Goodnight, We Love You (2004)

Must See Movie...

From my favorite movies..

Best movie ever!

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Goodnight, We Love You: 5 out of 10: This collection of Phyllis Diller sex tapes is somewhat disappointing. Often filmed in that awful night vision green it is hard to make out the action. In addition, Miss Diller rarely takes on more than one man at a time (except for the Catalina Island orgy) and her only lesbian scene (with Elaine Boosler) is all to brief.Phyllis of course was a famous sex kitten who had myriad affairs with such luminaries as Troy Donahue and Anwar Sadat. In fact, Sadat’s last words “Phyllis it was always you” is often misquoted... okay okay I kid I kid Fans of Phyllis Diller will be pleased... Fans of elderly woman checking into moderate hotel suites will be in heaven. Goodnight, We Love you does beg a few questions. The primarily one is should you allow your stalker to film your biography. To describe director Gregg Barson as fawning is to completely underestimate his obsequious servitude towards Miss Diller. Honestly, it is more than a bit creepy.Not that celebrities interviewed are any less ingratiating. Not one expresses surprise that Diller is still alive and the kind words flow as if they were giving an encomium rather than personal insights. I understand that is human nature to say something nice but after the twentieth or so collection of hosannas, Don Rickles’ sneering come across as a breath of fresh air rather than the senile rambling it actually is.In fact, Rickles’ own recent documentary “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” would make a nice companion piece for this film Diller’s Guinness Book awarding rapid-fire delivery is well covered here and a reunion of her personal assistants is the highlight of the film. I wish there was more of the personal stories and less generic celebrity praising. There is also not enough actual stand-up in the film itself as a result the companion disk of her last live performance is a welcome addition.A nice enough film for Diller fans but one should check their blood sugar levels before watching.

I was fortunate to attend the World Premiere of this outstanding biomovie with Mrs Diller and her impressive entourage in attendance, including the filmmaker Gregg Barson and her publicist Milt Suchin. The post-screening address to the gushing audience was an indescribable treat. Mrs Diller can still fire off the hilarious zingers...and the laugh we all love is still there. What a great accomplishment by the San Diego Film Festival to have Mrs Diller there!The film brings you up close and personal to the legendary comic's last professional stand-up performance in Las Vegas...with an audience loaded with other comic greats paying their respects. Many give personal and poignant on-camera tributes. Mrs Diller takes you on a personal tour of her residence and shares the love, her family and friendships cultivated over a very accomplished career. We also learn that Mrs Diller is an extremely talented classical pianist/musician (who performed with many symphony orchestras over a ten-year period) and artist, whose paintings are highly-acclaimed. All of that talent ... plus a ton of love, class, eternal optimism and humor throughout. Reliving her early challenge of breaking into a male-dominated profession in the 1950s to present day, the life lessons learned from this film and Mrs Diller are profound and powerful. Moviegoers of all ages will love this film. As a matter of fact, like other classic human beings that come along, Mrs Diller is ageless as is her work and message. You will laugh uproariously...you will reflect...you will get choked up. Phyllis Diller's life story will renew your faith that drive, the development of one's talents and diligence are, indeed, their own reward! Well done, Mr Barson...and, Mrs Diller... we love you, too!