Best movie of this year hands down!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Let me preface this with two things:1. Unlike some other negative reviews I'm seeing here, my opinion of this movie has nothing to do with the subject matter.2. I have not seen the original French version.Maybe I just don't appreciate "farce", a term which everyone who loves this movie seems to insist on using to describe it.In my own terms, I'd describe this movie as battle-of-the-stereotypes trapped in a 95-minute long "Three's Company" episode--you're forced to watch as incredibly unreasonable and/or unrealistic decisions cause "misunderstandings" and "wacky situations" to pile up on each other, and you have to suffer through it all with uncomfortable anticipation because you know full well that at some point the paper-thin house of cards will all come crashing down. I find this kind of storytelling to be unbearable.I love(d) Robin Williams, and maybe I'm just accustomed to seeing him in other roles, but I just don't entirely buy him in this role. It's not that it's a bad performance, it just seems more like a straight person's circa-1996 interpretation of what being gay is. He's believable as a loving partner, and he's actually the straight man (pun alert!) of his coupling with Nathan Lane, but there's at least one moment that stands out like something from his stand-up act -- too over-the-top and almost mocking to be in character.Lane is grating. Again, another actor I like, but the character that he plays is so completely turned up to 11 at every moment--he's somehow loud, emotionally stunted, practically bipolar and a gentle snowflake all at the same time. Other reviews I've read here find him funny (I completely don't), but once again, I don't understand what's so funny about playing the character so unrealistically stereotypical. It also hurts the suspension of disbelief in Williams' character -- why would Williams' rather reasonable, down-to-earth character put up with Lane's character's nonsense?And, a note regarding stereotypes: I've noticed some other reviewers here citing the overdone stereotypes as the REASON it's funny, and I couldn't disagree more. Yes, stereotypes can absolutely be cleverly and successfully worked into comedy--I would argue that the underrated "Undercover Brother" proves that--but these characters, most notably Lane, are just so loud and in-your-face that you get to a point where you just want them to shut up.Another reviewer mentioned the son being a somewhat unlikeable character, and with the actions and demands he makes in the story, to that end, I agree. This is yet another casualty of this movie's disconnect from reality -- the son of a gay couple could never actually expect his parents to do what he's asking of them. Granted, it's probably because this movie is based on a relic of the late 70s, but still.Despite mostly hating this movie, the reason I'm giving it 3 out of 10 is because it has a COUPLE of bright spots. Hank Azaria has a few good moments as Lane and Williams clownish house boy, and there are a couple of random funny bits sprinkled here and there (Williams trying to teach Lane how to be less outwardly gay is pretty funny). Also, I love Christine Baranski--unfortunately, she kinda gets shafted on screen time (part of the build-up to the "wackiness"). Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest are both fine actors and play their roles well, I just wish it was in the service of a better story.Bottom Line: I am a Mike Nichols fan, I like everyone in the cast, but I just don't see this movie as successful on any level. Maybe it just lost something in the translation from French.

I love the late Robin Williams;Here,we see him at his very comedic best.The great part of the film is dancing,comic humor and sheer folly.The saying "laughter is good medicine" has truth and meaning with this wonderful film.

A remake of a French classic comedy, this is cleverly revamped and adapted to American culture with its political and cultural divides.For about two thirds of it, one finds himself buying into the comedy on display, the humorous spirit of the film, the sort of lightness it develops, and of course all three of Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria are 'fabulous' with their on screen performances and give this comedy lots of body.The problem is the last third. The laughs quit and the viewer goes quiet and we're given more of a totally biased, partisan-programmed social commentary on who the good guys are and who the bad guys are rather than a proper conclusion to a story and film that seem proper to begin with, a notion totally disproved by the final act. By that time it's totally obvious, as if a caricature, what's going on and where the film means to take its audience and it's just sluggish progression to the conclusion and completely self-indulgent.Too bad. 3.5/10.

The Birdcage is a fine movie that is based off it's wonderful performances, especially from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. The movie is quite funny and it has a focus on a rather controversial issue, an issue which would make the national headlines within a few years after this film's release. The film has a tight screenplay that delivers some surprisingly strong lines and the film actually has a core that is emotional. Mike Nichol's film is about a man named Armand who owns a drag club and lives with his long-time partner who is the star of the drag club. One day, Armand's son comes to visit to say that he is getting married to the daughter of a United States Senator, a man who does not support minorities and homosexuality. The parents agree to meet for dinner, as his son persuades Armand to put on a straight act for one night only. The performances in the film are spot-on. Robin Williams delivers a funny though rather toned-down performance as Armand. Although Robin manages to be more straight-laced than usual, he does manage a few great jokes. Nathan Lane delivers a fine performance as Albert Goldman, Armand's lover. He actually made for a great woman. Gene Hackman is good as always as Kevin Keeley, the senator involved in a scandal. Dianne Wiest is good as his supportive wife. Overall, The Birdcage is a really good, funny movie that has quite a few memorable lines. The dinner scene is my favorite scene and it shows that dinner parties are rarely perfect, especially if secrets are being hidden. 2014 was a really sad year as we lost two major contributors of this film: Robin Williams and director Mike Nichols. I am glad I was able to view this film in order to more appreciate their works. I rate this film 9/10.