The Birdcage (1996)

For the longest time I thought Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jerry O'Connell were the kids. I am going crazy!

Bros is 14 million away from making its budget back. Go and see it instead of calling it a flop. It’s actually good.

Yes, I love this movie. Its just got that "something" that makes it great. The casting is perfect. Dan Futterman ( my heart be still). That movie really has magic.

R2 - Hello Billy. I see you have some free time to spend on DL.

But taking a thread like this off-topic is not the way to win the votes you’re so desperately seeking.

Dianne Wiest was my favorite in this. I am Dianne Wiest in this movie. I am nobody's favorite. I never will be.

I was dreading seeingthe Birdcage because I've always loved La Cage A. F. so much but it did ANYTHING but disappoint. I still love that film. One of my comfort watches to this day.

“she works hard for the money, ee-EE, ee-EE.”

Chewing gum helps me think.

One does want a hint of color

I like the movie a great deal, while also accepting it features the kind of gays America is comfortable with: sexless stereotypes.

It has so many funny moments, but the movie doesn’t get enough credit for the filmmaking. Emmanuel Lubezki does some really amazing camera work, and the craftsmanship that Mike Nichols brings to the movie is far above what most comedy directors even think of attempting.

When the schnecken beckons!

You afraid of my Guatamalan-ness!

Hank Azaria was a riot in Birdcage!

I don't think there was a bad performance in this.

Yeah but…now is the time to pretend.

Was this 90s-icon Calista Flockhart's only movie? This is the only time I remember her being on the big screen.

Although I do think the foliage in Ohio is underrated.

R17, she did A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1999 opposite Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett and Kevin Kline.

I believe Pirin Tablets are good for pointless bitchery.

"Look at these lovely old books!......... Nancy Drew and the Case of the Burning Candle... You have the whole series!(?)!!"

If you’re going to kill someone, kill the mothers; that’ll stop them.

With Academy Award-nominated production design by Bo Welch (husband of DL fave Catherine O'Hara), and costumes by two-time Academy Award winner Ann Roth IN ADDITION to the highly-quotable script, and wonderful performances by the cast, this is one of my favorites. It's also a comfort film for me as it is for others in this thread.

"Mi caribeñismo"

Would have liked it better if Robin Williams wasn't in it. Not a fan.

The stereotypes are fairly offensive, as they were even then. I enjoyed the original more—it displayed more wit and charm.

[Quote]Easily one of the funniest movies of all time.

Yes, let's have a laugh at those gays. Much more comfortable territory.

When the fuck are they going to release it in the television form with all the deleted scenes?!?!?!?

It was only 13 minutes, but it was extra.

It's not even on the blu-ray!!

Amazing film! So many quotable lines that have endured to this day. The movie was perfectly cast. Were there some over-the-top stereotypes, of course! But all in the name of clever satire.

A classic no doubt.

What a beautifully contructed and tightly edited film.

Do people still make those?

The film is almost perfect, but Futterman gives a humorless performance of a role that’s already pretty horrible — in how he treats his parents. Gene Hackman and Dianne Weist shouldawondaOscar!

I've got to sit out this thread. I have never understood this movie's appeal. I love some of the performances, but the film as a whole? Not for me.

No one has mentioned Nathan Lane’s performance.. or is it too close to home?

[quote]I've got to sit out this thread

Yet, here you are!! Hmmmm?????

To be kind, it's problematic. I thought it was back when it first opened and it sure as hell is now.

^^^^^^^^r35 Problem Glasses Glenda HAS SPOKEN

What a fucking minstrel show. It's a disgrace.

At the end when Gene Hackman dresses in drag, I always thought he looked just like Tina Yothers.

I think the scene on the bench between Robin and Nathan makes the whole film.

Nathan Lane is exhausting and exasperating in this movie.

R38 I always thought Olympia Dukakis

Can we just appreciate Dianne Wiest in this. She is so sweet throughout the entire movie and gets shit on. She is also the one who thinks something fishy is going on. She's smarter than her husband. The only one who is genuinely nice to her is Robin Williams.

I hate stereotypes in films

[quote]At the end when Gene Hackman dresses in drag, I always thought he looked just like Tina Yothers.

"I don't wanna be the only girl not dancing!"

Still not as funny as the original La Cage.

It was sanitized for the masses as there is zero sexual interaction between Williams and Lane. Ofc the houseboy steals the show. It's enjoyable and touching in parts. Williams seemed completely unbelievable to me in his role.

