BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER
US, 2023, 103 minutes, Colour.
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, Craig T.Nelson, Don Johnson, Giancarlo Giannini, Hugh Quarshie.
Directed by Bill Haldeman.
We may not remember the first chapter of Book Club, let alone what the members were reading. However, it didn’t bring together Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen and audiences enjoyed their company. For those who would like to see them again, here we are.
The film opens during lockdown, the four friends trying to deal with the isolation, then prohibitions lifted, and they can come together, big hug!
The added attraction for this film is that it is a trip to Italy, quite a touristic visit to Rome, and equally touristic visit to Venice, and, despite quite some hazards along the way, a wedding in Tuscany. Emphasis on scenery, emphasis on dresses and costumes, emphasis on food and drink (allowing for a car breaking down and a night in a Tuscan jail).
When Diane Keaton put on the hat, boater, for the wedding ceremony, it is like Annie Hall revisited. Candice Bergen, playing a retired judge, with some sardonic comments, reminds us of her Murphy Brown. And, we can say with certainty, Jane Fonda filming this at age 84, has not been harmed in any way by aerobics.
There are some men in the background in the early part of the film, Craig T.Nelson’s husband to Mary Steenburgen, with heart trouble, she overly concerned; there is Andy Garcia, elegantly ageing, partner to Diane Keaton; and there is a very dapper Don Johnson proposing to Jane Fonda. So, for the four friends, what better than a bachelorette party travelling in Italy! (And, for those influenced by the movies and intending to imitate, they seem to be more than financially able to pay for the trip.)
This is definitely a film for a women’s audience, the stars themselves with their long careers, awards, popularity. There is a lot of women’s talk, friends advising each other, some sardonic quips, more than might be expected double entendres, and the audience at the preview session (a smattering of men there) loudly enjoying sharing with the members of Book Club.
As regards a men’s audience? The men in the film are glimpsed early but then arrive for the final fanfare, the wedding and the not-wedding! And, maybe, that’s where the male audience will enjoy the trip.
Interesting to note that of the same time, 80 for Brady was released, very much in the same vein, though the travellers to Houston and the Super Bowl – and with Jane Fonda as the common denominator.
And the advice, as for 80 for Brady, this is a film for older mothers and grandmothers – unless they beat you to it and have seen it already!
- The popularity of the first film? The stars and their impact? Friendship?
- The experience of lockdown, the Zoom communications, the film establishing each of the characters, end of travel bans, reunited, plans, Vivian getting married, the response of the others, Carol losing the restaurant, Sharon retiring, Diane and her relationship with Mitchell? Memories of the plan to go to Italy?
- The decision to go to Italy, the visits to Rome, to Venice, Tuscany, the touristic satisfaction?
- Each of their stories:
Vivian, age, never married, relationships, freedom, her relationship with Arthur, the decision to get married, Arthur being genial, dapper? The adventures on the trip? The buying of the bridal dress? The wedding sequence, not wanting to get married, the vows in the not-marriage?
Diane, the past, with Mitchell, the possibility of marriage, going on the trip, something of a chaperone, the adventures?
Sharon, former judge, sardonic in her comments, enjoying the trip, the encounter with Ousmane, sparring with the chief of police, his turning up, the helicopter to the wedding, his lending her his coat the ceremony, her performing the ceremony?
Carol, the long marriage to Bruce, the family, his illness, taking care of him, over-care, her cooking past, memories of chef Gianni, losing the restaurant, the trip to Italy, her enthusiasm, the restaurant, her meeting Gianni, pounding the dough during the night, phone calls to Bruce? The others and their advice to her to let up on him?
- Men, not seen very much, Mitchell as genial and supportive of Diane, Arthur, patient with Vivian, Bruce and his illness, the golf, the phone calls? Ousmane, his charm, the song and the music, on the canal with Sharon? The police chief, the initial confrontations, the encounter on the lagoon at night, the helicopter, lending his coat? Joni, the genial cook, memories of the past?
- The adventures, the plane, the porters at the airport, losing their luggage, the encounter with the police? Diane and the issue of Harry’s and ashes – and eventually scattering them? The recovery? The shopping for the dresses, in Venice, in the gondola, the police chief and Sharon with Ousmane? The restaurant, Carol in the encounter with Joni? The decision to go to Tuscany, the car, the breakdown, the police chief, suspicions, behind bars? Out, the helicopter, the arrival at the wedding?
- The wedding, the dresses, Arthur and Mitchell present, Carol on the phone with Bruce and his turning up? The quartet and having to start again, the prissy master of ceremonies? Sharon presiding when the priest did not turn up? Vivian not really wanting to marry, Arthur and his declaration? Mitchell and Diane, the wedding?
- The aftermath and audiences wanting to be with the Book Club again?
