The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Barbra Streisand

Writers:

André Cayatte (screenplay) and
Gérard Oury (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

There are two things a woman knows: what she's looking for and what she'll settle for.

Plot:

Rose and Gregory, both Columbia University professors meet when Rose's sister answers Gregory's "personals" ad...

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Makeover | Literature | Love | Math

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Barbra Streisand	...	Rose Morgan
Jeff Bridges	...	Gregory Larkin
Lauren Bacall	...	Hannah Morgan
George Segal	...	Henry Fine
Mimi Rogers	...	Claire
Pierce Brosnan	...	Alex
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Doris
Austin Pendleton	...	Barry
Elle Macpherson	...	Candice
Ali Marsh	...	Girl student #1
Leslie Stefanson	...	Sara Myers
Taina Elg	...	Female professor
Lucy Avery Brooks	...	Felicia
Amber Smith	...	Felicia on video
David Kinzie	...	Claire's masseur

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sensuality and some mature thematic material.

Runtime:

126 min | Poland:122 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (video rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Poland:15 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

505 West End Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Barwood Films

Trivia:

Harrison Ford was originally approached to play the male lead.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera operator visible when Rose rejects Alex.

Quotes:

Henry Fine: I don't date these girls becuase they're well-read. I gave one of them a copy of "Farewell to Arms". She thought it was a diet book.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Mike Myers/Aerosmith (#22.16)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

I Finally Found Someone

A wonderful film!

The Mirror Has Two Faces is one of Barbra's finest works. In this movie you have two people,(Barbra and Jeff Bridges),who are both weary and skeptical about "true" love, but both have different outlooks on it. Barbra is optimistic and hopeful, while Jeff Bridges feels that the only way to make a relationship last is to completely take the sex out of it and have a loving friendship only,(one based strictly on companionship). The movie explores both of the main characters inner fears and inner struggles in a way that, not unless you're not human, you can certainly relate with. For instance: In reality, Barbra's character felt inwardly about herself that she wasn't good enough....wasn't attractive enough. She liked the idea of marrying Jeff Bridges character under the premise of strictly a loving companionship only because her character feels...well, my goodness! Here's a really handsome man that really likes me and likes being with me. He wants to take sex out of the equation, but...that's okay. It's NOT what I really want, but I'll "SETTLE". On the other hand, Jeff Bridges character, Gregory, feels that with all his failed relationships of the past, that if he takes sex out of the picture, that maybe, just maybe, it'll last. He wants a true, loving, one on one relationship with another woman but he really doesn't want to have it be without physical love either. But...out of fear that it wont last, he decides that he's got to take the physical part out of it, even though deep down inside, he doesn't really want that. So...he "SETTLES" as well. In reality, they have both truly fallen in love with each other, but both are trying to abide by what they both agreed to; a loving friendship only, with absolutely no physical love. This creates many, many tense situations between them that end up creating very funny scenes and lines. Theres a scene right after they get married and the two of them are in their home, all done for the day unpacking and getting settled. Jeff Bridge's character says to Barbra's..."So! What do you want to do now?" Barbra, innocently meaning to suggest they both go to sleep, shrugs her shoulders and says..."Go to bed". Jeff's eyes get all nervous looking and he starts having difficulty breathing. Barbra's character replies..."No! I mean, to sleep, that is! One goes to bed...to sleep!" A little later on she is unloading all this frustration and tension to her sister Claire in a phone conversation. She says..."I don't know how to ask for it Claire!" Meaning sex. She continues to say..."Sometimes we're so "polite" to each other I feel like we're two roommates living in a charm school!" Her sister replies..."Just give him a "look" that makes him "know" you want sex!" Barbra's character then replies..."I tried that once. He thought I had something in my eye!" Yes indeed, there are many great moments in this film. In the end, what's great is that both of the characters understand that what they did was "settle", and "settling", especially with something as important as true love is never a good idea. But more importantly, they learn that in the end, anything truly worthwhile, sometimes you have to take risks for. Unless you are really that jaded, you can not leave this movie by it's end without feeling,(even if just a little),good! The supporting cast is great, including Lauren Bacall, Brenda Vacaro and George Segal. A wonderful film. Truly one of Barbra's finest.