Reviews (335)

No sense of pace whatsoever
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is really a shame. Here are all the elements of an engaging, literate thriller--decent performances, a remarkably disturbing and insightful story (thanks largely to Patricia Highsmith's novel), a chillingly atmospheric score, and a well-realized sense of time and place. The trouble is, I didn't give a damn. This movie is so poorly paced, so slow and uninvolving, that watching it is like trying to slog through a pond of molasses.

It doesn't help that Matt Damon is the wrong choice for the elusive psychopath, Tom Ripley. Damon isn't a bad actor, just a miscast one, and while he nails the various impersonations Ripley must perform and seamlessly switches between identities, he never really fascinates or enthralls on-screen. It also doesn't help that Jude Law, as Dickie Greenleaf, completely upstages Damon in an Oscar-nominated performance that's equal parts fire and ice. The only character less interesting than Ripley is Dickie's long-suffering fiancee, Marge, played by a terribly dull Gwyneth Paltrow, who looks almost as bored by the story as I was.

There are a few great, nail-biting scenes that expertly raise the tension, including the murder sequences and a climactic confrontation between Ripley and Marge. If only the rest of this movie were as rivetingly suspenseful. The denouement takes about half an hour to unravel--I soon lost count of the number of times I thought, "Oh, good, this is finally wrapping up" before the script dashed my expectations by plunging ahead with some new plot contrivance that would require an extra ten minutes to play out. Even at under two and a half hours, this movie feels eons longer than an equally self-indulgent project like...oh, say, TITANIC. The truth is, RIPLEY is smarter, craftier, and more psychologically plausible than TITANIC ever was. It's not a better film, though. How sad is that?

CLASSY & INTELLIGENT THRILLER
Mistaken for a Princeton graduate whilst wearing a borrowed blazer, the low born New York charmer, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), is dispatched by rich businessman Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn), to travel first class on an all-expenses-paid mission, to bring his errant young playboy son, Dickie (Jude Law), back to New York from his champagne and party filled life on the Mediterranean. However, on meeting the handsome and charismatic Dickie (and his equally attractive girlfriend), the awestruck Tom falls for his charms and an ambiguous relationship begins. Tom, the social chameleon who has talents for forgery and impersonation, feeling that he cannot enter this world as himself begins to transform his identity, by learning new skills, studying jazz, art, geography and foreign languages. He not only changes his clothes he also changes his character. Meanwhile the innocent and trusting Meredith (Cate Blanchett) who met Tom on his arrival in Europe accepts Tom as an equal because she thinks he is Dickie Greenleaf. But all is not well in the playground of the rich, for Dickie is in turns as unpleasant and rude as he is debonair and charming, and soon he and his rich friends begin to tire of the financially inferior and all too clingy Tom, who has no intention of being cast adrift, for it is his belief that "its better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody"...

The Talented Mr Ripley subtly portrays the hedonistic lifestyle of rich, young Americans in the 1950's. In the movie, Tom is less the casebook amoral psychopath of the novel and more a victim of class in his desire to be like the rich but cruel Dickie and Freddie. The film is, however, anything but simple and only about an hour in does the film become anything approaching an orthodox thriller. You are kept hooked throughout as we guess at Tom's motives..., which is at best ambiguous. We observe the mercurial Dickie toy with his affections, whilst Dickie's girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), aware of Dickie's weaknesses, looks on.

Although fans of the novel may be unhappy with the liberties taken with both the plot and the characters from Patricia Highsmiths novel, most people will agree that Anthony Minghella has done an excellent job in imaginatively and successfully bringing The Talented Mr Ripley to the big screen. Not only does he direct this excellent and very intelligent thriller with a sure and subtle touch but he perfectly captures the beauty of the mediteranean, as the movie moves from one spectacular venue to another; from San Remo to Naples, Rome, and Venice. It also stars a top notch and perfectly cast array of the worlds finest young actors, including Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love), Jude Law (A.I.), as well as Philip Seymour Hoffman (Happiness) and Cate Blanchette (Elizabeth), all on top form. Damon's Ripley is an odd figure, his cumbersome awkwardness contrasting perfectly with Jude Law's cool and casual arrogance as Dickie Greenleaf, lolling around on his Riviera deck-chair as if the world owes him a living. And, although Matt Damon is truly outstanding, it is Jude Law's Oscar-nominated turn and Hoffman's brilliantly obnoxious performance as an ugly-rich American that come close to stealing the movie.

There are many unforgettable moments, in this beautifully crafted movie that Hitchcock would be proud of, as Tom struggles to maintain his dual identity. More dramatically satisfying than The English Patient, The Talented Mr Ripley is an intelligent film, carefully cast and immaculately performed. Highly recommended this for people who love suspense and prefer to watch movies that come with an IQ!!!

Horrible
I must say that this is one of the worst films that I've ever watched. It was very long, and very boring. I didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, as a matter of fact I didn't like any of the them. The story didn't unfold effortlessly but instead seemed to move slowly and with difficulty.

Beautiful Film With Dark Anti-Hero
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is one of the most unsettling, vivid thrillers made since Hitchcock. Matt Damon leads an All-Hollywood Under-40 cast, including Jude Law, Ms. Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Phillip Seymore Hoffman (reprising his obnoxious spoiled brat from "Scent of a Woman," with his arrogance on steroids) in one of his most convincing performances to date.

Set in the 1950's, "Ripley" perfectly captures the look and feel of the period through rich costumes and fabulous sets -- director Anthony Minghella uses the same voluptuous direction that he used to such great effect in "The English Patient." But there are elements of subversion in the movie that match Ripley's subversive, evil soul -- the rise of jazz ("noise," as one character derisively calls it), characters who do nothing but spend their parents' fortunes, and homosexuality and adultery tearing at the rigid social fabric of the times all mirror Thomas Ripley's unnerving ability to manipulate the truth to his own ends.

Ripley is not content to be the best person he can be -- Ripley wants to be the best person that someone else could be. In this case, it's Dickie Greenleaf (Law -- fiendishly handsome), heir to a shipping fortune and ladies' man extraordinaire. Ripley is sent to Italy by the elder Greenleaf to retrieve his son, idling away on the beach with his girlfriend Marge (Paltrow). Teaching himself jazz and inventing stories of schooldays at Princeton, Ripley soon charms his way into Dickie's house.

Ripley knows that the key to being a great liar is to tell the truth as much as possible and allow others to draw their own conclusions. This takes great wit and timing, and Ripley pulls it off fabulously. For a while, things could not be better, but soon the impulsive Dickie tires of the ever-present Ripley, whose attachment to Dickie goes beyond mere friendship into unsettling territories. This leads to a horrifying boat trip where the two Ripley-proclaimed "brothers" speak truths that probably should have gone unsaid.

Ripley finds himself caught up in the world of his own making, and the lies he has spun threaten to ensnare him even as he uses them to break free from his former anonymous life. Delicately balancing new lies and capitalizing on what is, to our modern eyes, a quaintly obsolete communications system (my God, they actually write letters!), Ripley eventually finds himself living the good life in a wonderfully decorated Roman penthouse.

As good a liar as Ripley is, he can't prevent some from figuring out his various lies and secrets. And this is where the movie really gets dark -- Ripley is a man filled with rage, and that rage can lead to gruesome results.

Ripley is a man of considerable talents and appetites. His hunger for acceptance and for love -- there is virtually nobody in the film whom Ripley does not seduce -- is exceeded only by his instinct for self-preservation. Even Ripley is horrified by what he is capable of, and the climactic scene leaves no doubt that for all his talents, Ripley is not someone you ever want to meet.

"Ripley" achieves a lot of its effect through implication, and the films most charged scenes, whether violent or sexual, are actually quite restrained in what is actually shown on-screen. But like "Pulp Fiction," the scenes are perhaps even more powerful for not showing exactly what happens, but by their implications. In that sense, the entire movie is an implication, a set-up for future stories (there are other "Ripley" stories) involving our favorite murderous impersonator. I hope that Hollywood can pull it together to make another installment with Damon as the lead -- he nails it.

