Cher Movies
Born into a lower-income California family, actress/pop singer Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) attempted to escape her poverty by entering show business as a go-go dancer at the age of 16. She met and married singer/promoter Sonny Bono, who lifted her from obscurity as half of the immensely popular singing duo Sonny and Cher. The diminutive, ebullient Bono and the tall, deadpan Cher became a top recording team (their big hit was "I Got You, Babe") and a regular guest act on the many variety shows of the period. Sonny and Cher continued their upward climb until musical tastes changed in the early '70s, whereupon they began concentrating on comedy sketches and kidding-on-the-square insults directed at one another in their own variety weekly, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which enjoyed a successful three-year network run beginning in 1971. It was on this program that Cher, began sharpening her acting versatility in such sketch roles as brash housewife Laverne, sardonic waitress Rosa, and a whole slew of historical vamps. But Cher began to chafe at Bono's hold on her career and her private life, and the couple divorced in 1974. Both Sonny and Cher were starring on separate TV series that fall, but they also each faced poor ratings; so the pair decided to team up professionally once more in 1976 for a new Sonny & Cher Show, although Cher was now married to Gregg Allman and pregnant with their son Elijah. But the old chemistry was no longer there, and the new program was canceled in the following year.Bono eased out of show business for a successful political career, while Cher began seeking out film work. At first treated condescendingly by critics, she matured into a first-rate actress in such movies as Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) (repeating her Broadway role), Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), Suspect (1987), and Moonstruck (1987). She was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Silkwood, received one for her role in Moonstruck, and shared a Best Actress award at Cannes for her supporting role in Mask. Something of an enigma in the show business world, Cher has managed to retain her stature as a highly respected film actress while promoting exercise videos and a line of cosmetics, in addition to recording new chart-topping songs and appearing in music videos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Sixties Soft Rock from Passport Video isn't all that different from the accompanying Sixties Rock volume, except for the presence of the girl group the Dixie Cups in place of Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs and the Kinks. Other acts on the disc include The Rascals, The Association, and The Turtles. The footage comes from the famous 60's music TV show Hullabaloo and features plenty of go-go dancing to go with the often live performances from these classic bands. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 2004
- Add Cher: The Very Best of Cher - The Video Hits Collection to QueueAdd Cher: The Very Best of Cher - The Video Hits Collection to top of Queue
A true international superstar of pop music, Cher has earned a reputation for her one-of-a-kind visual style as much as for her powerful voice, and this video collection captures both the sound and image of Cher in 15 performance clips. Cher: The Very Best of Cher - The Video Hits Collection includes the songs "Believe," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "We All Sleep Alone," "The Shoop-Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)," "Half Breed," and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
When Rodney Bingenheimer was just a teenager -- a diminutive, long-haired kid who was picked on a lot -- his mother, a divorced autograph hound, dropped him off in front of the home of actress Connie Stevens and essentially said, "Good luck." Stevens was on location shooting a movie and Bingenheimer says he didn't see his mother again for five or six years after that. The Mayor of the Sunset Strip, a documentary by George Hickenlooper (Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse), tracks Bingenheimer's rise from the 1960s, when he was a groupie -- eventually landing his first show-business job as a double for Davy Jones on The Monkees -- through stints as a successful club owner and influential DJ to his current status as a fading musical icon. The film takes us from the innocent pop of Brian Wilson and Sonny & Cher through the raucous heyday of L.A.'s punk scene and beyond. Hickenlooper also delves into Bingenheimer's relationships, showing him mourning his neglectful and unbalanced, but beloved, mother and visiting with his father, who never attempted to make contact with Bingenheimer after his mother abandoned him. He also pines for a close friend, Camille Chancery, and helps out a seemingly hopeless middle-aged wannabe rock star, Ronald Vaughan. While Bingenheimer used his skills as a consummate hanger-on and his genuine enthusiasm for rock & roll to become a central figure in the L.A. music scene for a couple of decades and is lauded in the film for his good taste and good nature by celebrities from Cher to David Bowie to Gwen Stefani, his current life is shown to be somewhat sad and lonely. The Mayor of the Sunset Strip is chock full of cameos and features a star-studded soundtrack. It was shown at the 2003 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rodney Bingenheimer
