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Post by dirtypillows on May 12, 2020 21:12:43 GMT
"Funny Girl" and "Funny Lady" aside, Barbra Streisand really is a very funny individual. She really does crack me up in just about anything I've ever seen her in, including interviews. Even when she doesn't mean to be funny, she's still funny.
Other than the fact that she's Jewish and I happen to find the Jewish take on things very often very funny, I don't know what it is about her that I find so amusing. Her brashness, maybe? Her deadpan delivery? "You know what I mean, Sam?"
I know she has that beautiful, amazing singing voice, but that's not my favorite thing about her. I don't even see her as being all that difficult (of course, I've never been around her) Though she does seem very high strung and very neurotic.
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Post by dirtypillows on May 13, 2020 12:05:49 GMT
I love Streisand, always have. She is one talented wowser. I do think she would be high maintenance by all accounts and I have read 2 biographies about her. Regarding her sense of humor, she is quick witted and sharp. Great with throwaways and her own unique inflection when infused into them, her expressions as well, What’s Up Doc and For Pete’s Sake, she is in top comedy form. She knows where the laugh lies and she is natural about it too. Yes, she is very natural in the way she delivers her lines. She comes across as unassuming even, which makes her "funny person" quality a joy. I suppose she really is very, very savvy. How could she not be? I like that you used the term "high maintenance" rather than "difficult" because I think there's a difference. I watch her in interviews or preparing for a show or during a recording session and I've never seen her yell or even get all that angry at somebody. I do sense the neuroticism, though. I think that's been pretty obvious from the beginning. She also does not come across as conceited or arrogant in the least. Now I'm sure she has a sizable ego, but I just can't perceive any real unpleasantness there. Again, maybe the fact that she is so naturally a very funny person, this tempers the rest. I have seen interviewers go after her with blood in their eyes. Pauline Kael once said that Streisand was not somebody who needed to be treated with kid gloves and that is probably true, but some of these interviewers just wanted to really trip her up. I remember this one man who showed Barbra scorn and contempt because she had been in therapy for several years. What a dick! I do like her, though. She was appealing in "What's Up Doc?" and she was never more beautiful. (And I do think she was beautiful. In no way did her nose make her "ugly", something I never did get.) But I really did not like that movie. I found it a bit strenuous. When Sorrell Booke tripped Mabel Albertson was the best part. I laughed HARD at that part. But I did like "For Pete's Sake" just fine. And Barbra was even funnier here. |
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Post by dirtypillows on May 13, 2020 14:30:31 GMT
Yes, she is very natural in the way she delivers her lines. She comes across as unassuming even, which makes her "funny person" quality a joy. I suppose she really is very, very savvy. How could she not be? I like that you used the term "high maintenance" rather than "difficult" because I think there's a difference. I watch her in interviews or preparing for a show or during a recording session and I've never seen her yell or even get all that angry at somebody. I do sense the neuroticism, though. I think that's been pretty obvious from the beginning. She also does not come across as conceited or arrogant in the least. Now I'm sure she has a sizable ego, but I just can't perceive any real unpleasantness there. Again, maybe the fact that she is so naturally a very funny person, this tempers the rest. I have seen interviewers go after her with blood in their eyes. Pauline Kael once said that Streisand was not somebody who needed to be treated with kid gloves and that is probably true, but some of these interviewers just wanted to really trip her up. I remember this one man who showed Barbra scorn and contempt because she had been in therapy for several years. What a dick! I do like her, though. She was appealing in "What's Up Doc?" and she was never more beautiful. (And I do think she was beautiful. In no way did her nose make her "ugly", something I never did get.) But I really did not like that movie. I found it a bit strenuous. When Sorrell Booke tripped Mabel Albertson was the best part. I laughed HARD at that part. But I did like "For Pete's Sake" just fine. And Barbra was even funnier here. Streisand would know her boundaries and losing it, even if she felt like it, is not good form or professionalism in the industry. She would keep herself surrounded by industry professionals and would know how to illicit respect from others. Michael Caine in one of his books, said he learned a big lesson from James Clavell, who had to take him aside and give him some words of wisdom when he lost it on a film set once. Yes, her ego would be large, but she is a superduper star and of all the women in the world, if I had to be a woman, I would want to be like her. Her neurosis also tempers her and I would say this is born out of her own narcissistic tendencies, but much of who she is, would also be her survival technique. She appears to know what she wants and has the tenacity and integrity to get it. She is also a fine director in her own right. She understands the visual medium of film and illicits fine performances from her cast. I have read she does tend to take over productions, even if not credited as director. She uses them for fronts. I am pleased you have mentioned about What’s Up Doc. You beat me to it. She has never looked more beautiful that I recall on screen in her earlier period, than what she did here. I am also not overly sold on the film though. O’Neal ruins much of it for me. It is too chaotic and wacky as well and I find it frustrating and annoying. For Pete’s Sake, Streisand is a lot more relatable, she is very funny and the film is warmer. Nice pairing too, with the pleasing eye candy of Sarrazin. He turned down Joe Buck apparently. I don't think I knew about Sarrazin being a contender for Joe Buck. He was certainly nice looking enough and he exuded the character's sweet-naive-vulnerable qualities. Though Jon Voight was just about perfection in the part. |
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Post by onethreetwo on May 13, 2020 14:32:47 GMT
I watched Hello Dolly a couple weeks ago and she was so, so funny in it. Really. I've been dying to watch it again since.
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Post by dirtypillows on May 13, 2020 18:42:15 GMT
I watched Hello Dolly a couple weeks ago and she was so, so funny in it. Really. I've been dying to watch it again since. I've never seen "Hello Dolly", but I can see it being funny. I will have to look around for it. Thanks! |
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Post by movielover on May 14, 2020 1:04:04 GMT
Her funniest performance was in What's Up, Doc? |
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