VERY GOOD STUFF
The Ripley charector is great to watch he is like a child trying to fit in, he knows something about himself is diffrent but he cannot describe it. Because you have to have a conscience to know the answer. I remember seeing the talented mr. ripley in the theatre and how pleased I was with the ripley charector. His charector was created some time ago and most people do not know it but he inspired most of hollywood's classic villians particuarly the hitchcock ones. Also see RIPLEY'S GAME. I think John Malkovich is even better in the sequel. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

Freddie Prinze, Jr.
I well remember, and well liked, FP Jr.'s father, and his TV series "Chico and the Man." A while back, I saw FP, Jr. being interviewed on a talk show, and I thought he came across as so down-to-earth, charming, and cute as can be. But I was totally unfamiliar with his work as an actor.

I finally got around to renting this movie, and thought it was very enjoyable. Similar to "When Harry Met Sally....," but of course no where nearly as great as that classic, superlative film. But still quite pleasant. Leonard Maltin, with whom I usually agree, rated this movie BOMB -- he is absolutely, unequivocally WRONG.

However, after renting ths movie, I did rent FP, Jr.'s "She's All That," and "Head Over Heels." Maltin liked those movies better than "Boys and Girls," but again, he is WRONG -- those two were the bombs, unfortunately. In fact, despite FP, Jr.'s enjoyable screen presence, they were virtually unwatchable.

"Boys and Girls" is a lovely movie (a bit of a weak performance by Forlani was a bit of a drawback, but the rest of the cast was very good, and so was the writing, and the direction).

I feel certain you will enjoy the lovely "Boys and Girls."

Boys and Girls is one of the best teen movies!
This Movie is The Best! The Best Scene is the Scene in the Nightclub to "Stop The Rock" By Apollo 440. Freddie Prinze Jr. is hot in it and Claire Forlani is keeping it real. Funny clip at the end with Jason Biggs. Buy before you rent! It Totally Rocks!

Should friends become lovers?
Should you be yourself, or smooth out the rough edges? What about opposites? After many bad endings, how do you know if love is going to be worth the trouble?

Jennifer & Ryan are pre-teens when they meet. Jennifer is being very forward, discussing the implications of her period. Ryan is a geek, trying to plan everything, who doesn't think Jennifer is his type, and pushes her away. As the plane takes off, he is afraid of flying. I actually missed this symbolism, but something at the end of the movie reminds you of it.

For the next 5 or so years, and dozens of chance meetings, this scenario repeats until the viewer can hardly stand it. Ryan will not pick up on Jenny's advances. For contrast, his roomate works entirely too hard at meeting girls. Does Ryan play it too straight and careful? Is Jenny too slutty? Is her roomate gay? There are lots of interesting angles and subplots, exaggerated so you don't have to be a genius to pick them up, which I find helpful. :)

For the next 3 years Ryan & Jenny are best friends. Then something complicated happens, involving all four characters (including Jenny's roomate). No, not group sex, it's not that kind of movie, but some strange things, and I will try not to give awayany more .

What do you get when you cross Eric Rohmer (director of French "talkie" films about the early stages of relationships, in fact he made one called "Boyfriends and Girlfriends") with Jane Austen (early 19th century author of carefully plotted romances, e.g. the award winning "Sense & Sensibility")? You get something like "Boys & Girls." Unfortunately, it is the only movie in this vein that Robert Isgrove directed.

Ultra-feminists will not like the ending. Everyone else will. A few people will not like the way the flashbacks are done, but it is not overdone. Audio track is selectable for English or French (suggesting Isgrove was possibly aware he was making an intellectual French-style movie, albeit the ending is very American rom-com). Subtitles can be had in Spanisn or English (for the hearing impaired). Lots of previews of other similar movies on the DVD, but no info about cast, director or "making of." Decent pop soundtrack.

As long as your expectation is reasonable (it's not quite as silly and cute as a teen comedy - they meet only once in high school years, most of the action is in college, and they do sometimes pass up parties to hit the books), you should enjoy the movie.

A great movie
Freddy and Claire have many interesting scenes together. From being on a plane together, to falling in love in college, the comedy never ends. Freddie is the tag-along friend as Claire has many boyfriends. Biggs thinks that he's using claire as a "fake girlfriend". I don't want to reveal too much, but it's a good comedy and u should check it out!

For all you Alyson fans out there!!
I just wanted to let you know that Aly has a total of two minutes screen time in this movie... And this movie is totally not worth it!! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

View the Power of the essence of Love.......
Wow, I don't know where to begin. I always wondered where the days went, when a man would kiss a woman and she would lift her leg behind her. As a man who is married with two young kids, I found this movie to be beyond romantic. I pursued my wife in college with the same vigor as Matt (Richard Gere) pursued Jean (Lisa Eichhorn). In an odd kind of way my wife resembles Jean, a naive beautiful woman whom I decided that I could not live without. As a self-proclaimed romantic and one regularly read Frost, this movie captured my heart. I can't stop talking about the subtlness of the love between Matt and Jean. Also, I found Helen (Vanessa Redgrave) and John (William Devane) to be absoulety devine, their story touched my soul. Specifically, toward the end while she was in the church. The ending of this movie is a marvel, I can only hope that it is nominated or re-nominated for an Oscar... Thank you Matt, Jean, Helen, and John, thank you for allowing Love to be so Real.......

Frost once said, " Love is the irrestible desire of being irrestibly desired". I'm a life long fan...Thanks

A sweet love story
Richard Gere has said this was one of his favorite movies. It's a tender love story and a study in cultural contrasts between the U. S. soldiers camped all over England in the days before D-Day, and the local British citizens. As a young soldier in foreign surroundings, facing the upcoming test of battle, Richard Gere shows the gentleness of heart which has endeared him to movie audiences in later films.

Pretty good, unusual movie.
The film covers the impact on a small yorkshire town of the arrival of american GIs from 1942 to 1944. The main thrust is that of a love story rather than a war film.

Although the writing is not going to set anyone on fire with excitement, the subject and the emotions of the characters are handled well. All the leads (Gere, DeVane, Eichorn, Redgrave) are at their best, although Eichorns performance does show some signs of the fact it is her debut.

The film works as entertainment rather than art, and is more an interesting study of the impact of loneliness than as a historical piece. In essence, the film could have been an hour long and acheived all that it does. Having said that, it can hold your attention for the full runnning time, and only one or two scenes are really unnecessary (such as the racist fight scenes at the dance).

Overall, I quite liked this film, and it was quite refreshing to have Yorkshire accented English people alongside Americans (although Eichorn's accent is terrible!) rather than the ubiquitous cockneys we usually get.

My main criticism is that it would work better on TV, by which I mean it is too fragmented. For instance the relationship between Redgrave and her son at school and the effect of an absent father figure, is touched on but not fully explored. The characters could have been much better exploited in this format, giving the audience more opportunity to care and become involved. Mini-series, people!

It was also a shock to see that the film was produced in 1979. Watch it, and wonder why a lot of american films of the same time are so shoddily produced.

and english review
Just to let you know that I watched this film many years ago and have been ever since trying to get hold of it. It is a must to watch and brings to life the war when the americans came over to britain. I am still waiting for it to come out on DVD and trying to find it so i can play it on my vhs, ( i am from england and i will keep looking!!!!) Any way i highly recommend this and you will be very satisfied.

Beautifully made, romantic wonder
This is full out one of the most moving romances ever made - the last scenes are so gripping, so heartfelt, so overpowering in their romantic feeling.

It also succeeds superbly as social history of the impact of American soldiers on a British town in W.W.II.

I completely agree with the reviewer below about falling in love with the American actress Lisa Eichhorn playing a northern English shopkeeper's daughter in love with Richard Gere- I've been smitten ever since. Her beauty, reserve, intelligence, grace are extraordinary - she can somehow project vast depth in her character. (She does the same in her other movies - check out her name in imdb.com to rent them).

