mark.waltz The similarities to Janis Joplin are obvious in Bette Midler's performance as Rose, a rock star climbing up and falling just as quickly with an over-indulgence of drugs and alcohol, fame and folly, regret and romance. She had been around for over a decade with live performance, and in her first major motion picture, moved into the second phase of her career with power and passion, becoming a legend, and deserving super-stardom of the highest order.She's a likable character, getting involved with the handsome Fredric Forrest but dooming that relationship thanks to her crazy lifestyle and a few secrets out of her past. Her tough agent (Alan Bates) tries to keep her in line, but can't even stop the independent Rose from swearing at a concert. When Bette encounters a group of drag queens in a nightclub (even one who looks like herself), she is in heaven, both as Rose and Bette, bringing a lot of herself and live interaction in performing with them. Look briefly for Doris Roberts in a silent cameo as Rose's mother.Then, in live performances, Bette shows she is as adept as performing hard rock as she is with the standards which she has influxed her career with. By the time she breaks into the title song over the credits, you have probably missed the names of the people involved because your eyes were too blurry from crying. Bette went back to live performance for a short time after this but within a few years, would be back on top when she signed with Touchstone. But it all started with "The Rose", and she proves that both as a comic and dramatic actress (who sings!) that she is one tough act to follow.

edwagreen While the film is a very good one with Bette Midler giving a marvelous Oscar nominated performance, Ms. Midler is at worst when she belts out the songs. All you basically hear is loud music and Ms. Midler scream-singing.Nevertheless, Bette delivers a walloping performance as a boozy, emotionally distraught rock star caught up with drugs besides alcohol. She is emotionally unbalanced especially with the men who seem to come into and exit her lives in record time.Midler receives excellent support from Fred Forest, as an AWOL guy who befriends her, becomes her lover only to suffer repeated abuse as well as Alan Bates, in fine form as her manager unable to cope with her emotionally unbalanced behavior.Where is everyone going? This is the constant message stated by Bette (Rose) throughout the film.This is the usual story of a person's inability to handle success. Yet, Bette Midler proves herself a really competent actress.

sddavis63 Bette Midler offers a performance that is both powerful (for the actress) and troubling (for the character.) She plays Mary Rose Foster, a girl who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Florida, but by 1969 (when the movie is set) ended up as a mega-rock star known simply as "The Rose." Unfortunately, in the midst of all her success her life falls apart. She ends up (by the time the movie begins) as a lonely alcoholic close to burnout, but with a manager (Alan Bates) who won't let her have time to recuperate, and instead just keeps pushing her on and on to the next show. Rose just wants to play one last concert - in her hometown to show the locals what a star she's become and then (as she says repeatedly) she wants to take a year off (and from the looks of her she could use it.) Midler made this movie. It was her first starring role, and it was a challenging one, but she pulled it off perfectly. I'm not a huge fan of her style of singing, but the behind the scenes look at life on the road was interesting enough, at least for a while. Admittedly, the story became a bit monotonous after a while and there were extended scenes that really didn't seem necessary to the development of the story, but director Mark Rydell does manage to pull the viewer into Rose's life, and make her a sympathetic character. The movie also featured a decent performance from Frederic Forrest as Rose's love interest Huston Dyer, who started as her chauffeur and ended up as her lover, but eventually had to get away from her and the life she was leading, although I found the romance a bit too contrived to be believable.I thought this was a good movie, memorable mostly for Midler and the music. Even with the weaknesses that are clearly present, I'm still going to 8/10 for this.

Holdjerhorses Contrast, please, Midler's "The Rose" with Streisand's "A Star Is Born." That's really all I can say.But I have to say more, to post this.Okay."The Rose" is raw and real. Features a truly astonishing acting and singing performance from Bette Midler."A Star Is Born" is smooth and glossy. Phony, to be exact. Nothing "astonishing" in the acting department. Lovely songs. So what? In retrospect, Streisand's "Star is Born" ranks down there with Lucille Ball's "Mame," compared to "The Rose." Plus: ever see Midler's "Mama Rose" on TV in "Gypsy?" Miss Midler can act rings around Miss Streisand. And that's saying something! Of course, Streisand can outsing ANYBODY.Guess it all evens out.