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When a Hollywood heartthrob (Matt Dillon, playing a Brad Pitt look-alike) "outs" his small-town high-school drama teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) during the Oscar telecast, the entire (fictional) town of Greenleaf, Indiana, wonders if Howard's really gay. More to the point, Howard wonders, too--quite a dilemma considering his pending marriage to Emily (Joan Cusack), who's patiently tolerated a three-year engagement. While a TV reporter (Tom Selleck) covers the ensuing furor, screenwriter Paul Rudnick and director Frank Oz make good-natured humor their highest priority, turning the "crisis" of coming out into a laugh-out-loud spin on conventional romantic comedy. The result is a film that delivers constant laughs and a golden opportunity for its fine cast to show off their considerable comedic talents--especially Cusack, who deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious performance as the bride who's almost as confused as her would-be husband. That Rudnick and Oz have made a great comedy that's both old-fashioned and relevant to the late 20th century is no small feat, but In & Out has no hidden agenda apart from its triumphant desire to entertain. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Unlikely High Comedy
Given the pretext of a modern 'gay' comedy and the phrases, "gay stereotypes", "queer smaltz" and "hidden agenda" all come to mind. Add to that the sensitive subject of a high school teacher in Indiana being 'outed' on national television and you would seem to have the recipe for an instant disaster.

Director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick turn potential controversy and a touchy subject into a riotous, slapstick comedy with some of the wittiest and funniest dialogue in years. Kevin Kline as the 'possibly' gay teacher and Joan Cusack as the insufferable and patient fiancee are in top form (Cusack was nominated for an Oscar). The supporting cast are all veterans and even Tom Selleck does a turn for the better with his acting.

There is nothing but hilarity, joy and even tenderness between the characters with unexpected twists and character turnabouts that will soften even the most jaded. This is worth seeing if only for Joan Cusack where with a mouth full of bar nuts runs screaming into the street yelling, "Is this the twilight zone?!" Yes, the ending is happy - even more so.

A CLASSIC
Kevin Kline stars as the soon-to-be married small town teacher who is outed by one of his pupils during a television appearance. these are merley the seeds to an energetic comedy where Kevin Kline manicially runs around in the film trying to prove that he's not gay. There is a superb cast here which includes a fine supporting role from Tom Selleck who plays an openly gay reporter, as well as Joan cusack, matt Dillon and Whoopi Goldberg. They all sparkle against Paul Rudnick's razor sharp scripts that bubbles with fast, furious wit. Kevin Kline puts in a sensitive, carefully conceived performance rather than settling for a stereotypical role. Consistently funny throughout - a classic. Highly recommended.

Hilarious! Kevin Kline at His Best!
I caught "In & Out" on HBO a few weeks ago, and I thought that it was a hilarious comedy. Finding out that it was written by Paul Rudnick, the writer of "Marci X" and "The Stepford Wives", and directed by Frank Oz. the director of "The Stepford Wives." They work so well together. The only reason why I could only give this movie four stars is because of the last scene. It was too long, and I have seen that kind of scene before. They could have changed that part a little. The best scenes of the movie come from the middle, while Kevin Kline character is becoming confused about his life.

Kline plays Howard Brackett, a high school teacher that loves his job. "It's my life," he replies sometime during the movie. He is just days away from marrying another teacher Emily Montgomery, and he just found out that a former student of his named Cameron Drake was nominated for an Oscar for his preformance in "To Serve and Protect" in which he playsa gay solider. On the night where he wins, during his acceptance speech, he says that he was influenced by Howard because he's gay. That leaves Howard, Emily, and his parents Berniece and Frank, at a halt. None of them knew that Howard was gay, and Howard continues to deny it. The press gets involved when Peter Malloy, a gay newsreporter, decides to find out the truth about Howard. As his wedding day comes closer, and Howard continues to be a manly man, and prove to himself and everybody else that he's not gay, while also getting confused about his life.