Gere is awfully good - unassuming, usually courteous, sweet -I like his dashing self in most other movies but he's just right here. Vanessa Redgrave is superb - Devane is ok - I might have preferred someone a bit more like Cliff Robertson in look, voice, gesture and manner to play the American officer so at ease with an English upper class woman - borrowing books, opining on English public schools, listening to her play the cello. Devane's voice is more that of a tough guy.

I'd also say the screenwriters skimp a bit in fleshing out the charcters of the two 'chippy' working class characters.

Gee - these are minor criticisms - this is a wonderful, heart swelling movie. That old phrase "see it with someone you love" is definitely appropriate - yet it's very much a movie with appeal to men and women. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

LOVE this movie!!!
I can't compare it to the original since I've never seen it so I'm sure this might not go over well with those like the original film. I love this movie for so many elements. Jeff's (Sutherland) tortured soul, the sweetness and vulnerability of Diane (Bullock), the gutsy, fiesty nature of Rita (Travis) and the downright creepiness of Barney (Bridges). I can't even look at him through most of the movie he's so eerie. This is an edge of your seat thriller from beginning to end and I'd give anything for it to be released on DVD in the US.

Don't judge a remake by the original!
While everyone seems to be blasting this film for being a "holywood ripoff" i think if you take another look you might discover something else. For me, I had never seen the orginal 1988 version, so i had nothing to be expecting when watching this. I loved the movie, sent shivers down my spine. Just how far would you go to find out the truth? Anyways, the actors were all very well cast and did a fantasitic job! I loved this movie, gave me the creeps. I suggest you open your mind up to a remake!

STOP COMPARING!!
Yes, it's a Hollywood remake of a Dutch/French "classic". No, it isn't subtitled. Yes, it does have a fantastic cast, most especially the gorgeous and talented Mr Sutherland. And sadly, yes, the ending is bad.

Let me get one thing off my chest, first of all. This is a remake...in a different language. All you sad acts who compared this to the original probably marked it down because it didn't have subtitles. Face facts guys, you only watch foreign films because it makes you feel clever, therefore any film that dares try and take a subtitled film and put it in a more accessible format can't possibly be good because it brings you down to the level of Hollywood 'plebs'. GET OVER YOUR OWN SELF-INFLATED EGOS!! Why you can't you enjoy a film purely in itself, without your damn incessant comparing using big words. You're not big, you're not clever; you are boring and narrow-minded. Foreign cinema does not broaden your horizons, it merely places you 3 steps higher on an intellectual ladder that exists solely in your own heads.

I, in my own little head, enjoyed the film. It was good, not brilliant, so I gave it 4 stars mainly to raise the average rating to save it from snobs like you lot. The ending, however, was pure Hollywood stilton but did not taint my enjoyment of the film; I'm not petty like some I could berate.

The gist of the film, basically, is that Kiefer Sutherland has spent the last three years of his life trying to find his missing girlfriend, Diane (Bullock), who was abducted and subsequently (yes, I know big words too. Foreign film fans beware!!) buried alive by the evil psychopath, Bridges (who acted a little hammily!). Travis plays the new girlfriend who must constantly live in Diane's shadow. As Sutherland gets furhter drawn into this macabre cat-and-mouse game with Bridges, so Travis must try to extricate herself from the situation.

The finale is fantastic, even gripping, and Sutherland is well on par throughout. My advice? Enjoy the film, forget it's a remake, and if you can't be satisfied with that, stick your head up your own hmm-hmm-hmm and buy the foreign film so that you don't waste mine, and other people's time, with your incessant whinging and ego-boosting. BIG WORDS AND FOREIGN FILMS ARE NOT A SIGN OF INTELLIGENCE!!

This movie doesn't vanish
Well, what can I say? Other than I was deeply impressed with how a film can create so much suspense with hardly any action or nail biting scenes. The only other film that can create such a docile form of suspense is Hitchcock's "Rear Window." The suspense of this film is brilliantly done, because as we follow the main character, we are asking the same questions he is and we never lose interest.

Dianne (Bullock) mysteriously vanishes while her boyfriend Jeff (Sutherland) is waiting for her outside some gas joint. When she doesn't show, he calls the police and goes through the typical missing person's routine of anxiety. We feel for Jeff instantly because the panic in both his expressions and performance are real. He's scared, worried, and with good reason.

Well, things begin to look up temporarily for Jeff when he meets Rita, who becomes his new girlfriend despite being unable to find Dianne. But hold on, Jeff still loves Dianne, and wants to still find her even though he is just beginning a new life with Rita. This emotionally tears at Jeff and he finds himself torn between a woman who he loved that is gone and a woman who he is loving and is there.

Now bring in the kidnapper Barney (Bridges), who kidnapped Bullock as an experiment and without malice. Barney is the most well done character in this film, because he we don't hate him, not initially, even though what he is planning to do and does is wrong. We like him but we don't. He seems harmless but what did he do to Dianne?

This movie is one of those that tears at you. You're torn along with Jeff over Dianne or Rita. You're torn on the character of Barney: just eccentric or flat out evil? You're torn on Jeff's biggest decisions. This is a highly entertaining movie because you love the suspense these divisions create. You want to find out what happened to Dianne and what Barney is really all about.

Now, the bad news. I gave this film four stars for two distinct reasons. The first is because I never did fully grasp why Barney wanted to kidnap someone. Although I praise his character, the one flaw in it is motive. He wants to kidnap as a form of experiment, but surely there must be something else, something deeper. The movie tries to explain his deep down reasons to why he does what he does but it is muddled and difficult to fully understand why. I guess one could rest at ease by just labeling him a typical looney.

The second problem I have with this movie is that I think it's a one time watch. Meaning, you'll see it the first time, think it's great, but then never watch it again. It's because this movie survives by portraying the unknown. You don't know anymore than Jeff does about what happened to Dianne, so you watch in eager anticipation. But once you know what happened, is it ever even remotely as entertaining to see it again? Sure, you can say this about any movie. The difference is that this movie's only and biggest draw is, again, the unknown.

So I do recommend this movie, to those of you who like psychological thrillers, and love movies that keep you wide awake with subtle suspense and tremendous believability in both plot and acting. But beware, it may not be the kind of film you'll want to see again and again. Because this movie never vanishes from your memory.

Grade: B+

The original was better
Jeff Bridges is of course, always great but the ending is too Hollywood so I recommend watching the original version. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Good Movie! Brock is awsome!
This movie stars a hott kid, Brock Pierce, Hes a really good young actor! It also has Sinbad and Zachary Ty Bryan from Home Improvement. It's basically about the First Kid (The president's son) trying to fit in at his new public school, it's really good!!!

Funny movie with excellent Sinbad
First Kid is a very funny movie that benefits greatly from Sinbad's performance. Secret Service agent Sam Simms is trying to get bumped up to the president but instead is assigned to Luke, the president's son. At first, Luke is your typical stuck-up annoying kid, but soon Simms and Luke begin to bond and have a legitimate friendship. Along the way there are certain problems but in the end all things turn out well. There are some very funny bits here with Sinbad including his running collection of colorful ties, teaching Luke how to dance, and many more. This is a good movie with a great part for Sinbad.

Sinbad plays Agent Sam Simms, the secret service agent assigned to the first kid. He is great throughout and easily the best part of the movie. Brock Pierce is also good as Luke Davenport, the First Kid who struggles to lead a normal life in the spotlight. The movie also stars Blake Boyd, Timothy Busfield, Robert Gillaume, Art LaFleur, and Zachary Ty Bryan. The DVD offers no extras, but the movie is worth a watch even with the lousy DVD. For a funny movie with a great performance by Sinbad, check out First Kid!

I love this film.
This film rules i would have hated to been luke stuck in his house and not allowed to go out with his friends.I really laughed at the bit where luke is asking the girl to the dance and his carers are in the bush telling him what to say and he copies everythink they say on some bits where he shouldnt.
I looked everywhere for this films so i bought it here and it rules!
love and kisses XXXEmilyXXX

Classic
I felt sorry for that poor man in the wheel chair, when he did all that for something he wasn't involved in...

