail to move me. It's a rather underrated movie except for the Oscar nomination for Diane Keaton who shines... Read more
Published on Aug 12 2002 by Dogville
Worth it!
Marvin's Room is an emotional roller coaster. One minute crying and the next laughing out loud and then wondering how you can laugh about such a traumatic event. Read more
Published on Mar 8 2002 by Lu-ann Woo-o'brien
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