Python Hyena Marvin's Room (1996): Dir: Jerry Zaks / Cast: Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn: Convicting drama about priorities that end in Marvin's room where love, unity and memories survive. Two sisters come together after seventeen years due too a health problem. Marvin is their father and he is under care by one of them. She is threatened with leukemia and is asked that her sister and two sons be tested for a cure. Her sister is about to earn a scholarship but her son interrupts things by burning the house down. He is institutionalized and released only to help the aunt he has never met. It is clear that he has differences with his mother but his aunt manages to form a connection. Outcome is predictable and flawed with its outlook on death. Directed by Jerry Zaks with an issues many households are affected by. Strong performances by Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton as the sisters. Streep is under pressure due too interrupted plans, and Keaton wishes for life and reconnection. DiCaprio steals scenes as Streep's son whose turnover is no surprise. Robert De Niro adds humour as the doctor who gives sound advice with the wink of an eye. Hume Cronyn plays Marvin who says nothing but much goes on within the confines of his bedroom. Strong theme of supporting others that stops dead at death instead of moving on. Score: 8 / 10

TxMike Even though it is almost 20 years old I only managed to see this movie now. It is mainly notable for DiCaprio's performance as a troubled teen right about the time he was in 'Romeo + Juliet', a movie I didn't care for, and about a year before 'Titanic' a movie I like very much.Meryl Streep is Lee, a hair dresser and not a very caring mother. She has two sons, Leonardo DiCaprio as 18-yr-old Hank and his younger brother Charlie. It is clear early that Hank does not like his mother and misses his dad. To the point that he takes a box of photos, dumps them on the upstairs bedroom floor, douses the pile with lighter fluid, and burns the pile.Unfortunately the whole house burns down so Hank ends up in a mental hospital to deal with his anger and poor decision-making.The movie's primary story really gets going when Lee's sister down in Florida, Diane Keaton as Bessie, lets her know that she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia and her only hope might be to get a marrow transplant from a suitable, compatible family member. So Lee, Hank, and Charlie make a road trip.The dad of the two sisters is Marvin, he is very sick and barely lucid, Bessie is his caregiver. He has his room he mostly stays in "Marvin's Room", which seems a rather arbitrary title to choose.The story is about family dynamics, including Hank's anger, Aunt Bessie seems to understand him and deals with him in a productive manner, something Lee can't quite seem to grasp. Bessie has no regrets, "there has been so much love in her live." When Lee agrees that people loves her she corrects that, it is the love Bessie has been able to give to others, something Lee had never understood before.Good, interesting movie but not great nor memorable.Robert De Niro has a nice supporting role as Bessie's physician, Dr. Wally. Old veteran Hume Cronyn, just a few years before he died, is Marvin.

mark.waltz There is going to be subtle debate for years as to which leading lady steals this film-Golden Globe Nominee Meryl Streep or Oscar Nominee Diane Keaton, playing unlikely sisters reunited after a long estrangement when Keaton discovers that she has leukemia and may need bone marrow. Streep vanished years before in order to prevent herself from being trapped by taking care of their ailing dad (Hume Cronyn), now bedridden, and suffering from all sorts of malady's including obvious dementia. All he does is groan and mumble, making this a very difficult role to watch the beloved Broadway veteran play.Cronyn's "Cocoon" co-star, Broadway musical diva Gwen Verdon, steals every moment in which she is on screen as his equally ailing sister who has a mechanism implanted in her hip which causes the garage door to either open or close every time she twists it. She's a soap addict who wears a fur and tiara to the wedding of her two favorite characters, played by "All My Children's" Kelly Ripa and John Callahan. Ironically, "All My Children" was the only soap on which Verdon ever appeared. Streep's youngest kid, a bespeckled geek, shows an eerie talent for applying make-up as he prepares Verdon for "the wedding" with subtle hints of what he will grow up to be.The oldest son, Leonardo DiCaprio, obviously despises his mother, and probably for good reason. Streep plays one of her most unsympathetic characters, and at times, doesn't fully seem comfortable playing this role. Even though she's a cosmetology student and very capable as to what she does, she's far too messed up emotionally to always look so physically well put together. Of course, the character is hiding behind a facade of bitterness, so as Streep pulls away these layers, the character becomes a bit more tolerable even though she's often inconsistent.Getting away from the "La Dee Da" attitudes she's inhibited in most of the roles she's played since "Annie Hall", Diane Keaton for me make the film pull out its heart. She has given up her own life and romantic possibilities in order to take care of the pathetic Cronyn (who by the way they talk about him should have died years ago) and the dizzy Verdon, and it is obvious from the time she meets the troubled pyromaniac DiCaprio she wants to make up for lost time in getting to know her nephew. When he angrily smacks her hand away from his face during a light caress, you can see her invisible tears flowing, and it is heartbreaking. However, joy takes over when they bond with a wild ride on the beach, and even the lost child DiCaprio plays seems to return to humanity as his heart opens to the aunt he hadn't met until recently.DiCaprio is a tough nut to crack here, showing an iron shield for long periods of time interrupted by the bleeding little boy inside, not understanding the resentments of his maternal family and aching for his unseen father, a race car driver who abandoned his mother years before. So while this is a very tough film to like, especially when it interrupts the family drama with the presence of the befuddled doctor played by Robert DeNiro, and his idiotic brother (Dan Heydara) who works as his receptionist (after the regular receptionists resigns simply by typing a note which says "I Quit!"), there's some truth in its dissection of the fall of families over the past few decades and how dysfunctions of earlier generations can carry on to the next.

gcd70 Jerry Saks' simple, heart warming and touching tale of love and giving to others selflessly is beautifully played out by its superlative cast.The story concerns a dedicated daughter who has given twenty years of her life to aiding her ill father. When she becomes sick, her estranged sister and family are contacted in the hope they can provide a compatible donation.Diane Keaton is superb as Bessie, the long suffering daughter now terminally ill herself. She is no saint however, having failed to keep in touch with her sister for two decades, and never having acknowledged her nephews. As Lee, the self-centred single mum who cannot cope with her strong willed eldest, Meryl Streep is extraordinarily natural and more than readily believable. Once again Streep shows her phenomenal talent. Hume Cronyn plays the bedridden Marvin with sensitivity, and Gwen Verdon is also a revelation as the highly strung soapy addict, Aunty Ruth. Leonardo Di Caprio shows natural ability once more in bringing to life the trouble young Hank, while Hal Scardino plays his little brother Charlie. The ever enjoyable Robert De Niro graces the screen as the well meaning Dr. Wally, and Dan Hedaya plays his bewildering brother, Bob.Coupled with this is the insightful, intelligent script from the late Scott McPherson's play which makes the work of the afore mentioned ensemble that much easier. With its telling dialogue and in-depth characterisations, it contains much truth about giving and self-sacrifice, love and family.For a film that moves the heart and touches the emotions, "Marvin's Room" is a must.Sunday, May 11, 1997 - Balwyn CinemasIt is not often that such a genteel, yet emotionally strong film as this comes along. Jerry Saks does beautifully with the adaptation of Scott McPherson's play, presenting an intelligent drama.Capping this is the superb cast, led by the marvellous paring of Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Support comes from Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, Gwen Verdon, Dany Hedaya, Hume Cronyn and Hal Scardino.Thursday, June 11, 1998 - Video