But it sure does play well on screen in Jonathan Demme’s new film Rachel Getting Married. This movie has plenty of fire. There is no love lost between sisters Rachel (getting married) and the younger Kym (released from drug rehab for the wedding). Kym has always been the tortured, troubled, selfish sister, while Rachel is the good daughter who made all the right choices and personal sacrifices. On the surface, the film is about the wedding and the typical sibling rivalries, but as the story unfolds we see the inner workings of a family that has suffered an unimaginable tragedy and is doing its best to recover and survive. The war between the sisters is fierce and gut-wrenching once you realize what is boiling just beneath the surface. Anne Hathaway is terrific as Kym, as is Rosemarie DeWitt as Rachel. Deborah Winger, in her limited screen time, makes the most of it and has at least one outstanding moment. Bill Irwin as peace-maker dad puts in a remarkably strong performance and is the quiet star of the film. Demme (the same guy who brought us Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, The Manchurian Candidate) does an admirable job with this much smaller, tragic story, somehow leaving us with a sense of hope. It’s an excellent film, even if at times over-indulgent and slow (the wedding itself, like most real weddings, drags on way too long): Recommended.

The Old Maid (1939) starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, is a truly great film based on an Edith Wharton novel (and a Pulitzer Prize winning Zoe Akins play). I mention it here because it’s basically about sisters doing rotten stuff to each other. (How can you go wrong? It’s still a hot theme almost 60 years later!) One of the things that makes this film ever-so-special is the knowledge that Davis and Hopkins hated one another in real life. It sure does come through on screen! Charlotte (played by Davis) has a child out of wedlock with Delia’s (played by Hopkins) ex-bo, poor Clem who dies in the Civil War before the child is born. When Delia finds out about this scandalous secret, she spills the beans out of jealousy and spite and destroys Charlotte’s impending wedding to Joe. You might need to stretch your imagination a bit to believe that the sisters actually get past all this and end up living together in the same house, with Charlotte allowing Delia to adopt her child. But those were simpler times. Today we’d see psychotherapy, acts of violence, and an appearance on the Jerry Springer Show. (Sigh.) Davis acts circles around Hopkins and there are some moments that are so breathtaking they’ll bring tears to your eyes. (In all fairness, Davis has the better role.) Director Edmund Goulding gives Davis plenty of space to act. It’s unfortunate that Davis never liked this film, especially since she won an Oscar for her performance, but most critics believe it’s because of her loathing for Hopkins. Check out the trailer; it’s way-cool. Highly recommended.