The Rose

The Rise to Fame; the Stab in the Back; the Tragic Demise... With its ageless conventions and stylish history, the musical biopic is Hollywood's haiku, and the last two years have seen two of its finest examples: The Buddy Holly Story and Coal Miner's Daughter. But The Rose mixes its models and pays the price, stumbling awkwardly between a historical portrait (of Janis Joplin and other shooting stars of '60s rock) and a concert movie showcase for Bette Midler. Even her fiery mix of raunch'n'tease, though, can't make up for a bubblegum plot and sentimentality on parade. Only Alan Bates, surprisingly well cast as the Rose's ruthless manager, and Harry Dean Stanton (confirming himself as the grittiest sourpuss actor in Hollywood) raise a frown or a smile. The rest of it will just have you yawning in the aisles.