Is Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1996)
Margo Channing's famous line, "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night," characterizes well the actress who played her in All About Eve--the inimitable Bette Davis. I...
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of Documentary cinema, then Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis offers a fresh and engaging experience that justifies its existence in the 1996 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
📖 The Core Premise
Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis returns to the screen in 1996, bringing a fresh narrative to the Documentary genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Margo Channing's famous line, "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night," characterizes well the actress who played her in All About Eve--the inimitable Bette Davis. In fact, Davis's son comments in Lifetime's Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis that watching Margo Channing is much like watching Bette Davis. Davis's film career spanned six decades, in which she starred in 112 films, receiving 10 Academy Award nominations and 2 Oscars. Yet her life was not always the charmed one of a starlet; from a broken home, herself three times divorced, once widowed, betrayed by her own daughter's scathing biography, Davis found solace in her work, which didn't always come easy for her. When she first approached Hollywood in 1930, the studios didn't know what to do with such an odd beauty. This portrait of the actress covers a lot of ground, and leaves you wanting more."
🎬 Performance & Direction
A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis, Bette Davis delivers a performance that anchors the emotional weight of the film. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.
🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)
Is Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. It stands out as one of the stronger entries of 1996, offering enough depth to satisfy critical viewers while remaining accessible to casual audiences.
🏆 Final Verdict
Ultimately, Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis is a solid addition to the genre.
With a runtime of 60 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.
Our recommendation: Definitely Watch.
⏳ Time Investment
At approximately 1.0 hours, the film requires a standard time commitment.