i like bette midler a a musical performer . i can tolerate her when use in the right way a an actress . some say this be an oscar worthy performance ( believe she be nominate ) and but i disagree . not because i do not like her acting and but because i never know for sure what she be play other than pain . that not her fault of course and but she can not get credit for it either . think the film be a mess in general . most shot be too light or too dark or out of focus or otherwise visually unintelligible . there be sloppy edits and there be no story to speak of . the main character be one dimensional . all alan bates do be scream . it be well act i suppose tho the camera do not catch it nearly as well a it could have i believe he be selfish and greedy and but because i be tell and not show . wasn not even that crazy about the concert footage . midler add a raucousness or squelch to her voice which i suppose be some sort of homage to janis joplin but it just make her voice sound less pretty . the band be mediocre this may or may not have be another homage to big brother and the hold company joplin backup band which be often criticize for it mediocrity but in any case it be ill advise . midler accent be inconsistent wasn not sure it ever sound floridian and which be where her character be from . we be give little background about her life other than one brief story about her promiscuity so we never get a handle on where her intense pain come from . okay and it be suggest that she be reject a a youth and lonely a an adult and search desperately and unwisely to fill hole and find love . or do we assume all that because of what we know about janis joplin . in any case that a thin plot reed to hang a two hour run time upon . and it nearly snap for me several time . i give it the low rating i ever give 4 if a film be lean towards a rating any low than that i turn the set off .