I have never seen a single Barbra Streisand movie--not even The Way We Were--nor listened to any of her music. I actually know almost nothing about her, other than she's Jewish, refused to get a nose job, her nickname is Babs (at least in the media world), and people worship her. So this will be interesting.
Career Accolades
Barbra was born in Brooklyn, and at age 18 she walked into a club and entered and won a singing contest. she went to Broadway and by age 21 she was Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, which she reprised in the film version and for which she won an Oscar. In 1983 she went behind the camera, as the first woman to direct, produce, and star in a film, called Yentl. Over the last 5 decades she has won 2 Oscars, 11 Golden Globes, 1 Tony, 8 Grammys, and 5 Emmys (another EGOT!). She's also sold 70 million albums and has sold out many tours.
Looking Back
When she comes out, the audience literally goes crazy. Women are crying, dancing, and just thrilled. Oprah asks if it ever gets old, and Barbra says it's very nice. Oprah asks how she's doing, and Barbra says she has just returned from eating and gaining weight at spas abroad. Oprah asks if Barbra feels pride looking back, but Barbra says that she tries to live in the moment and not get too wrapped up in her career, which she says she realizes from the video montage is a very long one.
The Music
Oprah recounts a phone conversation in which Barbra told her she never meant to be a singer, and that she doesn't even love it that much. Barbra clarifies that she loves singing when it's just her and the music, but that when there's the performance aspect there is a pressure added. She doesn't want to disappoint anyone. Barbra loves the music, but she says she can't sing in someone's living room because the pressure affects her. Barbra jokes about the person in the front row of a concert, who thinks that because they paid more money they are entitled to be more critical, and she prefers her fans who are "up there", pointing toward where the nosebleed seats would be.
James Brolin
Married for 12 years, and dating before that, Oprah asks Barbra what her husband has taught her about love. Barbra replies that she has to watch her tone. Oprah then asks what being married has taught Barbra about herself. Barbra says they are tough questions, and Oprah says it's their last time! Barbra says she likes companionship, that she doesn't like to be alone, but that you have to really work at it. Oprah says that she has learned with Steadman (Graham), her partner, which she clarifies to all that she chose not to be married, she has learned that she thinks, "it takes a special man to be with a woman who has the kind of light on me that I have and to be his own self." They agree that this is true with Barbra's husband Josh, as well.
Babs' Leading Men
Oprah's producers sat down with some of the men who have starred opposite Barbra throughout the years. Jeff Bridges says that while she's amazingly talented, he loves the down home side of Barbra. Mandy Patinkin describes refusing to add a kiss into his movie with her, and now he wishes he would have kissed her. Barbra seems to get a kick out of that. Her intense scenes with Nick Nolte were, as he says, a bit too real and too hot. Kris Kristofferson describes a famous bathtub scene with Barbra as one of of the sexiest he has ever done and says it "always brings a smile to [his] face."
Robert Redford
Barbra then sings the title track from her very famous movie The Way We Were. I can't lie--so boring! I fast-forwarded through the singing, but had to stop a bit because just as Oprah tells Barbra, "I heard you've never done an interview together," women start screaming and the man himself walks out onto the stage. After a break, Oprah tells us in a voice over about the storyline of the movie: basically, opposites attract and it's passionate but ill-fated. Oprah says that she's wanted Robert on the show for 25 years, and it was them playing tribute to Barbra that got him to agree to come.
Robert Redford on Hubell
Barbra wonders aloud why they've never done an interview together, and Robert quips that it's because the thought he'd never get a word in. Oprah asks him if it's true that he almost turned down his role in the movie, and Barbra emphatically replies, "Oh, yes!" Honestly, it's a delectable TV moment as all three--and the audience, and me, too!--burst into laughter at the irony. Robert says that he thought the character in the original script was like a Ken doll, too one dimensional and not flawed or realistic.
Chemistry
Oprah says that what blew people away was the chemistry between Barbra and Robert. Redford expresses that he originally saw her as incredibly talented in the music genre but was concerned whether she'd do the work to be a great actress. The director, Sydney Pollack, wanted Redford to talk to the incredibly nervous Barbra before their first scene, but Redford refused. He felt that her being nervous in the scene where they first meet would be good, and the chemistry could develop organically throughout the film, and it did.
Tidbits
After a montage of Robert Redford's film accolades and career achievements, we're back to him, Oprah, and Barbra Streisand. Redford is the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, and he's renowned for the work he has done to create opportunities for "new voices, new artists." Oprah is surprised to hear Barbra call Robert "Bob" and we learn that Barbra has such a poor sense of direction that when she was doing Yentl they had to put yellow tape from the set to her trailer because she kept getting lost.
No The Way We Were Sequel
Barbra says that she wanted to do a sequel because she thought there was a great story to be told about the couple's daughter from the original film. Robert felt that it was best to leave a good thing alone. However, though, he never saw the real film. He saw the rough cut but never the finished product. Oprah is shocked and Redford admits that when he's wrong, he's really wrong.
