This is a respectable cinematic comment on the 1975 documentary of the same title, which was a gem of a film about a mother and daughter who considered themselves and each other, and very little else, endlessly fascinating. The principals, Barrymore and Lange (both of whom are generally considered to be lightweights), did a wonderful job with their characterizations. In general the script and the actors very competently deepened the audience understanding of a narcissistic folie a deux - or my understanding, anyway. You always wonder, "How the hell could that happen? How could people do that, become that, lose themselves so completely?" Here at least is a partial answer, made plain to the viewer without the usual simpleminded Hollywood spelling out.
Review of Grey Gardens
