The Mirror Has Two Faces is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film produced and directed by Barbra Streisand, who also acts in the film. The screenplay, written by Richard LaGravenese, is inspired by the 1958 French film Le Miroir à deux faces, created by French filmmakers André Cayatte and Gérard Oury. The film features actors Jeff Bridges, Pierce Brosnan, George Segal, Mimi Rogers, Brenda Vaccaro, and Lauren Bacall.

The story follows a quiet, middle-aged professor (played by Jeff Bridges) who forms a non-romantic relationship with a colleague (played by Barbra Streisand) who is struggling with love.

The film was released in the United States by TriStar Pictures (part of Sony Pictures) on November 15, 1996, and earned $82 million. Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, and Bryan Adams wrote the film’s theme song, I Finally Found Someone, which is performed as a duet by Streisand and Adams.

Plot

Rose Morgan is a middle-aged English literature professor at Columbia University. She lives with her mother, Hannah, who is widowed and often displays vanity and a controlling personality. While attending her sister Claire's third wedding to Alex, Rose's former crush, Rose tells her best friend Doris that she believes she will never marry but thinks it must feel wonderful to have a partner who truly understands her.

Gregory Larkin is a Columbia math professor who struggles to connect with his students and loses focus when distracted by attractive women. Shortly after beginning a talk about his new book, Gregory's ex-girlfriend Candace arrives. Her presence makes him so nervous that he has a panic attack and cannot continue speaking. While recovering, Gregory pleads with his friend Henry not to let him go home with Candace, but he leaves with her when she offers. After they have sex, Candace leaves immediately. She is still in a relationship but wanted to boost her confidence because her current boyfriend was cheating on her.

Feeling frustrated and rejected, Gregory places a personal ad that states, "Columbia University professor (male) seeks woman interested in common goals and companionship. Must have a Ph.D. and be over thirty-five. Physical appearance not important!" Claire secretly responds to the ad on Rose's behalf. Later, after visiting one of Rose's classes, Gregory asks her out to dinner. They begin a relationship that includes occasional hugs but no physical intimacy.

Three months later, Gregory proposes, emphasizing that their relationship will be based on shared interests and affection, not sex. He agrees to occasional sex if Rose gives him enough warning. Gregory and Rose marry in a courthouse ceremony. Their relationship grows emotionally, with hints of physical attraction.

During a discussion about Gregory's European book tour at breakfast, Rose asks if now is enough warning to tell him she wants to have sex that night. Gregory nervously agrees. That night, as she tries to seduce him, they passionately kiss on the floor until Gregory becomes uncomfortable and pulls away. He accuses Rose of breaking their agreement by "female manipulation." Heartbroken, Rose locks herself in the bathroom and cries. Later, she sneaks out and goes to live with her mother.

While staying with Hannah, Rose blames her mother for making her feel unattractive as a child. Hannah shows her a photo of herself as a toddler, explaining how pretty she was and how her father adored her. This changes Rose's view of herself. She decides to change her appearance by improving her diet, exercising, restyling her hair, wearing tighter clothing, and using more flattering makeup. Meanwhile, Gregory ends his European tour early and returns home. When he criticizes Rose's new look, she says she no longer loves him and moves back in with her mother.

When Alex discovers Claire's affair with her masseur, they separate. Rose comforts Alex, but they nearly have sex before she realizes the fantasy of Alex is better than the reality. Gregory becomes angry with his students and struggles emotionally, eventually staying with his friend Henry. Henry encourages Gregory to fight for Rose.

Before sunrise, Gregory visits Rose's apartment. He tells her he loves her and explains that he pulled away during their earlier attempt at intimacy because he wanted her so badly. They kiss and confess their love as Puccini's music plays from a neighbor's turntable. When Gregory says he wants to marry her, Rose reminds him they are already married. As the sun rises, they take a taxi home.

