On O List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)


The Object of Beauty (1991)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 3/15

ObjBe
3/15: It's not often there's a film about people who have financial issues but still live beyond their means.

In fact, it never happens. Hence, The Object of Beauty is a rare gem. The primary reasons to watch it are Andie MacDowell and John Malkovich. They're both wonderful.

What makes them engaging is how real the characters are in the face of their problems. Jake and Tina are never daunted about their mounting debt, and they try to get by living the life, enjoying it, and staying positive. Sure enough, they start to panic a bit when the search for the Henry Moore statue lingers longer than expected. They take it in stride and look for alternative solutions to get out of the hole. Jake reading aloud his own obituary is funny.

Obviously, if the statue had been locked up in a safe, there's no story and thus no movie; but they not doing it tells me that Jake and Tina are careless people and take life for granted. Although well dressed and handsome, they have deep character flaws which make them loose with their money and have no values to live by because they're unable to grow up. In short, they are children trapped in adult bodies who have been pampered too much by their upper-class lifestyle.

Another rarity is the accuracy of the deaf mute chambermaid. Michael Lindsay-Hogg gets her character right and has a clear insight into how they are in general. Truth be told, deaf people tend to be among the dumbest people and have 3rd to 4th reading and writing levels due to language issues. Regardless of how normal they look, job discrimination is common because of communication and prejudice. Oftentimes, deaf people are either unemployed or underemployed, so they end up collecting welfare checks while staying home.

All in all, The Object of Beauty needs a stronger hook to become a very compelling film, but I've enjoyed it nonetheless, thanks to Andie MacDowell and John Malkovich.