- 2003
- Add Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music to QueueAdd Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music to top of Queue
While its best known as one of the great living institutions of American television comedy, Saturday Night Live has also earned a reputation as a great showcase for popular music, and this five-volume collection features many of the show's most memorable musical moments. Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music features both musically oriented comedy sketches from the show -- from Bill Murray's over-the-top lounge singer Nick Rovers and "Tom Snyder" (impersonated by Dan Aykroyd) interviewing Mick Jagger to Ana Gasteyer's impression of Celine Dion and Aerosmith appearing on "Wayne's World" -- as well as classic performances from SNL's many musical guests. Performers include Ray Charles, Billy Joel, the Grateful Dead, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Neil Young, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Nirvana, Metallica, Roy Orbison, and many, many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
After tackling schizophrenia, obesity, and the inner workings of the vascular system (as represented by an animated Chris Rock), Peter and Bobby Farrelly set their comedic sights on a set of conjoined twins in this broad comedy. Written and directed by the non-twin Farrellys, Stuck on You stars Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon as, respectively, Walt and Bob Tenor, brothers who are so close, they're quite literally joined at the hip. While life in their sleepy, welcoming Martha's Vineyard burgh is comfortable -- the Tenor brothers are the quickest short-order chefs in town, unstoppable hockey goalies, and the most unlikely pair of dinner-theater thespians -- Walt longs to make good on his lifelong dream of becoming a professional actor. The shy, reticent Bob acquiesces to his self-assured brother's wish to move to Hollywood, in part to meet his longtime Internet romantic interest, May (Wen Yann Shih). The twosome finds Tinseltown to be less accommodating than life back east, however, as Walt and Bob come up against flea-ridden apartments, surly bar patrons, and a paucity of roles for actors with an extraneous person attached to them. Things begin to look up when they run into Cher on a studio backlot: Eager to end her commitment to star in a cheesy detective show, she casts Walt as her co-star, hoping the program will fail. When her plan backfires, however, the brothers find themselves on the cusp of fame and fortune -- and consider undergoing the risky surgery that could separate them forever. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, (more)
Cher: The Farewell Tour features the Oscar-winning performer delivering close to two-dozen hits from every phase of her lengthy career. Originally aired on NBC, the special comes to home video with additional footage not seen in the original telecast. Among the hits performed by the beloved diva are "If I Could Turn Back Time," "The Shoop Shoop Song," "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," "Heart of Stone," and the chart-topping dance hit "Believe." The DVD release of the special includes the video for "If I Could Turn Back Time." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- Add The I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special to QueueAdd The I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special to top of Queue
Television's first and most influential situation comedy gets a loving tribute in this television special. The I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special includes interviews with the writers and directors who helped bring the show to life, a visit to Lucille Ball's hometown with Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., clips from favorite episodes chosen by the show's fans, a musical tribute to Latin music pioneer Desi Arnaz, and thoughts on I Love Lucy from such celebrity fans as Dick Van Dyke, Cher, Barbara Walters, and Antonio Banderas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
A video celebrating the incredible career of Tina Turner. The main attraction is a reprise of Turner's 60th birthday concert, featuring duets with Bryan Adams. Clips of her past performances with Cher, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart are interspersed with testimonials to her artistic achievements from stars like Paul McCartney, Sting, and Oprah Winfrey. Some of the songs featured on the video are "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Talk to My Heart," "When the Heartache Is Over," "Let's Stay Together," and "The Best."