Sinbads best movie
I think this is Sindbad's best movie because I wasnt really into Housegeast with him and Phil Hartman. this is about the first kid(Brock Pierce) and his bodyguard(Timohty Busfield) gets fired and the replacement is Sinbad(damn hilarious) and Sinbad teaches him the ways of being a man, he teaches him how to dance and have fun and talk to girls, who Pierce is in love with this girl but a bully pints over her played by Zachery Ty Bryan(Home Improvment's Brad). a fun and charming movie with a cute cast and Sinbad's best, and where the hell is Sinbad anyway, we dont see him often now, what the frizz happened to him? is he living on a deserted island or something? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Overlooked and underrated, Goodbye Lover is a tawdry, tasty film noir with a soft spot for its scheming antiheroine. With her platinum Lulu bob, a killer wardrobe, and a Sound of Music fetish that inspires her to "climb every mountain" of bad-girl ambition, Patricia Arquette is perfectly cast as Sandra, the sweet but lethal wife of Jake (Dermot Mulroney), who works in a top-drawer ad agency with his brother Ben (Don Johnson). Weary stud Ben falls prey to simultaneous affairs with Sandra and his devoted secretary (Mary-Louise Parker), and the cynical Detective Pompano (Ellen DeGeneres) unravels the murder-for-insurance plot while her clueless Mormon partner (Ray McKinnon) tries to keep pace. Combining mordant humor and rampant depravity, this deliciously dark comedy starts fast and never lets up, liberating director Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields) from the sobriety of his previous work. The entire cast is great, but it's DeGeneres who makes this a recommended sleeper. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Oh what a tangled web we weave...

The cast alone is worthy of 5 stars - Ellen Degeneres, Mary-Louise Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Don Johnson and Patricia Arquette. The plot is a superb blend of lust, deception, greed and murder. I agree that Ellen's brash detective steals the show, although the ending seemed kind of abrupt. It is still beyond excellent and highly recommended!

A Good, Positive Review For Goodbye Lover.
Wow, I can't believe this film got bad reviews in the press! It made me a bit stand offish about renting it but I just had to anyways. Come on Patricia Arquette is one of my favourites and I also love "Ellen Degenious".

Speaking of Ellen, she steals the show here. If it wasn't for her amazing one liner dead pan comments throughout the film, I may not have enjoyed this as much as i did. I was laughing so hard at some of her dialogue and the perfect timing she used to deliver these lines. This may sound ludicrous, but i would nominate her for an oscar for this, if I ran things (but who am I! ).

Furthermore on the Ellen subject, my God! did she look stunning at the end of the film! I have never seen her look so damn beautiful! I was totally impressed, you have to check her out. Who knew she was so versitle and gorgeous!

This film has a dark, bitter edge to it and i loved it. Strongly recommend this one, FORGET WHAT THE CRITICS SAID!

THE ELLEN AND RAY SHOW
GOODBYE LOVER is a tasty and original film noir featuring incredibly good performances from its entire cast. Director Roland Joffe (Oscar nominated for THE MISSION and THE KILLING FIELDS) puts his tongue in his cheek and helms a story of battling femme fatales.
Patricia Arquette (brilliant) stars as a ditzy, sexually overactive wife to headstrong advertising executive Dermot Mulroney (also very good). She is also having an affair with Mulroney's brother, played beautifully by an unusually effective Don Johnson. Also involved is Mary Louise Parker as an assistant to both Johnson and Mulroney, who has the hots for ..hmmm...both the brothers? Soon, we know it's BODY HEAT all over when a plot is hatched to bump off Johnson for the four million dollar double indemnity insurance payoff. It's no plot spoiler to reveal Johnson exits the movie early and we see that there is more than meets the eye to the romantic shenanigans of all involved.
Then enters Ellen DeGeneres and Ray McKinnon as the detectives investigating Johnson's apparent accidental death. Generes is awesome; her one liners with McKinnon are priceless, harsh and incredible. Not one of her fans, I find myself in awe of her talent, particularly after this and FINDING NEMO. McKinnon as her Mormon, idealistic, and quite unintelligent partner, is a find! He's perfect as Ellen's foil and he brings a sense of moral uprightness and comic relief to this marvelous movie.
Some great moments: Arquette and Johnson getting it on in the choir loft while the choir sings Handel. Arquette and Johnson are both highly respected members of their church and take up the collection plate. Mulroney goes to hire a killer to off his wife, and we see this man hanging upside down and don't know why! We see "what if" thoughts from both Johnson and Arquette that mirror what they'd like to see. While questioning a cook in a restaurant, DeGeneres (who always seems to be eating), is stealing food while McKinnon questions the cook. At one point in the movie, Ellen asks her partner if he's gay. (How's that for political correctness?). We never learn why she asks that particular question, and in a particularly joyous moment near the end of the film, McKinnon pulls a joke that has you riveted to your seat.
This is a real find...it's worth buying, it's that good!

Ellen steals it...
This movie was better than it got credit for. Pretty good movie but Ellen Degeneres steals the show as the tough/rude cop.

Excellent
First of all, I would like to say that it is a shame that this movie is not a box office hit as it is highly entertaining. I hope it gets a well-deserved second look with its DVD. All the casts are superb including Patricia Arquette and Ellen degeneres. There is enough plot and twist to make this standard murder mystery plot fresh. And funny script make this even more enjoyable.

The plot basically is about the death of advertising executive (Don Johnson). His brother is the sole beneficiary of the insurance policy. So the police (Ellen de Generes) is suspicious. To say more will spoil the fun.

The DVD is OK. Both WS and FS versions included. The color is bright and clear. The 5.1 sound only active during wonderful music score by John Ottman. Overall this is a highy recommended DVD. ... Read more

Description

Merchant Ivory Productions, The Criterion Collection, and Home Vision Entertainment are proud to present The Merchant Ivory Collection

This entertaining story from a delicious early novel by Henry James takes place in a New England Arcadia that stands for everything beautiful, pure and good. Into this Eden come a sophisticated European brother and sister who turn up unexpectedly on the doorstep of their staid American cousins, the Wentworths. The fortune-hunting Eugenia (Lee Remick) and her high-spirited brother Felix (Tim Woodward) turn this Puritan world upside down. The film concludes with three betrothals, like a Mozart opera. But Eugenia has been too clever, and must return to Europe as empty-handed as she came. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ALL TALK...NO ACTION...ENTERTAINING NONETHELESS...
This beautiful adaptation of the Henry James novel of the same name is an early Ivory/Merchant film. It is beautifully shot with shimmering pastoral scenes that bring to mind some wonderful impressionist paintings. The story is likewise somewhat impressionistic and centered around two brother and sister expatriates, Eugenia and Felix Young, who come from Europe to visit their wealthy American half cousins, the Wentworths, in the very bucolic, very Yankee, suburban environs of Boston in the late nineteenth century.

The Wentworths are a rather strait-laced, prim and proper, wealthy family, whose head is the dour and mistrustful old Mr. Wentworth (Wesley Addy). The family welcomes their European cousins with some trepidation and reservation, as they seem positively bohemian to them. The one exception is Gertrude Wentworth (Lisa Eichhorn) who gravitates towards her newly found, sophisticated relatives. As a flower turns to the sun, Gertrude turns to her cousins to brighten her otherwise dull and narrow world. She is not disappointed.

Eugenia (Lee Remick) proclaims to be the Baroness Munster, an unhappily married woman on the brink of divorce. Her charming brother, Felix (Tim Woodward), is a rather artistic fellow with no foreseeable prospects. Together they take the Wentworths by storm and turn their previously well ordered, somewhat provincial world, upside down. This is a slow moving film that allows the story to unfold at its own, unhurried pace.

As Eugenia and Felix leisurely weave themselves into the fabric of the Wentworths' lives, changes ensue. During their stay, a romance develops between Felix and Gertrude. Her rebuffed suitor, Mr. Brand (Norman Snow), ends up finding solace in the arms of Charlotte, Gertrude's more eminently suited sister. Eugenia, however, who has set about to snare the Wentworths' attractive and wealthy neighbor, Robert Acton (Robin Ellis), is in for a very rude awakening.