Nope, Flockhart was in some strange horror movie, I think about a haunted nursery or something.

[quote] I hate stereotypes in films

Isn't that what the movie is about though? Nathan Lane's character is being shunned by his own husband because he is so unapologetically flamboyant. Both are taking the journey where they learn that you can be whatever you want to be and be proud of it. The movie's message would have been a lot harder to convey if they had been all non-flamboyant. Some of the characters had to hit the stereotype hard to make the movie work.

I don't get what you're talking about sexless romance? I think Williams and Lane clearly show their love for each other. Their love and bond, to me, is more important than a sex scene.

We don't see Hackman and Wiest have a sex scene. Or Flockhart and Futterman.

I don't think any of the characters kiss either.

Yer money's on the dresser, Chocolate.

If you want to talk "minstrel show," go watch Kevin Kline's abominable In & Out.

R14 hilarious bt I can only imagine how many times HA would be cancelled nowadays for "gay facing·in that film....never mind he wouldn't be canceled because that performance would never have seen the light of day.

Every time I watch this movie, I find a new standout performance.

Christine Baranski was unexpectedly flat in this film, but that's probably just her character. She's not too vital to the plot, and the story of how she shat the kid but he was raised by gays was kinda skipped over. Did Armand BUY the baby?

I'm not saying you need to see them dry humping for godsakes, but I don't even remember a single sensual kiss.

R54 I disagree. I thought she did well. In the movie, it is established her and Armand had a one night stand. Armand wanted to try sex with a woman. She got pregnant and did not want the kid. Since the movie is set in the 1990's, my guess would be abortion was not talked about OR Armand wanted to do the right thing by raising it.

There is also the line that he helped out with her start up business. He might have bought Val that way.

I also think it is interesting that they are both still attracted to each other. Her looks and his touching. I got the feeling if Albert wasn't in the picture, they would get together. She is the complete opposite of Albert- she's cold, strong, and independent.

R55 It was a comedy made by and for 90s audiences.

Also, they are self-professed "Middle-Aged Fags" who've been together a long time and are frantically faking a domestic situation at a moment's notice. Sensuality isn't at the forefront of their minds.

R55 did they not kiss on the pier scene? I do remember they touched each other a lot in very intimate places.

It is a fantastic movie with one quotable line after another. We play it over at the beach all the time.

Problematic?? 🙄🙄🙄

Why would anyone expect these middle aged homos who had been together for decades to be hosting orgies and fucking randos on grindr (I know, it wasn't around in the 90s but I'm making a point)? Most middle aged people who aren't sex addicts don't do that. I thought this had just the right amount of touching scenes between them, like the park bench scene. They don't have to be having bareback sex scenes to show affection. Get over yourselves, this is a good movie.

“I don’t like this movie because of STEREOTYPES!”

That’s the whole point of the comedy, you insufferable, triggered homos.

When I think of what a DL is, I think of Albert from the Birdcage

There is some truth in all stereotypes. And movies like the Birdcage are poking fun at the stereotype. It's healthy to not take yourself too seriously and laugh at your eccentricities.

Go rest on the fainting couch, you triggered types. The rest of us will be laughing and enjoying the movie.

It’s mostly well done, and funny. But the story itself is pretty creepy and sad. Kid raised by 2 gay men wants them to lie and deceive so he can marry a conservative family’s daughter? It’s all kinds of wrong, then and now.

First movie to charge $10.00 a ticket in Manhattan at The Lowes Lincoln Square up by Lincoln Center.

I saw The Birdcage at the wrong time in my life- about 11 or 12- it was on tv, I probably shouldn't have been watching it. I knew I was gay and it was the first time I had seen gay people depicted on tv. I grew up in a small country town where the worst thing you could be was gay. I was shocked and ashamed of the stereotypes and was petrified I'd end up like Albert! Funny in hindsight but not at the time.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I prefer the original. The son doesn't act like a little bitch, for starters.

I aspire to be as confident as Albert. He owns his fey mannerisms, whereas I am sometimes embarrassed by my own.

At least Mike Nichols didn't cast Meryl in this.

I would have played Albert to perfection!

We like gay movies as long as they're portrayed as sexless in a movie made by straight people!

Mike Nichols straight?

R64, that’s the point of the movie, and the son comes to that realization that it’s wrong.

