Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

sandrastreeter Sadly, I didn't appreciate the Carprenters until after Karen's death--young, stupid, inexperienced in romantic relationships, I guess, so lacking in taste! Also, hadn't had the classical vocal training I've since accrued, so couldn't have remarked earlier on what an exquisite voice we had the privilege to know. As a blind viewer, I can't, obviously, comment on the visuals, but Gibb was, in of speaking voice, remarkably similar to Karen (check out YouTube interviews)--this from someone who has "made a career" out of discerning between voices--Cynthia was only slightly higher, and had a very similar timbre. I would love to either read the screen play, or find an audio-described version that would catch me up on the visual aspects. I will say that a director/producer is only as good as the material provided--the family kept a lot of details hidden (typical of eating-disorder families not in recovery, especially then), and so, we don't have a chance for an accurate picture, and ironically, the fact that it skims over much or the inward aspects of anorexia is similar to how it is experienced until recovery: only the surface aspects are evident, until the person gets into therapy and uncovers what the illness is saying. And, back then, we knew so little about anorexia, so I don't find much fault in how it was presented here--we only had two hours (less, ing for the time used up by commercials). If you go online, you can find some DVDs of the movie. I do hope that a more thorough and lengthier biopic will emerge after Richard has ed (preferably, before--if he can come to acknowledge that what their family has gone through is not shameful or terribly unique and deserves to be told truthfully, to assist others so they won't meet the same fate as his sister).

nowvoyager This film was made soon enough after Karen's ing that perhaps Richard Carpenter and the people closest to Karen were feeling a little guilty as to how they may have contributed to her health problems. As the years have ed (almost 25 to be exact) it must have gotten easier to deny any complicity. Richard has spent the years after Karen's death endlessly remixing and recompiling the recordings he made with her. He married his cousin, Mary, and from what I have read, it looks like he may be planning a next generation Carpenters with his children. He seems to have regretted making this film,and that may very well be why it is unavailable in any form. It seemed to me to be a fairly honest assessment of the tragically short life and incredible talent that was Karen Carpenter.

krorie Her heavenly voice was stilled much too soon, but Karen Carpenter gave the world some beautiful music along the way. Karen's melodious voice burst through the middle-of-the road arrangements that her brother, Richard, and the record producers tossed her way. Even many of the songs, a few written by Richard, were moon-in-June type selections; yet Karen rose above the fluff and soared with her own special style of singing. Karen's situation is similar in many ways to that of Jackie Wilson, a performer much ired by the King himself, Elvis. Jackie Wilson's producers surrounded him with syrupy strings, bland choral backing, and at times popcorn lyrics, but he was able to break free from these musical shackles by effectively using his magnificent voice and style.Since Richard supervised this official biography of his sister, we believe what we see. The psychologist who confronts the family with Karen's eating disorder makes it plan where the problems lay. Richard was the big brother looking after his little sister, sometimes to the detriment of his own career. The family was overprotective of the baby sister to the point of virtually controlling her life and smothering her with their domination. The producers bring it all home by choosing Nurse Ratched to play Karen's mother, who thinks giving Quaaludes to her son is not the same as hooking him on drugs. If you are a Carpenters fan, then you'll love the soundtrack to the film. All the good stuff is here, sung by Karen herself. Cynthia Gibb makes the viewer believe that she is Karen Carpenter. She not only looks the part but lip-syncs perfectly. How she appears to lose so much weight during the film is amazing. Mitchell Anderson portrays Richard Carpenter just as effectively. He too has the looks and gives the viewer a sense of seeking his own stardom without getting in his sister's way. He seems content being in Karen's shadow.The imagery of the drums adds effect to the drama by indicating that they were Karen's security blanket (that term is even used). Once she emerges from the drums to take center stage, she is indeed on the top of the world, a place where she feels uncomfortable and vulnerable. Her super stardom, added to the stress already present in her life, led to her fall, which was truly a loss for all of us.

Guitarmanswife I didn't personally know Karen Carpenter, nor, Richard for that matter, so I must go by how the movie portrayed her. I think a better person to ask about it's accuracy would be her brother Richard. However, from what I did see and learn of Karen, I felt her pain, share her sadness, and she was a very special person to me growing up. I know that I wasn't born until 1965 so I didn't get to know her as much as some of you older fans but I definitely grew up listening to her music and I have fond memories of her music. I the song about the "Radio" (every sha la la la every whoa...so fine,) etc and I "We've only just begun! As a matter of fact, I memorized many, many of her songs and some people (quite a few) tell me that my voice sounds almost identical to her!!! ( I am not joking on this). I also used to be anorexic during high school and part of college (1978-1987) to be exact and weighed anywhere from 82 pounds to eventually 120 pounds in 1987. I developed some pretty serious health problems from that which helped me to identify with the actress portraying Karen in the movie. The mother (Agnes) was very MUCH like my mother in many ways and I could also feel the pain that Karen must have experienced. For, my mother was often unfeeling, critical, and disapproving as Agnes was (if this was true to accuracy). The movie was helpful in identifying and getting to know Karen on a more personal note by not just hearing her music but by seeing what she was going through. It is quite difficult to portray a person's entire life in 2-3 hours and recount every single detail perfectly so I would have to say that there is probably no biography that is that accurate. I will give this story an 8 though! I wish I did know Karen personally! I would have DIED to meet her!! I would have loved to have shook her hand, given her a hug, or talked to her. I feel her warmth and love every time I hear one of her songs and she is greatly missed.