Lee Remick, a vastly underrated actress, is delightful as the beautiful and predatory Eugenia. Tim Woodward is boyishly charming as Felix, the cousin who sweeps Gertrude off her feet. Robin Ellis is excellent as the thoughtful Robert Acton, the man who stands on the brink of a major life changing decision. Wesley Addy is very good as the suspicious Wentworth patriarch. Lisa Eichhorn's portrayal of Gertrude, however, is flat, as if she were performing in the throes of a zen like trance. Yet, it does not detract unduly from the overall quality of the film.

This is a film that those who love period pieces will enjoy. If you are not a period piece lover, however, deduct one star from my review and proceed at your own risk.

Excellent James Period Piece
Maybe this should be 5-star,but the general dullness of the characters does not make for exciting viewing, with the possible exeption of Lee Remick. You have to admit it's like witnessing autumn Massachusetts in the pre-Civil War era. Or at least that's what I think based on the terrific costumes (even though James was later). Yes, like Masterpiece Theatre only better. All talk, almost no action, but very vivid and thoughtful! Dry mating games and interbreeding among very rich Yankees.

new england in the fall
This is an early and lesser Merchant/Ivory period piece featuring a visit of Europeans Lee Remick and Tim Woodward to their Bostonian cousins, however the staging is so stiff director James Ivory may have well used mannequins. The soundtrack is very busy, what with the rustling of dresses and singing birds but also features the lovely Richard Robbins score which livens things up a smidgen. Miraculously a little of Henry James' humour survives when delivered by Woodward and the disapproving Bostonian father played by Wesley Addy. Together they have a very funny chat about having a portrait painted. Woodward has the misfortune to fall in love with Lisa Eichhorn, possibly the dullest of all the family, and she scores an unintentional laugh when she tells him how "dreary" he must find her. The ageless Lee Remick has a few moments of fun. I particularly liked her panic in the first meeting. Remick isn't believable as a predator - she's rather too light - though she is amusing when bored, but the only thing vaguely European about her is her odd hairdos. One might have a moral objection to the idea of marrying one's cousin, though perhaps this inbreeding shouldn't be judged by contemporary standards. Of note is James' using "pleased to" instead of "would you please" in requests.

Remick does James - Nicely
Lee Remick must be one of the most underrated stars of her generation. In 1979's Merchant-Ivory film, 'The Europeans' she gives a subtle and moving portrayal of a money-seeking baroness, Eugenie, who seeks out old cousins in deepest New England, Mass. The film is a pictorial chamber piece, standing nicely alongside the more recent adaptation of early James, 'The Wings of a Dove'. Its supporting performances are wonderful characterisations. If you don't like the look of tonight's Masterpiece Theatre, watch 'The Europeans'. END ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Cluttered and Weighty
Initially released as "Cutter and Bone", this movie was pulled from theatres and retitled after several critics panned it. Inexplicably, it became a film festival favorite and developed a minor cult following upon its re-release. My verdict? Those early critical drubbings were well-deserved. For despite a potentially dynamic plot setup and one successful performance, the movie is ultimately done in by a lackluster screenplay, some uneven acting, and substandard direction.

It all begins promisingly enough, with a fascinating title sequence followed by the introduction of Jeff Bridges as a two-bit gigolo who becomes a suspect in a murder investigation. So far, so good. Then John Heard enters as an obnoxious, bigoted, profane Vietnam vet-cum-amateur detective who uses his physical disabilities to excuse his ethical and moral shortcomings, and S-s-s-s! The plot quickly deflates into a slow, muddled study of his unpleasant character, losing its promising elements of suspense and mystery, and leaving the actors with the impossible burden of maintaining audience interest. Tellingly, Bridges, who can convey character nuances with a subtle flicker of his eyes or shift of his lips, is great in his role; but Heard, who relies mainly on a gruff laugh and a gravelly voice that wavers unsteadily between slurring and over-enunciation, is merely grating in his. As Heard's wife, the usually fascinating Lisa Eichhorn is thwarted in her underwritten and choppily edited role, and Ann Dusenberry -- whose odd character simply disappears without explanation near the end -- recites some of her lines as if they embarrass her (as well they should). None of the actors is assisted by Ivan Passer's lackadaisical direction, which lacks both energy and cohesion, and only the final abrupt cut that ends this mess shows any prowess on the part of the editor. Recommended for devotees of the consistently marvelous but underrated Jeff Bridges; other viewers beware!

Truly excellent Cinema
One of my all-time favourite films this is an example of first class cinema. Jeff Bridges and John Heard are unlikely friends, more friends of convienience though at the heart there is something solid. A lot of reviews of this film state that its too simple - a murder mystery in essence and a partial study of relationships. Though its more than that for me, its a study of the best and worse of people AND the weary way one can live ones life if we let life get on top of us. Bone (Jeff Bridges) is totally tired of life - seeking thrills if he can be bothered - only deciding on a life changing course of action in the final frame of this film. Cutter (John Heard) is a drunk Veteran - immoral to everyone but those truly close to him.

Im trying to not give too much away but I consider this to be a truly classic film. And what a score!

My apologies for a rambling review - watch this.

an engrossing murder mystery
When Cutter's Way was first released in theatres in 1981, it tanked at the box office thanks to bad press from The New York Times and a nervous studio still smarting from the bath it took on Heaven's Gate. A good film almost disappeared from sight. Fortunately, the advent of video, and now its debut on DVD, has given this unusual film a second chance that it so richly deserves.

Jeff Bridges proves once again that he is one of the best American actors working in film today. He portrays Bone as a man afraid of commitment, content to do little, but fall back on his pretty boy looks to bed any woman who crosses his path. As one character tells him, "Sooner or later you're going to have to make a decision about something." This could be the underlying thesis of the whole film: making decisions, taking a stand about something.

John Heard's Alex Cutter is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He desperately wants to get involved in something, anything to stop living life in a bottle of alcohol. And so, he latches on to the murder mystery with the ferocious tenacity of a pitbull. Heard plays Cutter like a character straight out of a Tom Waits song. His performance, complete with raspy voice and cynical outlook on life, recalls many of Waits' down-on-their-luck losers that populate his songs.

The actors vividly breathe life into their respective characters creating the impression that they exist beyond what we see on the screen, that in some way we already know them and that they'll continue to exist after the film ends.

Director Ivan Passer also deserves credit for creating this world. From the haunting opening shot of a parade, caught in dreamy slow motion (thanks to Jordan Cronenweth's superb cinematography), filmed at first in black and white and then as the credits fade in and out it gradually becomes colour, Passer draws the audience into his absorbing drama. Cutter's Way contains strong visuals to contrast the ambiguous story. Nothing is spelled out for the audience, even right up to its conclusion. Do we support Cutter's obsessive conspiracy theories or Bone's refusal to get involved?

Following in the grand tradition of short changing this movie, MGM has decided to include only the theatrical trailer on the DVD. What about a retrospective featurette? All the principals are still alive and I'm sure would love to talk about this movie. Or an audio commentary? Jeff Bridges contributed an excellent one on the Against All Odds DVD so he's hip to the format. A lot of missed opportunities here.

Sometimes funny, rather poignant psychological thriller
I was interested in this film because may years ago I had read the book, "Cutter and Bone" on which it was based. I remembered it took place in the post-Vietnam era and one of the characters was a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed, crippled Vietnam vet. I had forgotten that the book had depressed me then. But viewing this video brought it all back to me. And I was depressed all over again.

The film is set in Santa Barbara and stars Jeff Bridges, as a drifter with an eye for women. John Heard plays his best friend, the Vietnam vet, and Lisa Eichhorn plays the vet's alcoholic wife. John Heard's makeup is great as it really looks like he has only one leg, one arm and one eye. He's a sorrowful sight but he's quite unlikable as he's an angry, scheming character with a sense of high drama. Some of his dialog is brilliant and opens a lot of cans of worms about what happened in Vietnam.

