The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

 While this film was simple, it was still good, though parts certainly dragged. 

Jack and Frank Baker (Jeff and Beau Bridges) have never held a day job, going to various night clubs and dinner clubs keying away on the piano time after time. However, their act is getting a bit stale after fifteen years so to freshen it up, they hire a singer, former escort Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) who's quite talented if soft-spoken and rough around the edges. With her, they finally get tons of gigs, even one that requires some major travel. Jack brings his large dog along despite Frank's objections. However, Frank then has to head back because his son (never shown on screen) has a minor car accident and needs to leave, Jack and Susie let loose, perhaps a bit too much and they end up having sex. 

That is the beginning of the end. Susie feels that Jack is selling out, wasting away his time and talents every night and then he calls her a whore as she leaves the act to sing commercials. And then Frank gets a gig which fails on every level. Its for a telethon, but not to something like cancer, but rather a new gymnasium for a school and their act is interrupted when a donation comes in. Jack and Frank have a blow-up fight which was a long time coming, but it forces Jack to break-out on his own and apologize to Susie and yes, the brothers mend the fences. 

While there are plenty of slow parts and several unnecessary close-ups, and I wish I knew which city this was set in, and more character development on the part of Susie, it is also very nice seeing a film where musicians don't have a drug problem (though Jack is seldom without a cigarette in his mouth) and Frank doesn't cheat on his wife (also unseen) with Susie. Jack may be a bit insensitive to women, but even he's a good guy, caring for his neighbor's daughter (Ellie Raab) because she's having issues with her mother so that part was at least refreshing. The acting was also solid and Pfeiffer was actually quite good in an unwritten role, giving it her all. Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-It is weird that we never see Frank's wife or children as they play an important part of his life.

-Frank does tell Jack off for smoking, telling him how wretched it is for his health. He's right.

-Frank really did need to switch up the act. 

-Susie should have been better trained for their first gig, but she pulled it together brilliantly. 

-It is shocking at how many of the audition singers were just not good.