[quote] Kid raised by 2 gay men wants them to lie and deceive so he can marry a conservative family’s daughter? It’s all kinds of wrong, then and now.

And that's exactly the point the movie makes. Oh, and it's not a documentary.

Sorry but this sucks

Should have been titled “Bottom of the Birdcage”

It didn’t poke fun at the stereotypes as use the stereotypes for quick laughs…that’s why th movie was criticized back then and right here & now.

Then what the hell do you queens want?

Hollywood ignores gay stories unless it involves AIDS or serial killers - You protest

Hollywood makes big-budget mainstream comedies with A-listers playing gays - You protest

Hollywood hires gay writers and performers to put gay stories on film - Ho boy, do you people bitch about THAT too.

Hollywood gives Ryan Murphy and Jane Lynch solid careers - You complain that it's too much

Hollywood rectifies the same-sex abuse on people like Brendan Fraser and Anthony Rapp - You come here to make fun of their work

You nuts are just impossible to please. It's not the industry. It's you.

They stereotyped the Senator and his wife, too. WASPy as hell

Doesn't the Hallmark Channel make a few movies for gays now? I think these complainers should go watch those, except they'd complain about the lack of hardcore man-on-man sex scenes (which is why there's a multitude of porn available).

Like my dad used to say, wouldn't be satisfied in a pie shop!

Also, The Birdcage features DL fave Christine Baranski. I like the scene where she and Armand are dancing together in her office.

Agreed R77. I hated the 1996 version for the extreme hamminess of the two leads, for the non-stop hysterical shrieking, for the accentuated 'braveness' of the project, and, exactly as you say, for exploiting stereotypes for quick laughs. Inasmuch as I remember it, the earlier version at least had more of a sense of 'laughing at ourselves' and showed some humanity beneath the exaggerated exterior. I didn't feel that the original was meant to be viewed like animals in a zoo cage, so strange, so otherworldly, so unhuman, such freaks that we will laugh nervously at them.

Exaggeration is one thing, stereotypes are one thing, but to give in and make a film where the stereotypes of these quite ridiculous people are the only substance of the film makes it unwatchable for me.

R79 That is the PLOT!

Senator Keeley is *supposed to be* WASPy and uptight. He's the cofounder of the Coalition for Moral Order. He thinks Billy Graham is too liberal, and praises Rush Limbaugh's ravings. He is supposed to be a whitey-white caricature of conservatism.

As for the wife? Men like that tend to marry women like her.

R83 Exactly! They brought in all the stereotypes for the Keeley's AND Armand/Albert. Both sides were equally being made fun of.

Too bad Hank Arzaria is all woke now and disowns this film and his role.

OP- You think this is the funniest movie of all time?

You have VERY average taste.

The movie won the best ensemble award at the SAG awards that year but the committee threw some shade at Flockhart by not including her. It was only Williams, Lane, Futterman, Azaria, Hackman, Wiest and Baranski who were named winners.

Strange, when you gather an ensemble of talent how great things turn out.

Less strange: that’s more often not Cade, as in this picture. An * on Mike Nichols’ resume, box off notwithstanding. The subtlety and innovation in The Graduate, or Silkwood and more, is nowhere to be found here.

[quote]To be kind, it's problematic.

*eyeroll*

Take that shit back to Twitter you cunt.

*more often NOT the case

R87, Flockhart didn't get the SAG award because of a billing issue. SAG only gives the Ensemble award to actors who have have sole billing in the credits. Flockhart was billed along with (I think) Tom McGowan. It wasn't a reflection on her or her performance.

[quote]And that's exactly the point the movie makes. Oh, and it's not a documentary.

I swear they’re idiots looking to be offended any and everywhere. Decrying and missing the very fucking point of the movie. Jesus.

R93 the various criticisms you’ve disagreed with are not new—this same discussion was had when it was first released. They are still valid points for consideration.

R92 Thx for explaining how that works.

She should have fired her agent for that…$10 says that actors have standard clause(s) for that type of thing(?)

This movie was a smash hit in the spring of 1996.

It was #1 at the box office for about a month.

It ended up being the 9th highest-grossing film of the year.

It also did very well on home video later in the year.

Frankly, I'm surprised it did not receive much Oscar love save for one nod for its production design.

Dianne Wiest should've shared a few sammiches with Callista Flockhart.

A comedy that exaggerates character archetypes for laugh? Who has ever heard such a thing?

"How Egyptian!"