When Jeff Bridges stumbles upon a murder by an "upright citizen", John Heard convinces his friend to blackmail the murderer with the help of the victim's sister, played by Ann Dusenberry. What follows is a sometimes funny and rather poignant psychological thriller, with an underlying sense of tragedy. It's fast paced, well acted and deals with an interesting theme. I should have loved it. Right?

Wrong! I just didn't like it. It wasn't because the film wasn't good. I just didn't like the sense of anger and hopelessness throughout. And I didn't like any of the characters. The film ran a mere 105 minutes but I couldn't wait for it to end. I won't give it a poor recommendation though, because the film it did have its good points. I just couldn't get it to it.

The System Wins out Every Time
This film is a throwback to the dark noir of the 40's and 50's.One character seems to be living in a paranoid fantasy that eventually turns out to be the truth.Not many films examine the dark side of big business or the fear that it spreads from person to person.John Heard plays Cutter,a man who no longer adheres to a social code.Society gave him a war to die in so a select bueracratic group could grow fat and he no longer feels a need to justify their power over his soul.What this film shows is that when a civilization's foundation is corrupt at the very core,you will either spend your entire life living a lie or you will fall victim to other people's entrapment.Catch-22 either way,the lucky ones regain their dignity by dying young. ... Read more

Reviews (335)

No sense of pace whatsoever
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is really a shame. Here are all the elements of an engaging, literate thriller--decent performances, a remarkably disturbing and insightful story (thanks largely to Patricia Highsmith's novel), a chillingly atmospheric score, and a well-realized sense of time and place. The trouble is, I didn't give a damn. This movie is so poorly paced, so slow and uninvolving, that watching it is like trying to slog through a pond of molasses.

It doesn't help that Matt Damon is the wrong choice for the elusive psychopath, Tom Ripley. Damon isn't a bad actor, just a miscast one, and while he nails the various impersonations Ripley must perform and seamlessly switches between identities, he never really fascinates or enthralls on-screen. It also doesn't help that Jude Law, as Dickie Greenleaf, completely upstages Damon in an Oscar-nominated performance that's equal parts fire and ice. The only character less interesting than Ripley is Dickie's long-suffering fiancee, Marge, played by a terribly dull Gwyneth Paltrow, who looks almost as bored by the story as I was.

There are a few great, nail-biting scenes that expertly raise the tension, including the murder sequences and a climactic confrontation between Ripley and Marge. If only the rest of this movie were as rivetingly suspenseful. The denouement takes about half an hour to unravel--I soon lost count of the number of times I thought, "Oh, good, this is finally wrapping up" before the script dashed my expectations by plunging ahead with some new plot contrivance that would require an extra ten minutes to play out. Even at under two and a half hours, this movie feels eons longer than an equally self-indulgent project like...oh, say, TITANIC. The truth is, RIPLEY is smarter, craftier, and more psychologically plausible than TITANIC ever was. It's not a better film, though. How sad is that?

CLASSY & INTELLIGENT THRILLER
Mistaken for a Princeton graduate whilst wearing a borrowed blazer, the low born New York charmer, Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), is dispatched by rich businessman Herbert Greenleaf (James Rebhorn), to travel first class on an all-expenses-paid mission, to bring his errant young playboy son, Dickie (Jude Law), back to New York from his champagne and party filled life on the Mediterranean. However, on meeting the handsome and charismatic Dickie (and his equally attractive girlfriend), the awestruck Tom falls for his charms and an ambiguous relationship begins. Tom, the social chameleon who has talents for forgery and impersonation, feeling that he cannot enter this world as himself begins to transform his identity, by learning new skills, studying jazz, art, geography and foreign languages. He not only changes his clothes he also changes his character. Meanwhile the innocent and trusting Meredith (Cate Blanchett) who met Tom on his arrival in Europe accepts Tom as an equal because she thinks he is Dickie Greenleaf. But all is not well in the playground of the rich, for Dickie is in turns as unpleasant and rude as he is debonair and charming, and soon he and his rich friends begin to tire of the financially inferior and all too clingy Tom, who has no intention of being cast adrift, for it is his belief that "its better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody"...

The Talented Mr Ripley subtly portrays the hedonistic lifestyle of rich, young Americans in the 1950's. In the movie, Tom is less the casebook amoral psychopath of the novel and more a victim of class in his desire to be like the rich but cruel Dickie and Freddie. The film is, however, anything but simple and only about an hour in does the film become anything approaching an orthodox thriller. You are kept hooked throughout as we guess at Tom's motives..., which is at best ambiguous. We observe the mercurial Dickie toy with his affections, whilst Dickie's girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), aware of Dickie's weaknesses, looks on.

Although fans of the novel may be unhappy with the liberties taken with both the plot and the characters from Patricia Highsmiths novel, most people will agree that Anthony Minghella has done an excellent job in imaginatively and successfully bringing The Talented Mr Ripley to the big screen. Not only does he direct this excellent and very intelligent thriller with a sure and subtle touch but he perfectly captures the beauty of the mediteranean, as the movie moves from one spectacular venue to another; from San Remo to Naples, Rome, and Venice. It also stars a top notch and perfectly cast array of the worlds finest young actors, including Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love), Jude Law (A.I.), as well as Philip Seymour Hoffman (Happiness) and Cate Blanchette (Elizabeth), all on top form. Damon's Ripley is an odd figure, his cumbersome awkwardness contrasting perfectly with Jude Law's cool and casual arrogance as Dickie Greenleaf, lolling around on his Riviera deck-chair as if the world owes him a living. And, although Matt Damon is truly outstanding, it is Jude Law's Oscar-nominated turn and Hoffman's brilliantly obnoxious performance as an ugly-rich American that come close to stealing the movie.

There are many unforgettable moments, in this beautifully crafted movie that Hitchcock would be proud of, as Tom struggles to maintain his dual identity. More dramatically satisfying than The English Patient, The Talented Mr Ripley is an intelligent film, carefully cast and immaculately performed. Highly recommended this for people who love suspense and prefer to watch movies that come with an IQ!!!

Horrible
I must say that this is one of the worst films that I've ever watched. It was very long, and very boring. I didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, as a matter of fact I didn't like any of the them. The story didn't unfold effortlessly but instead seemed to move slowly and with difficulty.

Beautiful Film With Dark Anti-Hero
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" is one of the most unsettling, vivid thrillers made since Hitchcock. Matt Damon leads an All-Hollywood Under-40 cast, including Jude Law, Ms. Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Phillip Seymore Hoffman (reprising his obnoxious spoiled brat from "Scent of a Woman," with his arrogance on steroids) in one of his most convincing performances to date.

Set in the 1950's, "Ripley" perfectly captures the look and feel of the period through rich costumes and fabulous sets -- director Anthony Minghella uses the same voluptuous direction that he used to such great effect in "The English Patient." But there are elements of subversion in the movie that match Ripley's subversive, evil soul -- the rise of jazz ("noise," as one character derisively calls it), characters who do nothing but spend their parents' fortunes, and homosexuality and adultery tearing at the rigid social fabric of the times all mirror Thomas Ripley's unnerving ability to manipulate the truth to his own ends.

Ripley is not content to be the best person he can be -- Ripley wants to be the best person that someone else could be. In this case, it's Dickie Greenleaf (Law -- fiendishly handsome), heir to a shipping fortune and ladies' man extraordinaire. Ripley is sent to Italy by the elder Greenleaf to retrieve his son, idling away on the beach with his girlfriend Marge (Paltrow). Teaching himself jazz and inventing stories of schooldays at Princeton, Ripley soon charms his way into Dickie's house.

Ripley knows that the key to being a great liar is to tell the truth as much as possible and allow others to draw their own conclusions. This takes great wit and timing, and Ripley pulls it off fabulously. For a while, things could not be better, but soon the impulsive Dickie tires of the ever-present Ripley, whose attachment to Dickie goes beyond mere friendship into unsettling territories. This leads to a horrifying boat trip where the two Ripley-proclaimed "brothers" speak truths that probably should have gone unsaid.

