Reviews (31)

Intelligent and Witty Comedy
Whit Stillman has an ear for sophisticated dialog that is virtually unmatched among today's screenwriters. His characters speak in a way that is sharper, smarter, and "realer" than reality. There is also an intelligence in his work that is all too rare in today's pictures. You come away from his films not only entertained, but enlightened and, probably, having learned something as well.

"Barcelona" is about two American cousins living in Spain. Ted (Taylor Nichols) is a shy, reserved sales rep, and Fred (Chris Eigeman) a brash and handsome naval officer. The story is primarily a romantic one. Ted is in love with Montserrat (Tushka Bergen) and Fred, perhaps, with Marta (Mira Sorvino), both beautiful, free-spirited young Spanish women. Marta, though, turns out to be a little too free for Fred's taste, so he also falls for Montserrat. This, of course, provides complications of its own.

The film is set in "the last decade of the Cold War," a time of rampant anti-Americanism in Barcelona, which adds an intriguing political subtext to the romantic machinations that form the bulk of the story. This subtext manifests itself both in violence and humor that provide needed counterpoint to the love story.

What I like best about Stillman's work is the high regard in which he holds his audience. In a culture where the prevailing cinema is targeted at the lowest common denominator, the wit and intelligence of a film like "Barcelona" are a very welcome relief. When Stillman refers to Dale Carnegie, or the sinking of the "Maine," or draws insight from "Death of a Salesman," he assumes we know what he's talking about. He never belabors the point or tries to explain it. He simply allows us to nod and smile, without being hit over the head with any gratuitous exposition.

"Barcelona" builds on the promise that Stillman first showed in "Metropolitan." This work is a more fully realized and executed film, relying not just on his gift for dialogue, but delivering greater levels of characterization and development as well. Stillman is one of our finest young filmmakers; more of a verbal auteur than a visual one, but a great talent all the same.

Spanish Chicks-- All Right
I'm often dismayed by ideologues and their certainty. When Europeans complained about bully Americans during the Iraqi Liberation, or during the Cold War, they always said that the CIA or the Zionists blew up their own embassies or Twin Towers in a Macavelion plot to take over the world. Barcelona has the Spanish intelligencia parroting anti-American nonsense, but when two cousin's, different as night and day, chase Spanish chicks all over a disco city in the late 70's after the end of Franco, well, witty dialogue and self-depreciating comedy commences along side serious political violence. The Spanish girl's are bed-jumpers and unbelievably beautiful in this film, charming. The guys are preppy leftovers from Walt Stillman's "Metropolitan," the story of preppy school guys in Manhattan and the girls they get drunk. So preppy American guys meet sexually liberated Euro-Pinks and you get a mildly satisfying film. But Barcelona, the city is very, very, enticing, beautifully filmed.

interesting, sometimes violent film
Ted is an American sales rep living in Barcelona when his extroverted over-the-top cousin Fred arrives in town. Fred is a naval officer, and it is 1992, a time of rampant anti-Americanism in Spain due to the end of the Cold War.

The two American relatives meet some lovely Spanish women dressed ip to go clubbing in Marie Antoinette costumes (that in itself is interesting). Marta (Mira Sorvino) starts dating Fred while Ted starts dating Monserrat. Except Fred decides he likes Monserrat too.

Fred is a very funny character -- when his cousin Ted is dancing, he tells the women "See that odd expression on his face? It's because he likes to wear leather underwear and it is chafing him." (Ted is merely dancing with one of those weird expressions guys make while dancing.)

This is Barcelona before the Olympics, and the times and political climate come into play. It is interesting to watch this but be warned, the violence is graphic -- someone even gets shot in the face.

How wonderful and funny
THis is a profound wonderful film set in Barcelona and following the hapless exploits of two cousins as they persue love and other interests in Europe. THe cousins couldn't be more different, one a reserved nerd obsessed with books on marketing and the other a swashbucking naval cadet proud of his country and disdainful of the foreigners. The best scene int he film is where a Spaniard says 'you americans kill to many people' and the cadet says 'no we are just better shots'. Other commentares abound as the american debates the left obsessed communists who complain about AMerica and spray paint 'OTAN is evil' on walls throughout the city. Definetly an enjoyable film for anyone who enjoyes europe but likes poking fun at how serious people take themselves.