I like how the filmmakers handle being gay. There are some sterotypes throughout the movie, such as the gay characters moving their hands in a certain way while they talk, or just some of the dialog. Kevin Kline handles the physical comedy well, and the entire movie works because of him. Joan Cusack is hilarious as usual, but she can overact at times. Matt Dillon had a nice small part as Cameron Drake, and it is good that he is playing an actor who is not conceited, and always thinking about himself. "In & Out" is a very funny movie that I recommend to all.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.

An Actual Review
I bought this movie because so many people reviewed it and said it was funny. And I like Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck. Well, save your money, I laughed once. This movie was totally predicatable and disappointingly unfunny.

Could it be that all the people raving about this movie are raving about it because they are either gay themselves or gay-friendly, and would give ANY movie 5 stars for showing the gay lifestyle in a positive light?

If you do not want to watch a politically correct propaganda piece from ACT-UP, then skip this movie.

Dumb slapstick humor that is darn enjoyable!
I've seen this film about 5 billion times just because its light and fluffy and funny in that dumb sort of way that it can be watched over and over again because all it does is make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.And isn't that what you need sometimes? ... Read more

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Mira Sorvino won an Oscar for her performance as a bubbleheaded hooker and porn star who happens to be the mother of a bright young boy adopted by a Manhattan couple (Woody Allen and Helena Bonham Carter). The story finds Allen's sportswriter character becoming curious about the identity of his son's biological mom, and he strikes up a relationship with her without revealing why. This 27th feature written and directed by Allen is a nice combination of smart comedy and some of the wackier energy of his earliest movies. (Between scenes, there's a running gag involving a Greek chorus--actually filmed among some real Greek ruins--who do song-and-dance interpretations of the script's events.) This isn't Allen at his best, but it is a fine minor work graced by Sorvino's spin on the cinema's archetypal dumb blonde. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Damn what a good film
There seem to be three camps when it comes to Woody Allen. (1) People who love his earlier works and villify his most recent films (2)People who love all of his films (3) People who hate Woody Allen, his films, and anything else related to him. I belong to the second group, and like most of his films. Mighty Aphrodite is a great movie, featuring the performance that put Mira Sorvino on the map. This film also contains a great performance by Michael Rappaport, who has gone on to do more stellar work with Allen. Every time I watch this movie I laugh. If anything, see this film for the Greek chorus led by F. Murray Abraham. Like most of Allens more recent works this film is funny and wacky, while at the same time you don't leave the movie feeling as if you've lost brain cells by watching it.

Aristophanes would be proud!
This is one gem of a romantic comedy. With all of the delicious allusions to Greek mythology & the props for Greek theatre, one would not be going too far to call it a "cultured" romantic comedy. What really stands out is how the references to archetypal Greek images are tied in so nicely with the storyline.

I must concede I've not seen many Woody Allen films, but he was terrific as a coy and eccentric sportswriter. Likewise, Mira Sorvino is beyond charming as a naive but good natured harlot.

If you're looking for a feel good movie, you can't do much better than this. If you want an RC movie that is funny and yet has more substance than most others, you can't go wrong with MIGHTY APRHODITE. Somewhere above the clouds, I can't help but think that Aristophanes is watching this film over & over again.....and he's loving every minute of it!

Mighty Awful
It has all the subtlety of a train wreck. Woody Allen is a clever man, and indeed there are several good zingers, but each one is repeated in such a juvenile manner that I fear Mr. Allen doesn't give his audience enough credit for getting it the first time.

For example, there is a scene where Woody is matchmaking two idiots. He declines their invitation to join them by saying, "No, thank you. I'm superfluous." To which one idiot replies, "Oh, you're not feeling well?" What a great zinger! But then he belabors the joke by going on: "No, SUPERFLUOUS. Uh... superfluous means unneccessary... I'd only get in the way..." This sort of audience-coddling continues throughout the movie, right up to the end, where even the final scene is amended with a clumsy explanation for the dim-witted. The movie ends with the same gag (a Broadway-Greek chorus) that has already been done 3 times in the last 95 minutes. We got it the first time, Woody.

Acting? You'll hardly notice. The characters are such obvious, stereotypical caricatures that they become entirely boring and predictable--if not offensive to Jews, women, boxers, hairdressers, husbands, wives and barkeeps. I was embarrassed for the lot of them.