A comedy that insults gays via character archetypes for laughs?

Gosh R36, how many times did you upvote your response? LOL

Listen loser, if you want to watch a minstrel show mocking gays and Latinos then have it. Just know what you are.

[quote] “I don’t like this movie because of STEREOTYPES!” That’s the whole point of the comedy, you insufferable, triggered homos.

I couldn't agree MORE!! I mean, how funny would Amos n Andy be if they acted like everyday black people?

^ They only insulted your fragile ego. That's not their fault. Everybody does it. As they say: Even minorities should have the right to be ridiculed.

R104 - Wow, you are just utterly clueless. Well, it's comforting to know YOU weren't offended by Dumb and Dumber.

My brother was a fireman and he said there were several times where they went into a gay couple's house only to find it like the house in "The Birdcage" (before they "straightened" up). Pictures of nude men on the walls, penis sculptures, dildo cabinets, etc.

It wasn't funny

R106, was your brother a firefighter in a gayborhood?

Nathan Lane and husband recently bought a pre-war co-op on UWS of Manhattan, NY.

Deets...

R109 - Poor Nathan, every time he goes to that loo he'll be reminded of his spider veins. I see the sex dungeon wasn't ready for the photoshoot.

I had a hard time watching it after Robin Williams committed suicide.

Did you have to toss all your Arpad Miklos porn?

Bob Dole is gorgeous.

Hank Azaria was the worst thing about Birdcage, and that’s not saying much, every time he spoke it made me cringe. Just because you currently have a hate-boner for Eichner’s dull film doesn’t mean this pile of garbage was any better.

The movie’s not great, but it’s far better than the mess of a musical they slapped up on Broadway.

I’m watching on Tubi now.

I just watched the Birdcage too. I love their apartment over the club.

I watched it as a 9 year old boy and LOVED IT so much I got my parents to buy me the videotape and watched it many many times. Of course I didn't get all the jokes as a kid but watching it as an adult it is still hilarious. I watched it on a plane journey recently and was sick with laughter. One of Mike Nichols' best.

I never could figure out why they didn't have the dinner brought in and relied on Agador to cook.

stealth homophobe film

Oh, I see. You're going to the cemetery with your toothbrush. How Egyptian!

They actually followed the original closely which surprised me.

It wasn't as minstrel-y as "In & Out," but by today's standards, it's basically an Uncle Remus film.

Oddly enough, I find Hackman's and Wiest's characters to be the funniest.

[quote]Easily one of the funniest movies of all time. Probably the best gay-themed movie of all time.

Alternative view: Worse than fucking 'Some Like It Hot' because it came along 37 years later and "the best gay-themed film of all time" was still about hysterical, utterly useless drag queens.

[quote]Nathan Lane is exhausting and exasperating in this movie.

He's even more exhausting and exasperating in real life.

[quote]It was sanitized for the masses as there is zero sexual interaction between Williams and Lane.

True, but I thought there was genuine warmth & affecting between them. Who would've guessed that Williams was best at playing the straight guy (not literally in this case) to Lane's dizzy queen, though I thought as their son, Futterman's character was unworthy of their love. I thought William's speech about how he'd fought his whole life to be his authentic self & he wasn't going to do undo that in one night for some asshole senator was very moving. Williams really conveyed the sense of pain of what he was being asked to do.

I love "The Birdcage," but I actually liked "In and Out" better.

I thought the son was horrible the way he wanted to erase Albert, who was basically his mother. Even a slightly homophobic, but trying not to be, relative thought he was a shit.

In and Out was funny but that movie belonged to Joan Cusack.

Sen. Keeley and 'Mother' Coleman/Coldman had real chemistry, the kids were a total bore.

So many quotable lines from this film. So good.

…needed fresh newspaper to absorb all the shitty stereotypes in the script. Not good for Mike Nichols: a very steep decline from the days of The Graduate, a true comedy classic.

Your money's on the dresser, Chocolate!

[quote] "Flockhart didn't get the SAG award because of a billing issue. SAG only gives the Ensemble award to actors who have have sole billing in the credits. Flockhart was billed along with (I think) Tom McGowan. It wasn't a reflection on her or her performance."

Interesting, R92! I didn't know that's how that worked.

The French original is better but this is fun.

"La Cage aux Folles" (the French original) is on TCM tomorrow (Friday, 6/30) night. 10:30PM ET/7:30PM PT

Bump for prior thread.