Review of Backstage

Backstage (I) (1988)
2/10
A movie condemned by its own testimony
24 July 2001
It's a story about a charismatic American pop star who wants to become an actress but can't get a part in a play produced anywhere nearer than Australia. She is played by Laura Branigan, a charismatic American pop star who evidently wanted to become an actress but couldn't get a part in a movie produced anywhere nearer than Australia. The movie tells you what its own problem is: she wants a good juicy acting role but she isn't up to it yet. The public wishes she would stick to singing.

We do see Laura Branigan perform two songs, but they're not great songs (though the opening number is photographed in an exciting if dated blue-lighted style recalling Flashdance). Most of the movie is a highly stereotyped chick-flick story about achieving the summits of love and career. The supporting cast might as well be cut out of cardboard. But does Laura Branigan prove herself as an actress? I'd say yes, but not as a lead actress. She can't get enough emotional subtlety out through her pancake makeup.

By the way, the picture on the video package shows the Sydney Opera House but the movie is set in Melbourne. There does seem to be some nice scenery in that area, but only one brief sequence gives us the benefit of it.
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