Barbra's Dream Home
Barbra recently published her first book, My Passion for Design
. It took her 16 years to build and design her dream home on the California coast. We learn that Barbra has always loved barns, that they feel very Ameican to her. She has chickens, a pond with fish, a huge water wheel, and water lillies. Her barn themed home has a stone silo and eagle weathervane from 1850 that she bought at auction. She has streams and many water features because she loves the tranquility of water. Barbra was involved in every knob, brick, and stone that went into her house.
Barbra's home actually is three houses--the barn house, the formal home. Her guest home is Cape Cod themed and faces the ocean, which is where she does her recording. It's simply a very feminine, frilly room and she sets up a mic and music stand to record. Her basement is a "street of shops". She has a lot of stuff that she loves collecting, so instead of putting it in storage, her basement appears to be like a street with little shops and her items are on display. I'm glad I don't do her dusting!
Why She Chose Her Charity
A portion of all proceeds will go to women's cardiovascular health. Barbra was shocked to find out that heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. She asks if Oprah knows that, and Oprah says she did. Barbra's shocked that Oprah knew, and Oprah quips, "I do the Oprah show!" Barbra is raising money for a charity that will help with women's cardiovascular health, hoping to raise $5 million dollars that she will match with her own money.
Greatness
There's a wonderful clip of Oprah sitting down with barbra 14 years ago, telling Barbra that she's the ultimate star. This is because Barbra at her best makes Oprah want to reach for and be her best, and that's what a true star does. If that doesn't set up my Gospel Filter Review, I don't know what does!
Oprah thanks her for visiting one more time, plugs the book again, tells the screaming audience that they each get a copy and we're out!
Gospel Filter Review (GFR)
This review is super simple--I have written about greatness many times before and it's best to point you to those. The simple recap, though, is what Oprah herself said, just redeemed. Oprah told Barbra that her being a star inspires Oprah to shine her brightest, basically. This is partially true. God's best for us is when we worship Him with the ways He has created us to be. If we can sing like Barbra, praise God! Jesus doesn't want us to hide in a corner with our mouth shut. He gifted the person with that voice! Only, it's not so we can shine like our own star and to feel great about ourselves for our own glory. It's not even about helping or blessing other people. It's about living for Jesus, worshiping him with our gifts, and serving and blessing others out of worshiping Jesus for His glory and not our own. Jesus Himself lived that way!
Again, this is covered in depth in other posts, so if you're new, check those out!
Up Tomorrow
Career Accolades
Barbra was born in Brooklyn, and at age 18 she walked into a club and entered and won a singing contest. she went to Broadway and by age 21 she was Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, which she reprised in the film version and for which she won an Oscar. In 1983 she went behind the camera, as the first woman to direct, produce, and star in a film, called Yentl. Over the last 5 decades she has won 2 Oscars, 11 Golden Globes, 1 Tony, 8 Grammys, and 5 Emmys (another EGOT!). She's also sold 70 million albums and has sold out many tours.
Looking Back
When she comes out, the audience literally goes crazy. Women are crying, dancing, and just thrilled. Oprah asks if it ever gets old, and Barbra says it's very nice. Oprah asks how she's doing, and Barbra says she has just returned from eating and gaining weight at spas abroad. Oprah asks if Barbra feels pride looking back, but Barbra says that she tries to live in the moment and not get too wrapped up in her career, which she says she realizes from the video montage is a very long one.
The Music
Oprah recounts a phone conversation in which Barbra told her she never meant to be a singer, and that she doesn't even love it that much. Barbra clarifies that she loves singing when it's just her and the music, but that when there's the performance aspect there is a pressure added. She doesn't want to disappoint anyone. Barbra loves the music, but she says she can't sing in someone's living room because the pressure affects her. Barbra jokes about the person in the front row of a concert, who thinks that because they paid more money they are entitled to be more critical, and she prefers her fans who are "up there", pointing toward where the nosebleed seats would be.
James Brolin
Married for 12 years, and dating before that, Oprah asks Barbra what her husband has taught her about love. Barbra replies that she has to watch her tone. Oprah then asks what being married has taught Barbra about herself. Barbra says they are tough questions, and Oprah says it's their last time! Barbra says she likes companionship, that she doesn't like to be alone, but that you have to really work at it. Oprah says that she has learned with Steadman (Graham), her partner, which she clarifies to all that she chose not to be married, she has learned that she thinks, "it takes a special man to be with a woman who has the kind of light on me that I have and to be his own self." They agree that this is true with Barbra's husband Josh, as well.
Babs' Leading Men
Oprah's producers sat down with some of the men who have starred opposite Barbra throughout the years. Jeff Bridges says that while she's amazingly talented, he loves the down home side of Barbra. Mandy Patinkin describes refusing to add a kiss into his movie with her, and now he wishes he would have kissed her. Barbra seems to get a kick out of that. Her intense scenes with Nick Nolte were, as he says, a bit too real and too hot. Kris Kristofferson describes a famous bathtub scene with Barbra as one of of the sexiest he has ever done and says it "always brings a smile to [his] face."
