Frances

Jessica Lange creates a very believable character.

Takes awhile to get going but holy fuck. Jessica Lange was amazing.

Not nearly as bleak as it sounds, this film works because Lange understands this character from the inside out, and never lets her become melodramatic or weak.

Lange is fierce and fearless, gritty and elegant. As Frances falls deeper into disarray and gets dragged into a hellish institutionalized existence, Lange is wild and unencumbered without ever leaning on too much showiness. Everything she does in painfully. A great performance is no guarantee of a great film, but Clifford crafts a fully realized work worthy of the force of nature at its core. He builds scenes beautifully, shadowing them with the rupturing moods of his title character.

If not for Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice, this would easily be the best female acting of the decade.

Lange at her best! Tragic and heartrending at times it tells the story of the contract player Frances Farmer whose trials with a domineering mother combined with free spiritedness and a lust for life collides with the times in which she lives in.

Wow! Glad I finally got to see this one. Jessica Lange was nominated for an Oscar for this portrayal of actress Frances Farmer. What dark turns her life took. Be warned, it's pretty intense.

A luminous performance by Lange is the highlight of this otherwise fairly by the book biographical film.

Jessica Lange is the reason to see this... she throws herself into the title role completely and does some great scenery-chewing. You need a high tolerance for tawdry--Farmer's life is sensationalized almost beyond recognition (no, the real Frances Farmer did not get a lobotomy),

Very good.

Some great performances, and worthy subject matter, but the screenplay is unfortunately paper thin and lacks insight into any of the fascinating nooks and crannies it digs in to, and wallows hopelessly in cliche. So the Hollywood scenes play as "dark side of the glitter factory", the mental illness scenes play like disease of the week telemovie, treatment as CUCKOOS NEST etc. not helped by an unusually syrupy score from Barry. Exceptional performances from Lange and Stanely... [Full review]

Jessica Lange is marvelous !

Startling and tragic. Easily Lange's best work. Highly recommended.

Frances is slow in spots and it shows its age but, I can see why Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley were both nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes for their roles. Sam Shepard is equally wonderful in this and deserved recognition. The story is tragic and beautiful. I can see why Kurt Cobain became obsessed with this icon. She was way ahead of her time and her spirit got crushed by her own family - the same way his did.