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, (more)
After the chart topping hit "Believe" made Cher the oldest solo female artist to have a number one single, she set out on a successful concert tour where she played the biggest hits of her career to adoring fans, while donning a stunning array of outlandish outfits. This documentary captures one of the shows on that tour. Cher delivers over a dozen hits from every phase of her lengthy career including "I Found Someone," "Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves," "The Shoop Shoop Song," "If I Could Turn Back Time," and "Believe." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher
Based in part on his autobiography, director Franco Zeffirelli's Tea With Mussolini is a drama with comic accents about a group of British and American travelers on an indefinite visit to Italy in 1935, when, as one character puts it, "Mussolini was just a man who made the trains run on time." Luca (played by Charlie Lucas) is a boy living in Florence whose family situation is precarious at best; his mother has died and his father has little time for him. Fortunately, he's a welcome guest with Mary (Joan Plowright), a English woman visiting Italy to soak up European culture. Mary and her friends -- high-toned Lady Hester (Maggie Smith), pretentious Arabella (Judi Dench), American art collector Elsa (Cher) and cheerful lesbian Georgie (Lily Tomlin) -- enjoy the cultured, creative atmosphere of life in Italy, and their initial response to the rise of fascism is to arrange a polite meeting with Mussolini to make sure he and his soldiers mean well. After some time, Luca's father becomes concerned that the boy is soaking up too much British influence and enrolls him in a boarding school in Austria; by the time 1940 rolls around, situations have changed radically for everyone. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Judi Dench, (more)
Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Cher, Brandy, and Faith Hill top the bill for this concert special staged by VH1 which pays tribute to the women of pop music. LeAnn Rhimes, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, and diva-for-a-night Elton John make guest appearances; the set list includes such hits as Simply The Best, I Will Always Love You, If I Could Turn Back Time, How Do I Live Without You, and I'm Every Woman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In June 1998, the American Film Institute announced the top 100 films of the 20th century. The list was complied from a survey of 1,500 participants, including filmmakers, historians, critics, and other entertainment industry professionals. The AFI and CBS produced this multi-packet video feature that features film clips of those top films, including Citizen Kane, The Godfather, It's a Wonderful Life, Star Wars, and Gone With the Wind. This 145-minute special is hosted by Jodie Foster, Richard Gere, and Sally Field, and is annotated with features of the filmmakers like Martin Scorcese and Sidney Lumet. ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
The compilation film If These Walls Could Talk consists of three short films that each deal with the controversial issue of abortion. Although each of the stories is set in a different decade, the unifying element (aside from the subject matter) is that all three transpire in the same house. The first story stars Demi Moore as the widow of a soldier killer in combat. She becomes pregnant and does not feel it would be morally appropriate to have the baby. Because it is the '50s, she must attempt to secure an illegal abortion. The second story, set in the '70s, stars Sissy Spacek as a mother of a struggling family. Having successfully raised four children on a meager income, Spacek's character must now decide if she should seek an abortion after finding out she is expecting a fifth. The final story takes place in the '90s. Anne Heche portrays a grad student who crosses protestors' picket lines in order to consult a doctor (Cher) about having an abortion. The first two parts, "1952" and "1974," were directed by Nancy Savoca, and the last part, "1996," was helmed by Cher, in her directorial debut. If These Walls Could Talk aired originally on HBO. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
A hit man discovers the pros and cons of getting to know his victim in this dark comedy. Margaret (Cher) is supposed to be celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary, but she hardly feels like having a party; her marriage is in sad shape, her husband Jack (Ryan O'Neal) has just called to say he's going to be working late (she realizes this means that he's actually with his mistress), and she's sunk into a deep depression that borders on the suicidal. After a long bath, Margaret discovers that she's not alone in the house; Tony (Chazz Palminteri), a hit man, has been hired by Jack to knock her off (Margaret's death would mean a $5 million insurance claim for Jack), and he ties her to a chair, waiting for a call from Jack that signals he's out of town and that it's all right to proceed with the execution. With nothing to do while they wait, Tony and Margaret begin to talk; Margaret starts to feel like death isn't such a good idea after all, while Tony isn't so sure he wants to kill her anymore. Faithful was based on a stage play by co-star Palminteri; Robert DeNiro, who made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale, written by Palminteri, served as co-producer for this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Chazz Palminteri, (more)