Unless you, too, are stuck in the sixties, you might do yourself a favor by skipping this one. Woody even managed to waste the incredible talent of F. Murray Abraham!

Etu Woody!
Woody Allen at his funniest (and *raunchiest*--not for the prudish), particularly during his scenes with Mira Sorvino, who walks off with the film as a ditzy porn starlet. The only thing that prevents this from a full-out four-star rating is a baffling framing device in which characters from Greek mythology drop into the story from time to time to comment on the action. It's annoying and rarely funny.

Greek Tragedy...A La Woody...Not So Tragic
Whenever I need a smile or a good laugh I always turn to Woody Allen. I know he will never let me down, and "The Mighty Aphrodite" is no exception. As always he has gathered a fabulous ensemble that seem to be just perfect for the wonderful characters he creates. This one stars Woody(of course), as sportswriter Lenny Weinrib, who after being convinced by his wife to adopt baby Max, becomes obsessed(who can do obsessed better then he?) with finding the real mother.

The laughs are non stop as Lenny gets a little help on his quest from a very funny Greek Chorus, led by the great F. Murray Abraham. Lenny finds the mother who is not only a prostitute but an adult movie actress as well. "Linda" is not exactly the brightest person on earth, but you can't help loving her, and is played brillantly by Mira Sorvino. Lenny doesn't stop with finding her though, he is now out to change her life!

Meanwhile back at the Weinrib ranch, Lenny's wife Amanda(Helena Bonham Carter), is having thoughts of an extra-martial affair. Could this spell doom for Weinrib family? Can our Greek philosphers say the right words to save this marriage? It's a lot of fun finding out!

Woody takes love, prostitution, adultry combined with greek mythology and the great setting of New York, and gives us an hour and a half of pure delight. Mira Sorvino by the way, won several awards for her outstanding performance including Best Supporting Actress from the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes as well.She's the funniest pro since "Irma La Douce". This great cast includes the likes of Olympia Dukakis,Claire Bloom,Peter Weller,and the wonderful Jack Warden as the blind man(Tiresias) who sees all.

If you have missed this gem,it's a must see. If it's been a while since you've seen it, watch it again and remember why you loved it so much the first time around.

"Of all human weaknesses, obsession is the most dangerous, and the silliest!"(The Greek Chorus)...enjoy...Laurie ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Not enough superlatives for this film
I can't say enough good about this tiny sleeper film. It is a simple story--the loser brother returns to town to his hometown that he ditched after his parents died. He goes to stay with his divorced, uptight sister and her young son. Chaos and conflict ensue due to their differing personality styles.

But the script and direction (both by Ken Lonergan, who appears in the film in the small, very funny role of the priest who Sammy consults) are touching, funny, and thoughtful. This, in my opinion, should have taken the Oscar for best original screenplay (which went to "Traffic"). The Oscar, too, could deservedly have gone to Laura Linney, whose Sammy is a character study in small gestures, well-timed lines and naturalistic acting.

Credit, too, should go to Mark Ruffalo as the brother and the actor (one of the Culkin clan) that plays Sammy's young son.

Touching without being maudlin or sentimental, laugh-out-loud funny, and well crafted in every way. This small movie tells a small, very human story in the very best way--that's the highest praise that I can give. After two hours, you leave wanting to know more about what will happen to these people, and you wish that you knew them. But you do--that's how universal they are.

A must-see.

A touching character drama about a brother and sister
A small movie set in a small town delivers various big elements including top-notch performances from its two leads, extremely effective character development all around and a poignant message dipped with the importance of love, family, relationships and spirituality. This is obviously not a typical Hollywood picture and surely not for everyone, but definitely one to see for anyone who appreciates superior character studies, feels confused, overwhelmed or bored about their own life, and is curious about the familial foundation which supports this entire movie. This isn't a very upbeat film. It does contain a handful of lighter moments, but is basically a movie that feels sort of somber all the way through but doesn't ever really get boring. The force of the writing is the main reason for that, with the superior performances set forth by all, straddling in as a close second. Major kudos go out to Mark Ruffalo, who completely inhabits his role as the loose younger brother with the knack for getting into trouble, as well as Laura Linney, playing the full role of mother, sister, lover and employee to a tee. The excellent rapport between the two leads also makes you glad to be spending some time with them

Natural and ordinary is good
It's a very ordinary movie. But yet, I found myself really enjoying it. And that may have been why I enjoyed it so much. BECAUSE it was ordinary.