Robert Redford
Barbra then sings the title track from her very famous movie The Way We Were. I can't lie--so boring! I fast-forwarded through the singing, but had to stop a bit because just as Oprah tells Barbra, "I heard you've never done an interview together," women start screaming and the man himself walks out onto the stage. After a break, Oprah tells us in a voice over about the storyline of the movie: basically, opposites attract and it's passionate but ill-fated. Oprah says that she's wanted Robert on the show for 25 years, and it was them playing tribute to Barbra that got him to agree to come.
Robert Redford on Hubell
Barbra wonders aloud why they've never done an interview together, and Robert quips that it's because the thought he'd never get a word in. Oprah asks him if it's true that he almost turned down his role in the movie, and Barbra emphatically replies, "Oh, yes!" Honestly, it's a delectable TV moment as all three--and the audience, and me, too!--burst into laughter at the irony. Robert says that he thought the character in the original script was like a Ken doll, too one dimensional and not flawed or realistic.
Chemistry
Oprah says that what blew people away was the chemistry between Barbra and Robert. Redford expresses that he originally saw her as incredibly talented in the music genre but was concerned whether she'd do the work to be a great actress. The director, Sydney Pollack, wanted Redford to talk to the incredibly nervous Barbra before their first scene, but Redford refused. He felt that her being nervous in the scene where they first meet would be good, and the chemistry could develop organically throughout the film, and it did.
Tidbits
After a montage of Robert Redford's film accolades and career achievements, we're back to him, Oprah, and Barbra Streisand. Redford is the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, and he's renowned for the work he has done to create opportunities for "new voices, new artists." Oprah is surprised to hear Barbra call Robert "Bob" and we learn that Barbra has such a poor sense of direction that when she was doing Yentl they had to put yellow tape from the set to her trailer because she kept getting lost.
No The Way We Were Sequel
Barbra says that she wanted to do a sequel because she thought there was a great story to be told about the couple's daughter from the original film. Robert felt that it was best to leave a good thing alone. However, though, he never saw the real film. He saw the rough cut but never the finished product. Oprah is shocked and Redford admits that when he's wrong, he's really wrong.
Barbra's Dream Home
Barbra recently published her first book, My Passion for Design
. It took her 16 years to build and design her dream home on the California coast. We learn that Barbra has always loved barns, that they feel very Ameican to her. She has chickens, a pond with fish, a huge water wheel, and water lillies. Her barn themed home has a stone silo and eagle weathervane from 1850 that she bought at auction. She has streams and many water features because she loves the tranquility of water. Barbra was involved in every knob, brick, and stone that went into her house.Barbra's home actually is three houses--the barn house, the formal home. Her guest home is Cape Cod themed and faces the ocean, which is where she does her recording. It's simply a very feminine, frilly room and she sets up a mic and music stand to record. Her basement is a "street of shops". She has a lot of stuff that she loves collecting, so instead of putting it in storage, her basement appears to be like a street with little shops and her items are on display. I'm glad I don't do her dusting!
Why She Chose Her Charity
A portion of all proceeds will go to women's cardiovascular health. Barbra was shocked to find out that heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. She asks if Oprah knows that, and Oprah says she did. Barbra's shocked that Oprah knew, and Oprah quips, "I do the Oprah show!" Barbra is raising money for a charity that will help with women's cardiovascular health, hoping to raise $5 million dollars that she will match with her own money.
Greatness
There's a wonderful clip of Oprah sitting down with barbra 14 years ago, telling Barbra that she's the ultimate star. This is because Barbra at her best makes Oprah want to reach for and be her best, and that's what a true star does. If that doesn't set up my Gospel Filter Review, I don't know what does!
Oprah thanks her for visiting one more time, plugs the book
again, tells the screaming audience that they each get a copy and we're out!Gospel Filter Review (GFR)
This review is super simple--I have written about greatness many times before and it's best to point you to those. The simple recap, though, is what Oprah herself said, just redeemed. Oprah told Barbra that her being a star inspires Oprah to shine her brightest, basically. This is partially true. God's best for us is when we worship Him with the ways He has created us to be. If we can sing like Barbra, praise God! Jesus doesn't want us to hide in a corner with our mouth shut. He gifted the person with that voice! Only, it's not so we can shine like our own star and to feel great about ourselves for our own glory. It's not even about helping or blessing other people. It's about living for Jesus, worshiping him with our gifts, and serving and blessing others out of worshiping Jesus for His glory and not our own. Jesus Himself lived that way!
Again, this is covered in depth in other posts, so if you're new, check those out!
Up Tomorrow
Do You Believe In Miracles?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep comments on topic and respectful. So long as they meet these guidelines they will be posted. I'm not here to avoid other points of view; I am here, however, to ensure that people aren't allowed to be hurtful toward others.