Ripley finds himself caught up in the world of his own making, and the lies he has spun threaten to ensnare him even as he uses them to break free from his former anonymous life. Delicately balancing new lies and capitalizing on what is, to our modern eyes, a quaintly obsolete communications system (my God, they actually write letters!), Ripley eventually finds himself living the good life in a wonderfully decorated Roman penthouse.

As good a liar as Ripley is, he can't prevent some from figuring out his various lies and secrets. And this is where the movie really gets dark -- Ripley is a man filled with rage, and that rage can lead to gruesome results.

Ripley is a man of considerable talents and appetites. His hunger for acceptance and for love -- there is virtually nobody in the film whom Ripley does not seduce -- is exceeded only by his instinct for self-preservation. Even Ripley is horrified by what he is capable of, and the climactic scene leaves no doubt that for all his talents, Ripley is not someone you ever want to meet.

"Ripley" achieves a lot of its effect through implication, and the films most charged scenes, whether violent or sexual, are actually quite restrained in what is actually shown on-screen. But like "Pulp Fiction," the scenes are perhaps even more powerful for not showing exactly what happens, but by their implications. In that sense, the entire movie is an implication, a set-up for future stories (there are other "Ripley" stories) involving our favorite murderous impersonator. I hope that Hollywood can pull it together to make another installment with Damon as the lead -- he nails it.

VERY GOOD STUFF
The Ripley charector is great to watch he is like a child trying to fit in, he knows something about himself is diffrent but he cannot describe it. Because you have to have a conscience to know the answer. I remember seeing the talented mr. ripley in the theatre and how pleased I was with the ripley charector. His charector was created some time ago and most people do not know it but he inspired most of hollywood's classic villians particuarly the hitchcock ones. Also see RIPLEY'S GAME. I think John Malkovich is even better in the sequel. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Early effort from director of ID4, Stargate, and others...
I first saw this film in 1991, after exhausting the sci-fi section at my local Blockbuster. A straight-to-video release (as I recall) I thought it a decent outer-space adventure. Grim, gritty, raw, it tries to be a combination of several genres: space opera, hardboiled detective novel, war movie. It succeeds at none of these, but taken as a whole is enjoyable weekend popcorn fare. Pare does a good job as our disaffected intellectual tough-guy hero, while other B and C list names show up for decent turns. Leon Rippy especially is fun as the failed, proud, bull-dogged Sergeant Sykes, while Malcom McDowell appears as the military commander whom you just know in your heart is up to no good, right from the start. Because, hey, it's Malcolm McDowell! Roscoe Lee Browne is also worth mentioning as the slick, coniving corporate boss. The special effects are of the limited-budget variety, and it's a shame Emmerich didn't have access to either CGI, or more money, as he has in later, better-known movies. But I think this movie is worth watching, and even owning, if you want to see solid early work from a director who has since tackled some of the highest-profile and biggest profit-reaping films in the industry.

In the Outer Zone... you need a friend.
Oh man, where do I start? Most reviews of this movie seem to range from love to hate, with very few between. I think I fall in the 'between' area. Moon 44 was directed by Roland Emmerich, who also directed Universal Soldier, Stargate, Independance day, The Patriot, and Godzilla. Oh yeah, he also produced and wrote Moon 44. One of the stars in the movie, Dean Devlin, also produced Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla with Emmerich.

The movie starts off by telling us it's the future, and all Earth's resources have been depleted, so companies have taken to space to exploit moons for their mineral resources. Competition for these moons is pretty fierce, as the material recovered from these moons is very valuable, and can make or break a company. One company has seen numerous moons hit, shuttles lost, and their profits gone, so when their last moon is threatened by what appears to a conspirator inside the company, the board of directors send an investigator to determine the truth, played by b-movie veteran Michael Paré.

He goes undercover, as a one of a group of prisoners who have flight experience as pilots are hard to come by. Apparently it's going to be these guys job to protect the moon and the robotic equipment from raiders by flying around in modified helicopters. Since the terrain they will be flying in is difficult, each pilot must work closely with a navigator, who is situated within the station, giving specific directions to the pilot. One wrong move could mean death. The navigators are the typical computer nerdy bunch, and don't mix well with the harden prisoners when they show up. One prisoner decides to rape his navigator in the shower, and though we don't get to see it, I thought it was a pretty bad idea of the prisoner to do such a thing since the navigator would surely want revenge of some sort.

So we have the problems between the navigators, the hard nosed drill instructor busting the prisoner/pilots chops (especially Felix Stone, played by Michael Paré), and the slimy head of the station, Major Lee, played by Malcolm McDowell, another actor who spends an awful lot of time in b-movie hell. (Check out the IMdB and you'll see what I mean.) The whistleblower, a navigator called Tyler, played by Devlin, gives Stone what he has and together they determine that the mysterious disappearance of the shuttles is really not that they got lost, but were misdirected by someone inside the organization.

There's some running around, some scenes that were supposed to build tension, etc., and we start to find out the truth in what's going on, the motive behind the theft of the shuttle.

My biggest problem with this movie is that it seemed like too many threads of story line were dangled before us, much more than could be adequately resolved within the 98 minute running time of the movie. The major stuff was resolved, but the movie got bogged down in character development for characters that were not important to the main story. I mean really, who cares why the one navigator spiked some pilot's lunch with drugs? As a result, Malcolm McDowell and Michael Paré didn't get as many lines or as much screen time as they should have. The effects and sets are decent enough for this kind of movie, although they kept showing us scenes of a giant earthmoving device and I don't know why? To establish something, I guess...and why do all mining bases/station of operations have to be so funky looking in these movies? It's not that they're dirty, but just a lot of metal grated flooring, pipes and what not on the walls and ceiling, and extremely poor lighting. Maybe it's a written rule somewhere.

I think this could have been a better movie had it focused more on the main plot, and not presented all these secondary plots, spending a lot of time dealing with them, and basically going nowhere. And I was disappointed in the pan and scan full screen format. When will they learn? Why not put both formats on the disc, and let the viewer choose? And don't look for any extras, not even a trailer or case insert with chapter stops. Nada, nil, none...seeing as how this director went on to bigger (but not necessarily better) things, I would have thought he would have been interested in providing some insight to us about this movie through a commentary. Oh well...A so so movie with an exceptionally poor release.

The DVD version of Moon 44 is a big let down
When I first heard that this title was coming out on DVD I was rather excited because I had only ever seen the film on VHS in a pan and scan format. I remember liking the movie and looked forward to the day when it would come out on DVD because I assumed it would be released in widescreen format. Much to my dismay the DVD version is another pan and scan transfer. Here was an opportunity to release the title with it's original Panavision, 2.35:1 aspect ratio but for some odd reason the distributors bypassed this option in favor of the old VHS pan and scan format. The movie is fun but far from a great film. But if a widescreen version was available I would definitely buy it. But a new DVD version in pan and scan seems like a waste of time to me. So I'll just pass on this one and hold on to my old VHS copy.

Grim, gripping thriller.
A murder mystery on a bleak station in outer space staffed by people who could not find a better berth and a group of convicts who could not get a better deal. Two young nerds who play a pivotal role but are ignored by everyone, except by the convicts during an unnervingly well-acted shower scene.

Tyler, played by Dean Devlin, is a truly witty and likeable nerd, and his buddy, Cookie, played by Stephen Geoffreys, has cornered the black market on board and is happy. Until the plug-uglies show up. Michael Pare is among them, charged with discovering who is stealing company property.

Intrigue, violence and discovery unfold in this desolation and the ending is not entirely predictable.

Grim, but with moments of bright humor, this movie left me wondering why I had never heard of it before.

The Dirty Dozen in space, but still an excellent flick
ITC Entertainment once again brings out an excellent film. One that deals with space comercialization and industrialization. Most of all, it introduces a future that will more than likely will happen if we don't start moving out into space and find the resources we have in our own solar system.

