The Cemetery Club

It's enough of an accomplishment to see a movie about late-middle age women in our culture of youth, youth, and more youth. "The Cemetery Club" isn't going to be the most memorable movie you ever see, but it's a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Diane Ladd, one of the more underused and underrated actresses in the business, in particular turns in a nice performance.

By grown ups, I don't mean that it's rude. More mature. I had heard that this was a good film, and I had been searching for it for some time, so was delighted to fall over it in a bargain bin locally, and bought it when I probably shouldn't have. However, it did while away a surprisingly long couple of hours, and was a pleasant bit of fluff.

I have a lot of time for Olympia Dukakis and Ellen Burnstein, so I was a bit disappointed that the one was so miserable and the other was a bit dim - OK so she's been married for ever, but she surely didn't live under a stone with her husband? I would have thought that the way she was smuggled into the hotel room made her look more like a prostitute than anything, and I felt sorry for her having to make her way out alone in the morning. Having said that, I was delighted that she reconciled with her new man before the end.

One absolute joy was Selma (Zelma?) who was the perpetual bride, tacky and brash as all get out, but completely lovable.

A nice movie.

This is a "baby boomer" flick, I totally enjoyed it and thought that the story line was excellent and all the actors were fabulous. The younger generation would not understand the meaning or the humor. This is an all star cast of baby boomer's or older and I think they should be commended for their stellar acting. Ellen Burstyn is beautiful and gave a wonderful performance as usual. Diane Ladd is funny and beautiful. Olympia Dukakis is perfect for the part she played. Lainie Kazan is so funny with all her marriages living her life to the fullest. Everyone should have a group of friends that love and support each other through all of life's ups and downs.

Breezy look at a group of elderly widowed friends in Pittsburgh, and whether or not their friendship will survive once one of them hooks up with a guy. "The Cemetery Club" is nothing special. Lighthearted without being mushy, the movie is the type that you'll probably only be interested in seeing once; while enjoyable, it's not enough to merit a second watch. Plenty of good performances, though; have Ellen Burstyn, Diane Ladd, Olympia Dukakis and Danny Aiello not turned in great performances?

Watch for a young Christina Ricci as the granddaughter.

After 39 years of marriage, still-attractive music store owner Ellen Burstyn (as Esther Moskowitz) loses her husband to a heart attack. While paying her respects, Ms. Burstyn meets cop-turned-cab-driver Danny Aiello (as Benjamin "Ben" Katz ) in the Pittsburgh cemetery where their loved ones rest in peace. Burstyn and her friends have formed "The Cemetery Club" to mourn their dead husbands; the more traditionally inclined Olympia Dukakis (as Doris Silverman) masters the widow role, but Diane Ladd (as Lucille Rubin) seeks greener pastures. Inactive club member Lainie Kazan (as Selma) is most eager to dig up an new husband. Tired of her cemetery visits, Ms. Ladd shouts, "I refuse to be in a club where half the members are dead!" One of the film's consistently least affected performers, Burstyn wavers along the spectrum.

****** The Cemetery Club (2/3/93) Bill Duke ~ Ellen Burstyn, Danny Aiello, Olympia Dukakis, Diane Ladd