Raul Faust "Bernard and Doris" is a quite unique drama that shows a relationship between a rich employer and a homosexual butler. Doris is a character that sometimes resembles the classic Miranda from 2006's "The Devil Wears Prada", while Bernard looks like Alfred from the Batman saga. Even thought we have some nice moments in this story, there isn't too much to care about the whole thing, considering there seems to be no climax to be reached after all. Most of the time it's just simple conversation that will end up meaninglessly, occasionally boring the spectator. It has a good cast and so, but such a contrived storyline doesn't hold the movie too well.

Gordon-11 This film is about the mysterious relationship between a wealthy woman, Doris Duke, and her butler."Bernard and Doris" is a film that is hard to put a finger on. On one hand, it portrays the mysterious relationship between Bernard and Doris beautifully. What they have is more then just employer and servant, but more like a friend, and even more than just friends. On the other hand, I find a lack of emotional engagement between the story and the viewers. The film and the characters do not make me care about them. Fortunately, Susan Sarandon is amazing as she showcases her acting talent. She is stylishly arrogant at first, assertive but approachable in the middle and frail at the end. "Bernard and Doris" is worth watching just for Susan Sarandon's performance alone. The film would have become quite forgettable without her.

jotix100 If there is a clue to the relationship between Doris Duke and her live-in assistant, Bernard Lafferty, it seems to be the moment in which she asks him point blank: "What do you want from me?" After all, Ms. Duke was used to buy people left and right, as it was rumored was the case when she paid a million dollars to French actress Danielle Darrieux for the privilege of divorcing playboy Porfirio Rubirosa. Doris, who evidently got tired of people and things easily, had the upper hand in dealing with what she needed at any particular moment."Bernard and Doris", an HBO film, directed by Bob Balaban, and conceived by Hugh Costello, is based on a relationship that is perhaps a fantasy in the mind of its creators. Fact and fiction are mixed freely, although this movie doesn't try to give us reality because after all, Doris Duke's real life story would have probably made a Hollywood epic.Some things that come out in the film show us an heiress who enjoyed sex. That explains her marriage to Rubirosa a notorious man of mystical sexual prowess. Doris is seen bedding a rough man who, while satisfying her, he sought to have fun with her maid as well. When she fired the servant she immediately regrets it because of being fond of the way she worked.Bernard Lafferty, a man that had a huge drinking problem, came to work for Doris during her last years. In the film, Bernard is subservient and meek, when reality indicates he probably ruled Doris life with an iron fist. The figure that emerges is not exactly who one could imagine him to be because of the many accusations after Doris' death. The real Lafferty and the screen Lafferty are two different persons.The film is worth a look because of the work of the two principals. Susan Sarandon is totally convincing as Doris as is the case with Ralph Fiennes the way his character was conceived for this screen treatment. This is one of Susan Sarandon's best roles in quite some time. Mr. Fiennes is great fun to watch as the gay butler that loved to wear his employer's finery. Maurice Rubinstein's cinematography captures the plush interiors of the Duke's estate. Alex Wurman contributed the music score and the editing of Andy Keir work well with Mr. Balaban overall concept.

Susan dr Pajzs I couldn't look the film up to now. In Eastern-Middle Europe HBO doesn't play it (I have three HBO channels), but the clips and the trailer I could reach were poignant. Two brilliant actor in interesting roles in an interesting situation. I saw the first variation too with Bacall and Chamberlain it was good, but Bernard's role was simplified: a live Lord Voldemort or Gregory Anton from the 'Gaslight', a live Devil. This formulation seems more interesting: a vulnerable, alcoholic, asexual, transvestite girl-man who adores Doris , wants to be like she is , wants a mother whom he missed lifelong, wants to merge in her. No one knows whether this or the previous variation is true. This one is more complicated , more poetic, the realization (on the clips) is closer to me.