The Rose is the most important film in Bette Midler's career. It was her first starring role, and it's theme became her signature song. Although she gives it her all, it is not the performance I remember it being.

Inspired by Janis Joplin, Mary Rose Foster is a rock-n-roll/blues singer known simply as The Rose. She is an outspoken alcoholic with a drug history. Her first scene is of her stumbling out of a plane dropping a bottle of booze. Just before going on stage she is told, several times, not to say, "Mother fucker." Of course the first words out of her mouth once she gets on stage are, "Hiya mother fuckers!"

Whereas The Rose is an entertaining character, her motives are vague, and as such the plot is secondary to her. The only tension comes from her being insecure about an upcoming concert in her home town. She keeps telling her manager that she is tired, and needs an extended vacation, while he reminds her of all the contractual obligations they have made.

The Rose is extremely self destructive. Not only does she drink in nearly every other scene, but she eventually gets back on drugs. She meets a man and seems happy for a brief time. Contrary to her bitching about being tired, she stays out late partying all the time. For supposedly having a wild youth, the film never gives details. She makes a comment/joke about having had sex with the whole football team in highschool. The brief moment her parents are on screen they seem like middle of the road Americans. The movie never says why she turned out to be such a mess.

Bette Midler received many accolades for her performance. She deservedly lost the Oscar to Sissy Spacek, playing Loretta Lynn, in Coal Miners Daughter. Midler's mannerisms are practically her trademark. They populate her performance, and as such, I never felt I was watching a troubled singer named The Rose. I was simply watching Midler try to act like that person.

Where she shines, and the movie excels, is in the stage performances. Midler, as Rose, puts so much into her performances, that you can almost sympathize with her whining about being tired. They are physically and emotionally draining for her. Midler on stage, are the only scenes where her acting seems at all natural. Midler gives the soundtrack her all. Along with the title song, the stand outs are Midnight in Memphis and When a Man Loves a Woman.

The Rose is the cornerstone of Midler's career. It demonstrates her strengths as a performer, as well as her weaknesses as an actress.

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