Production

Barbra Streisand first asked other directors, such as Robert Zemeckis and Herbert Ross, to direct the film, but they all refused. This may have been because Streisand had a reputation for being challenging to work with. She then decided to direct the film herself. The film had problems during filming, including delays and more than a dozen cast or crew members being fired or leaving the project. Notably, Dudley Moore was fired in early November after he failed to remember his lines. This was later discovered to be caused by a progressive brain disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a condition that eventually led to his death. He was replaced by George Segal, while cinematographer Dante Spinotti and film editor Alan Heim left the production on their own.

Reception

The film earned $41 million in the United States and Canada.

On the review website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 51%, based on 35 reviews.

In a review from The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote that the film's first hour is "light and amusing" but noted that Barbra Streisand later impresses the audience with "good will hubris that goes through the roof." She described Streisand as "beguiling" in roles where she plays an "ugly duckling" but said she becomes "insufferable" as the story's "gloating swan." Maslin added that the film's over-the-top style is partly balanced by Streisand's "genuine diva appeal" and that the camera "loves her" even when forced to. She also praised Streisand for showing "sympathy and humor" in the first half of the role and highlighted Lauren Bacall's performance, calling it "elegant and sardonic."

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said the film "approaches the subject of marriage warily and with wit, like a George Bernard Shaw play." He praised the film for addressing "issues of sex and love" intelligently and for featuring "verbal characters" that make the movie enjoyable. He called it a "moving and challenging" film.

Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle described the film as "a silly affirmation fantasy" that Streisand uses to show she is "beautiful, funny, and worthy of being loved." He noted that Streisand has repeated the theme of a "homely girl redeemed" throughout her career and called the film's first half a "romantic-comic delight" with "nicely directed" scenes and "well-acted" performances. However, he said the film "disintegrates" in the second half into a "humorless, drawn-out plea for reassurance."

Todd McCarthy of Variety called the film a "vanity production" that focuses heavily on "appearances, good looks, and being adored." He described it as an "old-fashioned wish-fulfillment romantic comedy" with exaggerated performances. He noted that Streisand's character "plays out her career-long comic psychodrama" and that the film's "narcissism" is "astonishing to behold." He also praised the film's "laughs," "deep-dish luxury" in production, and a "engagingly enthusiastic" performance by Bridges.

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a C− rating and wrote that the film's characters are "lonely and afraid of love" but that their interactions are "hermetically sealed," making it hard for viewers to connect emotionally. She criticized the film's "synthetic one-liners" and called the film "difficult to sit through" despite its "pretty" settings and "slick" music.

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post called the film "Barbra Streisand's latest folly" and said it is a "very public tragedy" for Streisand, who "still can't quite believe that she's not Michelle Pfeiffer." She added that at 54, it is "time to get over girlish hang-ups" and "thank God" that Streisand is still "recognizable."

Desson Howe of the newspaper's Weekend section wrote that the film is a "perfect experience" for Streisand fans but "definitely one to miss" for critics. He noted that the film includes many shots of Rose's physical changes, such as her legs, hairstyle, and eyes, but added that Lauren Bacall's role as Hannah provides "comic relief" with her "withering lines."

Lauren Bacall's performance received widespread praise, earning her the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. She also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the first in her then-50-plus-year career.

Soundtrack

The original music for the film was composed by Marvin Hamlisch. It was nominated for Best Original Score at the 54th Golden Globe Awards. On November 12, 1996, Sony released the soundtrack on CD.

The CD includes songs such as "Try a Little Tenderness" by David Sanborn, "The Power Inside of Me" by Richard Marx, "I Finally Found Someone" by Streisand and Bryan Adams, "All of My Life" by Streisand, and "The Apology / Nessun Dorma" by Luciano Pavarotti with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta. In the final scene of the film, Pavarotti's voice was mimed by real-life tenor and actor Carlo Scibelli.

The CD single for "I Finally Found Someone" also includes the Spanish-language version of Streisand's "Evergreen": "Siempre Verde (Tema de Amor de Nace Una Estrella)."