Perfectly adorable

Good concept, poorly executed.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

While watching this film about an excessive and compulsive rock star, I had to wonder if Bette Midler had ever been drunk in her life, or even gotten laid, much less experimented with drugs. It seemed she had no personal experience to draw from to create the mannerisms and expressions required of her character. Has she ever even seen a rock concert? It was all melodrama barely fit for a TV series. She certainly gave it the old college try. Her effort, at least, can't faulted while she's in front of the camera, but it seemed to me that there was an appalling lack of research done for her role and even less for the other minor characters. I just found the whole thing painful and tedious and most of all, way too long. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I am totally blown away that she was nominated for an Academy award and that there are so many gushing reviews. I didn't think it was possible to have such a completely opposite reaction to a film, but that is the beauty of individuality, I suppose. Perhaps the attraction is just seeing Midler so out of character, but to me it is totally unconvincing and no other aspect of the film steps in to fill that void. If I never have to sit through this again, it'll be too soon.

I'm at a loss to explain the success of this movie. It's not that it was awful, but I didn't see anything that special about it. Maybe there was something groundbreaking in 1979 that I'm missing, having not seen it then.Short form, I feel like all I saw was Bette Midler alternately crying and screaming. This may well be what such people go through, and to her credit, Midler cries and screams with the best of them, but I'm exhausted, and not in a cathartic way. I'm exhausted from trying to find some reason to care about this character, who never seems to be empathetic, and never seems to make any good decisions. To make matters worse, I've watched the film on This TV, which pads movies with extra commercials, so I've had three hours of crying and screaming.If this truly was Janis Joplin's life, if there was never a happy moment for her to just relax and enjoy, then I feel for the poor child.

First-rate rock'n'roll road film.When I saw it in the theaters the year it was released I was a. totally impressed by it as a film and b. totally sympathetic with Rose.I have to say though that 10 years later as a manager and agent for musicians (not rock'n'roll and certainly not on the scale presented in the film) I had a whole new appreciation for people who possessed one undeniable talent yet made life hell for those who worked to help them make a living at it! Having managed one very popular high-end Irish booze-hungry performer who showed up when he felt like it ("I know when the sound check should be") and also felt free to book conflicting dates on his own when he felt the money would be better -- AFTER a contract had been signed! -- I felt huge sympathy for Rudge Campbell. Yes he might have been a little too money hungry but by god he was right when he "fired" her... once the contract is signed it's too late to change your mind.Bottom line though is that this is a fine film and a very accurate record of how an unstable performer can run herself into the ground.

First of all, everyone who saw this movie in 1979 (as I did) knew it was supposed to be about Janis Joplin. There was otherwise no point to the movie. A lot of the details were different, but The Rose's life was the same kind of train wreck as Janis Joplin's life. The Rose is a character that is impossible to admire. She had it all and blew it. She was stupid. An idiot. She took her somewhat marginal talents -- used them and abused them -- made lots of money and instead of living the good life descended into a hell of personal despair. I don't feel sorry for people like that. As for the singing, one can take only so much of Miss Middler's caterwauling; enough is enough. Her occasional appearances on TV were more than enough. Over 2 hours of her pseudo-Ethel-Mermanesque screeching is more than any human should endure. Most of the other characters in this film are unlikeable and despicable as well. There are no positive role models. Nothing but tragedy, bad sex, bad drugs and alcohol. This isn't entertainment. It's overwrought theatrical angst!It's typical overindulgence on the part of Hollywood -- in which the lives of movie stars and rock stars are made to seem soooo tragic. I feel so sorry for these spoiled and over-rich babies. Not!