The movie is about a brother and sister who are orphaned at a young age, Sammi and Terry. Years later, Terry comes back to the small town they grew up in and where Sammi still lives to ask her for money. A bond between Sammi's son and Terry is born and a rekindling between the brother and sister.

I was glad to be able to watch a movie where the characters were telling the story. I was also glad to watch a movie that focused on the brother-sister relationship because it's something not a lot of movies dwell in these days. I thought the writing and dialouge were fantastic. It felt so natural. But the highest point of this movie was the acting. Laura Linney was great. She was absolute perfect as Sammi. Matthew Broderick and Ken Lonergan were also great. Rory Kulkin is without a doubt the Kulkin Kid that has a real future in Hollywood. But the actor that really stood out for me was Mark Ruffalo. He was amazing as the wayward brother, Terry. He, along with everyone else, never over-acts. It's again ... natural.

And that's the element that appealed to me most. Everything is natural. And maybe to some natural is boring. But to me it was refreshing.

ALEXS CAPSULE MOVIE REVIEWS
Highlights: Great script; quietly effective atmosphere; avoids schmaltz - real emotions will evoke real tears; terrific cast; K. Lonergan's direction is awash with nuance; never hammers its audience with moralizing - cunningly judicious, the film's morals will nevertheless remain in your memory.
Lowpoints: The ending is a tad stretched-out.

Conclusion: It's difficult to pinpoint flaws in this Martin Scorsese-produced little gem, helmed by a Scorsese regular, screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan, who fills his story with so much realism, drama and wit, that it becomes difficult to isolate certain inconsistencies. Fortunately, "You Can Count on Me", which tells a story of a rebel brother named Terry (M. Ruffalo in an ingeniously amenable performance, emanating stubbornness and astuteness), who comes to ask his sister Sammy, a single middle-aged mother (L. Linney), for some cash. They haven't seen each other for a while, and while eventually their character differences preside, what we as the audience are witnessing throughout the film is raw honesty in the astute interactions between Terry, Sammy, and her little son Rudy. Terry as an intense father-figure results in catastrophe, and while Sammy truly loves him, she has to make sure he leaves before devastating Rudy's flow of daily life. L. Linney is magnificent as church-going Sammy who has a spontaneous affair with her boss (M. Broderick). Inspired by her defiant brother's visit, she delves into the affair headfirst, displaying the consequent conflicting emotions with awesome result. Overall, it is one of those singular melodramas that has real emotions, affecting performances, is entertaining, and doesn't have Julia Roberts in it.

Count On Me To Love It
Certainly one of the best (and underrated) dramas of the last years, Kenneth Lonergan`s directorial debut is a subtle, poignant and moving work of art.

A story about the links between two lonely and confuse brothers who reunite after a few years far from each other, "You Can Count On Me" offers what most independent movies do better: in-depth and multi-layered character studies with complex, realistic and appealing relationships. The plot itself is simple, but the excellent and low-key acting (Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick), the witty dialogue, the cozy direction and the adequate score make this a must-see cinematic experience.

A superb family drama that perfectly combines melancholy and comedy (intelligent and heartfelt comedy, not predictable slapstick), this movie is as good as the also great (and very overlooked) "Moonlight Mile", by Brad Silberling, and much better than some overrated average dramas like "Magnolia" or "The Hours", both self-important pieces of filmaking.

"You Can Count On Me" is a pleasant example of "americana", giving an absorbing and interesting portrait of flawed yet likable individuals. One really cares for the characters here, since they are so believable and well-crafted (even if Laura Linney`s character boyfriend`s switches was a bit contrived). Overall, this indie effort works better than expected, providing a very promising debut for Lonergan and one of the best movies of 2000.

Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

A Thoughtful and Evocative Children's Film...
Harriet the Spy is a wonderfully textured little movie, displaying a welcome amount of emotional depth. Though made for children, its virtues transcend age groups - it deftly touches on some very relatable and universal themes. And unlike other children's fare, it dares to venture into some rather somber and affecting territory.

In the title role of Harriet, Michelle Trachtenberg is a delight. She infuses the role with a wide and impressive range of emotion and displays remarkable talent for her age. The character of Harriet is realistically and refreshingly portrayed - like any 11 year-old she has a wealth of charms as well as her share of foibles. Somewhat of an outsider, Harriet turns inward when trouble ensues - due to her self-imposed isolationism, Harriet has a hard time when she falls out of favor with her friends. She makes mistakes along the way - but ultimately, she overcomes her flaws, reaches out to her friends, and takes a more active role in the world. Seeing this honest portrayal of an 11 year-old makes for a rather satisfying journey.

Young Michelle Trachtenberg deftly captures a sense of innocence, curiosity, and angst. Her performance often tugs at the heartstrings due to its subtle delivery. She very much captures a sense of wide-eyed adorability - yet she's often quite haunting when serving as the film's narrator. In the role of Ole Golly, Rosie O'Donnell puts in a decent, if understated performance. And the actors playing Harriet's friends do a nice job of portraying the camaraderie between the three.

Visually, the film is shot in bright colors and an eclectic style. Yet for all the cheery stylistic content, the film touches on some fairly serious emotional territory. True to real life, when the children turn on Harriet they become quite cruel and antagonistic. Through Harriet's alienation, the mood is quite morose and affecting - once again, Trachtenberg shines in her portrayal of a hurt, confused, and isolated young girl.

The director nicely contrasts innocent childlike elements with a darker undercurrent... like a scene of a child's flipbook that spells out the words 'Everybody hates me'. Or a shot of lonely friendless Harriet washing up in the bathroom, while a sing-song chant of friendship ironically echoes in the background. There's a nice juxtaposition between the dearly childish and the darkly mature.

Yet the darkness serves a purpose - for when the positive themes arise, they shine all the more authentically. After all, the value of friendship seems much more potent after viewing the angst and pain of Harriet's friendless life. Ultimately, the movie ends on a rather charming and positive note - Harriet learns, and grows, and finds her happiness.

Ultimately, Harriet the Spy is a worthwhile little movie. The performances are solid, and there's a strong emotional core. Unlike other children's movies, Harriet the Spy doesn't beat you over the head with its messages. Instead, it subtly touches upon the importance of tolerance, friendship, honesty, and balance. It's a thoughtful and charming look into the world of a child.

Best Movie ever Made By Nickelodean
Harriet the Spy is a movie I would watch time and again! I have loved the book ever since second grade, and the cast is wonderful. Please ignore all the negative reviews, they are just trash. I do however, agree with a one star reviewer that Harriet shouldn't have destroyed her notebooks. Perhaps she should have drawn a picture of the person she was mad at and destroyed it. Rosie O'donnel was out of this world when she played Ole Golly. Forget about the book, this movie is much better. My ten year old cousin thought the part when Marian Hawthorne asked where her notebook was was incredibly funny. Hey, that's fourth grade humor for you.

Best movie since land before time part 6!
There are 88 used copies of this movie for sale, starting off at 33 cents. That may tell you something. People hate this thing so bad they are practicly giving it away!

Apparently, someone at Nickelodeon decieded it was time to make a feature film. What a better way to start out than with a sure fire classic like "harriet the spy"

I remember the hype when this movie came out. I remember the numerous advertisements for it. But mostly, I remember going to see it and feeling like an idiot.

What a great way to kick off your feature film market than to make a movie that completly sucked. Luckily, people knew a bad movie when they saw one, and this thing was forgotten almost instantly.

(...)

