lasttimeisaw This is a HBO film, made exclusively for the small screen, TV films usually cover historical and biographic productions, this one is semi-biographic, the film encircles around the story between the tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and her gay butler Bernard Lafferty. Director Bob Balaban is also a well-known actor, so it seems that he knows proficiently how to grapple the camera in front of his actors. The film largely depends on two leads' performances, as the conflict and dramatic friction are subtle and the emotional pulse is limitedly detectable. However the theatrical magic within is a pleasure to watch, Sarandon has not been so intensely brilliant for a rather long time and Fiennes is superb as always to release an energetic power which could dilute Sarandon's sharp embodiment of her character's misery and attractiveness. During the progress of watching this film, I can easily perceive the glamor from the exquisite dialogues which are as if a duel between these two protagonists from different hierarchy, how their relationship evolves, how they realize that they are inseparable from a weird but sensible love. When love transcends race, age, class or even sexual orientation, there is always lots of humanity can intrigue us to dwell on in an endlessly labyrinthian way.

fwomp Watching two powerful and exceptionally talented actors play across from each other is something of a marvel, and that is certainly part of what makes BERNARD AND DORIS a great film.Based around the late history of tobacco heiress Doris Duke (here played beautifully by Susan Sarandon, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH) and her close relationship with butler Bernard Lafferty (the phenomenal Ralph Fiennes, IN BRUGES), the film is a fictional take on the pair's relationship. Although no one knows what really happened between them, it is obvious that a friendship of unique qualities emerged. And Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon are to be complimented on their astounding performances. Particularly Mr. Fiennes, who seems to turn every role he touches into gold (he did this, too, with his portrayal of The Duke of Devonshire in THE DUCHESS). That Ms. Duke left millions of dollars under the stewardship of Mr. Lafferty after her death is a documented fact, proving that she trusted him implicitly (Ms. Duke was a very savvy businesswoman).Some might think that sex had a part to play in it, but that would be a fools mistake because Mr. Lafferty was gay. And Ralph Fiennes plays the part of an early homosexual with perfect subtlety. His blossoming occurs under the keen eye of Doris, and the two give each other what they both need: companionship. It is a touching moment when Doris — in a flustered state — yells as Bernard and asks him, "What do you want from me?!" To which he simply replies, "To take care of you." And that is exactly what Doris needed in her waning years.As Doris grows older and more ill (a debilitating stroke hits her), Bernard is given the opportunity to truly care for her, and he does so with Doris' final wishes at the forefront ("No one sees Ms. Duke without my permission.") Much of this leads to confrontations with her legal council and those worried about Doris' accumulated wealth. Was Bernard doing as Ms. Duke wished? Or was he just biding his time until Doris died and then pounce on her funds? Regardless what you believe, Bernard was only given $5 million dollars and the rest he oversaw as a steward of many of Doris Duke's foundations. And upon his death (only a few years after Doris'), he donated all of his remaining money back to the Duke Foundation ...which should put to rest any worries about his motives.Strangely enough, after this film was shown at a film festival, it was switched from a theatrical release and went straight to cable television. But the bigwigs at the film companies were dead wrong to do that. The performances are stellar and the movie engaging. It has now garnered 10 Emmy nominations (that's a ton!), three Golden Globe nominations, and two Screen Actors Guild nods. Had this movie been released to the general public via theaters, I feel certain it would've garnered even more notice. Shame on whoever let that slip through their fingers...

Len9876 As a gay man, I must say that I was captivated by Fiennes brilliant, gentle, and sensitive portrayal of an individual who became Doris Duke's confidante. He was not a gold-digger or a hustler but, rather, a man who had a great deal of love and respect for Doris Duke. I truly believe that he died, just a few short years after Doris Duke's death, because he was heartbroken without her. Like myself, he had no love for money. All he consistently set out to do was to make Doris Duke happy and, in her final years and right up to the end of her life on earth, he successfully achieved that goal by always 'being there' for Doris Duke. Sarandon, like Fiennes, is a top-notch actor. Like fine wine, she gets better and better with age. Was Sarandon too young to play the part of Doris Duke? Absolutely not! She captured Doris Duke's energy, youth, and zeal for life. Like "Emotional Arithmetic," I rate this movie a 9 out of 10. It is captivating. It delivers award-winning performances, and it is definitely a movie worth watching. I've done extensive research on Doris Duke, but the movie brings me much closer to her, and Doris Duke is a person I would like to have known in real life. She was a person filled with positive energy, and Sarandon shows that. Fiennes and Sarandon provide a mirror reflection of the vibrant life of Doris Duke. A gay man can deeply love a woman--but he is drawn, like a magnet, to a person of the same sex. If you will permit me to use a cliché, "a (gay) leopard cannot change his (homosexual) spots," but he has the capacity to love--not in spite of, but because of his "spots." The power to love is greater, and more powerful, than hate.

rhinocerosfive-1 Ralph Fiennes is always fun to watch. He is delicious in this not very good movie, playing an insecure naif awash in the wake of a self-destructive pragmatist. His face and especially his voice evoke pathos of the most intimate sort. Sadly the movie is a waste of his talents and my time.Bob Balaban has pretty good taste; it was bred into him. He's of that class of New York intellectuals, whether they come from New York or not (he doesn't) who always seem to say and do the appropriate thing. There's nothing really wrong with his direction here, but the script's eventless enough to give him nothing really very important to do as a director, except not embarrass himself. He doesn't. But he doesn't really distinguish himself either.Susan Sarandon, besides being altogether too attractive and healthy-looking to play this part convincingly, belongs to a class of actresses of a certain age, all of whom are very good, none of whom I can watch without thinking, "Well, she's not Meryl Streep, is she?" It's too bad, because she never does anything wrong, and it's certainly not her fault she's not Meryl Streep. I wonder if Meryl loses any sleep over being about 35% better than everybody else.