Moon 44 tells the story about an Earth that is exhausted of its natural resources and has to rely on mining resouces in space. When a multinational corporation's mining shuttles are being hijacked by a rival company, an Internal Affairs agent is hired on to find out what is going on. Masquerading as one of the new prisoners sent to the lunar colony to help in the protection of the shuttles and the company's interests, the agent along with some computer technicians, uncovers a conspiracy involving the hijackings. From that point on, it comes down to an explosive showdown between the prisoners and the rival corporation.

Definately a very good film with an astounding group of actors and actresses. Especially British actor Malcolm McDowell, who plays a character who is not a villain, but someone who has been screwed over by the system many times and has gotten fed up with it. The sets, the costumes, and special effects, along with the acting are explosive. The film also descibes how companies do not care about human life and only caring about the "Almighty Dollar." Definately the finest from Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. If you enjoy good hi-tech science fiction or hardware science fiction, check out this film. It's worth looking at. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great movie from start to finish.
This movie is about a downward spiral of a big time California banker, Dennis Cromwell played by Sam Bottoms. He then becomes putty in his beautiful handyman's daughter Angel, played by Yennifer Behrens. The movie takes an odd twist when the two decide to run away together. The ending will surprise you even more. For anyone who likes romance love affairs and odd twists, this is the movie for you. "Angel Blue" is a must see of the year!

A contemporary take on LOLITA set in a small California town
Review written by Glenn Lovell in DAILY VARIETY, November 13, 1998. Following that other highly publicized cautionary tale of adult-minor sex, "Lolita," the Lifetime pickup "My Neighbor's Daughter" seems almost polite in execution, Old World quaint. Helmer Steve Kovacs is to be congratulated for refusing to exploit the hot-button topic for salacious winks: he's mining meditative Atom Egoyan here, not hot-house Adrian Lyne. The pic, which had a three-day theatrical run in Berkeley under its original title "Angel Blue," was directed, written and produced by Kovacs, a Roger Corman alum. The low-budgeter charts the downward spiral of Dennis Cromwell (Sam Bottoms), a Northern California banker who's putty in the hands of his handyman's flirtatious daugher, Angel (newcomer Yeniffer Behrens). Dennis, who tools around in a vintage convertible and pines for Freddy Cannon's heyday, is a midlife crisis in the making. A high school reunion (his 25th) and a new baby in the house further distance Dennis from his down-in=the-dumps wife, Jill (Lisa Eichhorn). Angel, the Cromwells' babysitter, has her own woes: an abusive, philandering father (Marco Rodriguez) and creepy stalker (Chris Pray) somehow linked to her father's days helping illegals across the border. Adult ennui and teen insecurity prove a dangerous combo. Commiseration leads to platonic pecks and then to a lot more when near-hysterical Angel demands attention. The climactic bathroom coupling will remind some of Lyne's "Fatal Attraction," but here the handy Freudian symbols are combined with a lot more finesse. The pic's best scenes milk the irony/hypocrisy of Dennis's dilemma. Moments after delivering an impassioned "protect our kids" speech before city council, Dennis is arrested by a cop buddy (Jason Graves) for statutory rape. Kovacs has done a creditable job with the forbidden romance aspects. Pic definitely benefits from Behrens' energy and poise, and resourceful use of offbeat Bay Area locales (Marin, Portola Valley, etc.) Mickey Freeman's lensing nails both the glow of early romance and, through fool-the-eye reflections in a bar scene, the extent of Bottoms' infatuation. Karen Black has a short, bizarre bit as Angel's court-appointed shrink; Rodriguez is impassioned as Angel's suffocating dad; and Hungarian emigre Sandor Tecsy (who starred in Kovacs' earlier "68") steals each of his scenes as a robust gymnastics coach who echoes the pic's disgust with PC-obsessed moralists in our midst. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Wall Review --- From a Kid's Point of View
Hmmmm, I actually liked this movie. We watched in 7th grade. I was addicted to it. The part with the typewriter and the weird music rocks! The only thing I didn't like about it was the long, boring talking parts. I wanted to fall asleep during those parts. I wouldn't show this movie to little kids though. Something at the beginning really scared me.

Boring
This movie was very boring and I don't feel it acurately captured the Warsaw uprising. A much better movie to view would be "Uprising" starring Leelee Sobieski, among others. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Sweet childhood film
Quite simply, this is one of the best childhood films I have ever seen. It has so much continuity, integrity and lyricism in presenting its subject, a little boy, that the film becomes a sweet parable on maturity, idealism, love, affection and god knows what else. This is one of the most thoroughly satisfying movie experiences I have had, and the director, Steven (sex, lies and videotape) Soderbergh, knows the subject inside out (in fact, he adapted the movie for the screen). The hero is the viewer's vicarious link to the events of the 1930's, when this movie takes place, and his performance is one of the most unaffected child performances you are likely to enjoy. Look at the photography, listen to the music, enjoy this movie, because this is one of the few pictures that I've seen that evokes the period of its subject so completely, that immerses the viewer in its young hero's trivial ( or life- threatening) dilemmas with such deftness . This is a movie to be praised for its depth of discernment of that tumultuous time period when "half Missouri would work for fifty cents" END

An excellent film!
This is one on the finest films I have ever seen. And I am sure that many people can relate to the movie. Jesse Bradford does an excellent performance, and it's a shame that this film has not been given greater recognition.

A Surprising Gem
One of the more overlooked Steven Soderbergh movies, but perhaps one of the best, this little film wisely portrays an appealing and poignant coming-of-age story in a late-twenties America. Although the plot brings nothing new, this movie is still very well-crafted, suceeding in every element. The acting is uniformely great, the score is compelling, the directing is captivating and the colour texture of the scenes is memmorable. Soderbergh manages to tell a bitersweet tale, both funny and sad, remaining believable and true-to-life from beginning to end. The last scene in particular is an excellent mix between hapiness and melancholy, providing and adequate ambiguous resolution. Jesse Bradford is excellent as the confused smart kid in trouble, offering an honest and very convincing performance. Frankly, I think this movie is much better than some overrated films ..., the more well-known titles that turned Soderbergh into a big name director.

A solid cinematic experience.

a dvd that totally should be released!!!
I remember seeing this movie on STARZ when I was younger. I loved it so much. The way the characters were portrayed made me want to see it over again and again. After seeing the movie I found out my grandma had the book. It is also really good. I have been searching for this movie on dvd for a long time. I finally decided to search a query again on here and see that it is pending to be released.

The movie is both comical and dramatic. Aaron has to fend for himself while his mother is in an institution, his brother at camp, and his father is selling useless stuff during The Depression.

Aaron strives so hard to do the best he can and well I can't spoil the movie for everyone....SO RELEASE THE MOVIE ON DVD!!!

UNAPPRECIATED MASTERPIECE
A movie you won't forget (worth 6 stars!), about a little boy growing up in St. Louis during the Depression (only the movie is for adults). Experience the overwhelming poverty on a daily basis as Aaron struggles to stay alive. Quite an exciting runaway car scene. A youthful Adrien Brody plays a part, and the original novel is excellent reading. Probably Jesse's finest movie. Wish he would do more like this one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Stargate AND Moon 44!
The tie-in of these 2 movies is the team of Director Roland Emmerich and writer/producer Dean Devlin. Dean actually stars in Moon 44; he's sort of a poor-man's Matthew Broderick.

Moon 44 predates Stargate and is much more low-budget. It is darker and a little bizarre. The premise: send a bunch of fresh-faced boy cyberjockeys to live on a mining colony in space with a bunch of burly violent convicts and team them up to pilot spaceships to defend the colony. That's not a recipe for trouble, oh no. There's even a creepy shower scene.

And people wondered why they paid Jaye Davidson $1 million to do Stargate? Uh huh.

Slightly Misinformed...
I didn't realize this DVD was two movies, with "Moon 44" a non-Stargate movie. Silly me...I should have read the fine print. I do not understand why these two moves are joined together like this. Probably in that fine print somewhere...;)

"Moon 44" is a good movie...and "Stargate" speaks for itself...GREAT! ... Read more