Midly entertainitng, but a bit off
Parts of this story are entertaining, but parts of it tended to bother me. What really bothered me was that Harriet did some mean things to people in her class, but her nanny never told her that what she did was wrong. She seemed to tell Harriet to pretend to be sorry, even if she wasn't sorry. That attitude is what really bothers me about the movie and the book.

Brings out the kid in you!
Who says you have to be a kid to like a movie generally made for kids? My daughter has liked this movie for years and I think I like it even more than her. Nickelodeon has produced something special here. Before SPY KIDS there was HARRIET! This is a great adventure with some emotional themes (peer pressure, honesty) for youngsters. Through hip hand-held style camera shooting and a festive funky soundtrack to boot, I like the movie simply for the execution. The fact that Rosie O'Donnel was pregnant (in disquise) during the making is also an interesting obstacle they had to work with. At any rate, Harriet the Spy is a fun, and rather different movie. When I say different I mean not like typical movies today filled with special effects and scenes so crammed with action and expository dialog that you can't even enjoy a scene. Harriet the Spy has some calm moments that cinematically shine (unique camera angles, color choices). The subtle sound effects and many humorous moments make this story fun for everyone.

The only reason I give this movie 4 and not 5 stars is because the DVD version the Paramount has put together offers a FALSE widescreen representation of the movie. If you compare to the earlier VHS edition, you'll notice that they actually CROPPED this movie for DVD to give it the APPEARANCE of widescreen, rather, you're actually seeing LESS of the picture which was originally cropped on the VHS version for full-screen adaptation to begin with! That and NO bonus features to speak for whatsoever (is it so hard to add at least the original TRAILER?) I found that rather disappointing. ... Read more

Reviews (112)

Good movie - bad DVD transfer.
The DVD of Carrie 2 is mediocre. You can see pixilization in the backgrounds, which detracted from my viewing pleasure. There were also some spots where I saw some mpeg splotchiness.

2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate?
This sequel to the horror smash 'Carrie', is yet another teen horror flick. However, with one-liners and special effects, this seems to be an improvement. The 'star of the show' Emily Bergl, gives a captivating performance as this year's traumatised teen. The support cast were average, and Amy Irving seemed to be a disapointment this time. Special mention goes to the twin of Alicia Silverstone, Rachel Blanchard (Clueless and Sugar and Spice) and Charlotte Ayanna (Jawbreaker) for playing the 'teen bitches' with a little more class than expected. As Monica (Blanchard) says "She should get extra points for being so skanky", I would have to give this film extra points for being so daring. It's not easy to follow up on such a hit, but I think they did a pretty alright job. Though good, I have seen better.

Sequels are not as good as first parts
This is a pathetic carrie of the 90's. I don't know why horror movies of the 70's are comedy shows in the 90's. Carrie is no exception. The plot is not horror anymore. You'd better go back to the original movie.

Very Good...
This movie was very good... I enjoyed it... I'm a fan of the original, Carrie, and this is a good sequel... The haunting images from the original, Bates High School and Carrie's locker room humiliation and the atrocious scenes from her prom, were very haunting... I enjoyed it a lot...

Better than you might think
Nice cop-out review by the staff Amazon bozo. The real scoop here is that Carrie 2 turns out to be about three times better than you'd expect due mainly to two factors: Director Kat Shea's incredible way with adolescent characters and stories (see "Poison Ivy") and Chicago stage actress Emily Bergl's sensitive but strong portrayal of Rachael, half sister of Carrie White (BTW, if you know your "Carrie", you'd know Ralph White never died, so having another child out of wedlock was a real possibility). The "set-up" this time is almost nastier than the first, and Shea makes a bit of sense (and gives us a refreshing change) by using peer politics and adult pressures as the catalyst for making these kids act like such ***. Unfortunately, almost all of the great set-up flys out the window with a ridiculously campy climax that OD's on special effects. Whereas in DePalma's film, the best part was the climax, here it's just a let-down. But enough ***......it's worth a view for Bergl alone!!!

PS: If you like this film, the DVD cut is a knockout with deleted scenes that showcase Bergl and London's great chemistry and a REALLY over-the-top ending that smartly was reshot. ... Read more