This large, sprawling comedy directed by Robert Altman concerns a variety of romantic and personal intrigues that intersect against the backdrop of Paris's annual "Pret-a-Porter" fashion extravaganza. With 31 principal characters and a number of cameos from well known models, designers, actors and actresses, there's far too much going on to describe the film in a limited space, but Julia Roberts and Tim Robbins get stuck in a hotel room together, Danny Aiello wears a dress, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni reignite their old passion (or at least try to), Stephen Rea humiliates a number of female journalists, Kim Basinger often looks dumbfounded, and Lyle Lovett plays a Texan (talk about imaginative casting!). Originally called Pret-a-Porter, this underwent a last-minute title change when the distributor discovered very few Americans understood what the French phrase means, with the English translation taking its place. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, (more)
Robert Altman takes a scalpel to Hollywood ethics in the 1990s (or the lack thereof) in his acidic satire The Player, adapted from Michael Tolkin's novel. (Tolkin also wrote the screenplay.) The film concerns a sleek and smooth Hollywood studio executive who starts receiving death threats from a disgruntled writer because he has committed the ultimate Hollywood sin -- he promised the writer he would call him back and he never did. This is particularly ironic because the studio executive, Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), is considered "writer-friendly," spending his days listening to pitches from such noted screenwriters as Buck Henry, who is pushing "The Graduate, Part II" and Alan Rudolph, who is hawking a Bruce Willis action film described as "Ghost meets The Manchurian Candidate." But The Player finds Griffin's comfortable life style in danger of collapse. He is trying to find a way to unload his girlfriend (Cynthia Stevenson) whose independence and intelligence make her a poor candidate for a trophy wife. More importantly, it seems that Larry Levy (Peter Gallagher), a slippery executive from Twentieth Century Fox, is angling for his job. And then there are those nasty postcards and faxes from a screenwriter threatening to kill him. Altman cast over 65 stars in cameo roles as texture for his scabrous tale. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, (more)
- 1992
- NR
A fitness routine designed to help the participant gain confidence and feel great. Led by superstar Cher, the program has two segments. The first is a 38-minute "Hot Dance" routine that boosts the heart rate and metabolism. The dance steps are easy to follow and are a good aerobic lead-in to the toning section that completes the video. This section uses two heavy rubber weight bands (not included with video) and uses moves that are designed to sculpt and tone the muscles. Light hand weights can be substituted for the bands if desired. This video is a companion to the 1991 video Cherfitness: A New Attitude.
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
- Add Cher: Extravaganza - Live at the Mirage to QueueAdd Cher: Extravaganza - Live at the Mirage to top of Queue
Ever since her early days performing alongside the late Sonny Bono, multi-talented music diva Cher has captivated audiences worldwide. In this 1992 concert performance captured live at Las Vegas' Mirage hotel during her "Heart of Stone" tour, the legendary Cher performs eleven of her greatest hits. Songs featured in this performance include "I Found Someone", "If I Could Turn Back Time", "Takin' it to the Streets" and more. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher
- 1991
- NR
CherFitness: A New Attitude delivers just what you expect from a fitness program designed around the superstar's personal style. There's great rock music, a few jokes, costuming with flair, and an intensive workout to shape and tone the entire body. The routine consists of three segments. Following a brief warm-up is a 38-minute step workout, a ten-minute routine for abs and the back, and an effective 30-minute segment focusing on the hips and buns. Overall, the moves are consistently basic, easy to follow, and suitable for all fitness levels. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
There's no point in recounting the many production problems and personal hostilities which plagued the filming of Mermaids: the end result is all that matters. Set in the 1960s, the film details the relationship between an unorthodox, unmarried vagabond mother (Cher), and her two daughters. The 15-year-old (Winona Ryder), continually embarrassed by her flamboyant mother, wants to be the world's greatest Catholic; the nine-year-old (Christina Ricci) would be satisfied with becoming the world's champion swimmer. Moving with her family to New England, the older daughter falls in love from afar with the groundskeeper (Michael Schoeffling) from a nearby convent, while Mom takes up with a lonely salesman (Bob Hoskins). Mermaids is perceptively adapted from the warmly comic novel by Patty Dann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Bob Hoskins, (more)
