Up Close & Personal (1996)

30% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(16,070 ratings)

A story about a career television journalist who eclipses her mentor, this drama's plot resembles that of A Star Is Born, and it shares the same screenwriters as those who penned the 1976 version of that film, John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. It's based loosely on the real-life story of… More A story about a career television journalist who eclipses her mentor, this drama's plot resembles that of A Star Is Born, and it shares the same screenwriters as those who penned the 1976 version of that film, John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. It's based loosely on the real-life story of newscaster Jessica Savitch. Sally Atwater (Michelle Pfieffer) gets a job at a Miami TV station based on a demo tape from her hometown of Reno, Nevada. The station's news director is Warren Justice (Robert Redford), a former high-profile Washington newsman whose career has suffered from his insistence on integrity. He makes Sally his gofer and criticizes her clothes and appearance while she begs him for a chance to go on-air. She becomes the station's weathercaster and Warren gives her the stage name of Tally. With Warren's constant advice, she breaks into news reporting and her star rises quickly as the two become romantically involved. She takes a better job in Philadelphia, with Warren's blessing, and there she soon eclipses the anchorwoman Marcia McGrath (Stockard Channing). From there, Tally's career continues to flourish, while her relationship with Warren takes some strange twists and turns. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Jon Avnet
Written By: Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Feb 20, 2001

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Glitz! Glamour! Love! TV news ethics?
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A perfectly respectable effort, but with all the talent involved it could have been better.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Bland TV expose loosely based on the life of Jessica Savitch
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Final proof that "based on actual events" means absolutely nothing.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
There is no real sexual tension between [Pfeiffer and Redford] from the get-go, so when they finally do get together, it feels forced, ungenuine.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

Pfeiffer stars as Tally aka Sally who is a young and naive journalist who desperately wants to become a news anchor & enlists the help of a news director, Warren Justice (Robert Redford), to help Tally accomplish her dreams. With a beautiful and tragic story of true love and… More
Pfeiffer stars as Tally aka Sally who is a young and naive journalist who desperately wants to become a news anchor & enlists the help of a news director, Warren Justice (Robert Redford), to help Tally accomplish her dreams. With a beautiful and tragic story of true love and Celine Dion's Because You Love Me, this movie is simply wonderful and incredibly touching and holds a special place in my heart.
Dean M

Old-fashioned Hollywood movies are hard to come by these days, and that is what makes this big-screen love story such a treasure. Writer Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, who based the screenplay on Alanna Nash's biography of ill-fated TV newswoman have gone with a largely… More
Old-fashioned Hollywood movies are hard to come by these days, and that is what makes this big-screen love story such a treasure. Writer Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, who based the screenplay on Alanna Nash's biography of ill-fated TV newswoman have gone with a largely fictional tale, and this works very much in the film's favour.
Leigh R

So sweet and romantic.
Cinema F

A classic and remarkable movie. Robert's portrayal of a dedicated journalist has been an encouragement to others in similar situations. Yes, I don't fear for my career.
Dimitris S

Here's another stereotype of the American (U.S. that is) pile of rubbish on a daily basis. I mean, compared to this, One Fine Day looks like a masterpiece! Anyway, dull process of events, I don't really care how true this topic is, when you're dealing with… More
Here's another stereotype of the American (U.S. that is) pile of rubbish on a daily basis. I mean, compared to this, One Fine Day looks like a masterpiece! Anyway, dull process of events, I don't really care how true this topic is, when you're dealing with "huge" Hollywood actors, you expect decent performances, not a Way We Were romance mr Redford, made by such a talentless director like mr Avnet is...
Daisy M

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.tinypic.com/hs3ss6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> I simply love Robert Redford in every movie he was in.Up close and… More
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.tinypic.com/hs3ss6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> I simply love Robert Redford in every movie he was in.Up close and personal was just a nice romance drama in the broadcast world.There were so many good things about this movie and there were some flaws too.Robert and Michelle had great chemistry and I liked the way he looked at her, the things he said to her, what he did for her to help her become what she wanted to be. So nice and romantic. Overall the movie was just okay.
Sunil J

A sweet romance in the news reporter world.
Leo L

A personal favorite. Love Celine Dion's "Because You Love Me".

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Robert Redford as Warren Justice

            Michelle Pfeiffer as Tally Atwater (formerly Sally)

            Stockard Channing as Marcia McGrath

            Joe Mantegna as Bucky Terranova

            Kate Nelligan as Joanna Kennelly

            Glenn Plummer as Ned Jackson

            Ed Amatrudo as Miami Reporter

            Yareli Arizmendi as Inez Cifuentes

            Lexie D. Bigham as Homeless Woman

            Nicholas Cascone as WMIA Director

            Raymond Cruz as Fernando Buttanda

            Dennis Dun as Satellite Van Technician

            Fabian as Himself

            Julie Foreman as WMIA Producer

            Nigel Gibbs as WFIL Floor Manager

            Neil Giuntoli as Trailer Park Manager

            Bruce Gray as Gabe Lawrence

            Charlie Holliday as Priest

            James Karen as Tom Orr

            Michael Laskin as IBS Director

            Salvadore Levy as Congessman Levy

            Marc Macaulay as Police Spokesman

            Brian Markinson as Vic Nash

            Tom McCarthy as Negotiator

            Larry John Meyers as Murray Gordon

            Edwina Moore as WMIA Co-Anchor

            Charles Noland as Focus Group Member

            Norman Parker as Mark Lindler

            Dedee Pfeiffer as Luanna Atwater

            James Rebhorn as John Merino

            Elizabeth Ruscio as Miami Reporter

            Miguel Sandoval as Dan Duarte

            Jack Shearer as Prison Expert

            Heidi Swedberg as Sheila

            Cynthia Szigeti as 98 Year Old Twin

            Rick Warner as Spokesman

            Michael Shamus Wiles as WFIL Cameraman

            Noble Willingham as Buford Sells

            Fern Buchner as WMIA Makeup Woman

            Scott Bryce as Rob Sullivan

            Ginny Graham as Focus Group Member

            Andy Prosky as Cord Otavio

            Miguel Pérez as WMIA Floor Manager

            Joanna Sanchez as Ileana

            Daniel Zacapa
            
See full cast

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