- 1988
- Add Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special to QueueAdd Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special to top of Queue
The secret word is "Happy New Year" as Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) and the Playhouse gang hold a Christmas party. Things threaten to get out of hand fairly early as the increasingly disappointed Pee-Wee receives one fruitcake after another. When he complains that he didn't get anything he really wanted, our hero learns an important lesson about sharing from none other than Santa Claus. Among Pee-wee's special guests are singers k.d. lang, Grace Jones, Dinah Shore, and the Del Rubio Triplets, "Beach Party" perennials Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (who'd recently costarred with Pee-wee in the theatrical film Back at the Beach), the outrageous Little Richard (on ice-skates!) and such pop-culture giants as Oprah Winfrey, Charo, Cher, Joan Rivers, Magic Johnson, and even Zsa Zsa Gabor. Pee-wee Herman's Christmas Special first aired December 21, 1988 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
The Witches of Eastwick, a memorable comedy with a dark edge, is based upon a novel by John Updike. On Thursday nights three female friends -- Alex (Cher), Sukie (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Jane (Susan Sarandon) -- meet to chug martinis, learn Chinese aphrodisiac cooking and lament the scarcity of eligible men. As they sit around, they fantasize about and describe their idea of the ideal male. Arriving in town the following day is Satan, disguised as mysterious stranger Darrell Van Horn (Jack Nicholson). One by one, Van Horne seduces each of the women. Then, strange things begin to happen. When the town matriarch Felicia (Veronica Cartwright) publicly denounces Van Horne, she sustains a nasty compound fracture. When she forces her editor husband to publish a story about Van Horne's sexual antics, Darrell gets his revenge with revoltingly large amounts of cherries. The women now see that they may be in danger and begin to plot their escape. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Nicholson, Cher, (more)
When there's a full moon over Brooklyn, anything can happen, and everything happens in the neighborhood where widowed bookkeeper Loretta Castorini (Cher) lives. First, Loretta agrees to marry a man she does not love, Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), simply because he knows how to propose properly. Before the wedding can take place, Cammareri must visit his dying mother in Sicily. In his absence, Loretta is supposed to try to patch up the differences between Johnny and his brother, bakery operator Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage). Having never forgiven Johnny for indirectly causing the accident that crippled him, Ronny flies into a rage whenever his brother's name is mentioned. He does, however, fall for Loretta like a ton of bricks. After a torrid affair, Loretta tries to avoid Ronny out of respect to Johnny, but he's just too fascinating to resist. Meanwhile, Loretta's father (Vincent Gardenia) is fooling around with his mistress Mona (Anita Gillette), while Loretta's mother (Olympia Dukakis) is wooed by a college professor (John Mahoney). These brief flings are forgiven and forgotten, but there's still the delicate situation of Loretta being in love with her future brother-in-law. A now-classic romantic comedy, Moonstruck won Oscars for Cher, Olympia Dukakis, and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Nicolas Cage, (more)
- 1987
This 1987 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Candice Bergen and features musical guest Cher. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Candice Bergen, Cher, (more)
British filmmaker Peter Yates directs Suspect, a suspenseful courtroom drama set in Washington, D.C. After a Supreme Court justice commits suicide and a Justice Department secretary is found dead, a deaf-mute homeless veteran, Carl Wayne Anderson (Liam Neeson), is the suspected killer. Lonely yet dedicated public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to the case to represent Anderson. Suave lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Dennis Quaid) is on the jury, but he starts his own investigation by finding clues that prove Anderson's innocence. He shares his information with Kathleen, even though they could get arrested for talking about the case. Eventually, they develop a romance and reveal a conspiracy that leads to a twist ending. The mysterious conclusion involves a final courtroom scene presided over by Judge Matthew Helms (played by character actor John Mahoney, who would go on to co-star on the sitcom Frasier). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Dennis Quaid, (more)