A view from Barcelona
I saw this movie when it was released and I remember as a person born and raised in Barcelona, I found that is an inaccurate portrayal of my city and its society. Like in most commercial US films, here we see that the world outside the US does not deserve a careful portrayal, just a romatized view is enough. In some parts, the film looks like a tourist brochure of the latter Francoist years: flamenco, wine, bulls and macho men. May be this is how Mr. Stillman sees us Catalans. My impression is that "Tha Last Days of Disco" is a much better movie. ... Read more

Reviews (164)

Perfectly Harmless, By The Numbers
J'Lo's latest offering, the romantic comedy "Maid In Manhattan," is yet another addition to the long-standing "chick" romantic comedy genre. Overall, it's perfectly harmless if not exactly original. In all, it's a nice flick to check-out on a Friday night if nothing else good is on.

THE STORY:

Marissa Ventura (J'Lo) is a single-mother who works as a maid in one of Manhattan's top hotels. A hard working, intelligent woman she is up for promotion and is a sure lock in to "represent" all the working class women of the travel industry when she makes a pretty big faux pas at the behest of a co-worker, she tries on the posh outfit of a socialite guest and is happened upon by a Senatorial candidate staying at the hotel, Chris Marshall (Ralph Fiennes). From there the by-the-numbers storybook romance takes place.

THE ANALYSIS:

Overall, this is a perfectly harmless and sweet love story cookie cut from the same mold like all others in the genre. There are a handful of touching scenes with the couple and Marissa's son Tyler (Tyler Posey) provides a lot of the best scenes in the film. The interaction between the main characters and between Marissa and her co-workers, particularly the butler and security guard, are superb. In all, this is a nice picture to see.

THE VERDICT:

Overall, this probably won't qualify as a "must-see" but it definitely ranks as a "good viewing choice." Overall, this flick will probably work best for, young couples on a date, younger crowds on an outing or of course, J'Lo fans. In all, you probably won't be (too) disappointed if you see it but then again if you choose to pass on it, you won't exactly really miss much either.

Recommended

An Instant Classic
Maid in Manhattan is a gem, a romantic comedy destined to be one of the classics. The story of a hotel maid who accidentally meets an aspiring senator and contrives to have him believe she is actually a wealthy hotel guest harkens back to the romantic comedies of the 1940's. Indeed, Liam Neeson is a modern-day Cary Grant in this film.

The movie, in addition to all the fun, points out serious issues of class and race differences. And in a very touching way, the movie asks us to take a look at ourselves: our jobs, our lives, and to ask ourselves, are we holding back from our dreams because we have been taught that this is as far as we can go? Maid in Manhattan is inspiring to anyone who has looked wistfully at a star, but did not believe she deserved to try to reach it.

Bob Hoskins turns in a wonderful performance as a hotel butler. He has some of the best lines in the film.

Maid in Manhattan
Maid in Manhattan DVD ~ Jennifer Lopez is your average romatic comedy and I love it for being this. There is no social comentary, no pretense and loads of fun. 5/5.

average chick flick
well all ive got to say about this movie is its another chick flick. guy sees women. women sees guy, they meet in some awkward situation, they fall in love eventually, the end. the movie doesnt really have anything special about it (except that it has jlo in it of course...... lol) but i honestly wouldnt even rent it unless u rent movies a lot. but if u got like comcast digital cable look for it on there.

J-Lo in an Apron?
This is based on the old Cinderella theme. J-Lo plays a maid in a hotel in Manhatten, meets an Assemblyman played by Ralph Finnes but pretends to be someone else, gets found out, loses job but Ralph finds her and they fall in love - ah sweet. J-Lo is not a bad actress but Ralph Finnes is rubbish - how does he get the parts? Does he tell the taxman he's an actor? Natasha Richardson plays a stereotypical English snob (what, never!) and Bob Hoskins as a non-part, doesn't really contribute anything to the story.

Seems that some parts of the story were edited out - there always seems to be something missing.

Not too bad but not worth buying unless your a big J-Lo fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The quagmire that was the Vietnam War comes to vivid life in this HBO film--not in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but in the offices of the White House, where a disastrous U.S. policy was forged. From Lyndon Johnson's landslide 1964 victory to his weary withdrawal from the 1968 race, Path to War charts the disappearance of LBJ's "Great Society" domestic dreams into the bramble patch of war. The bungled decisions are forcefully directed by John Frankenheimer, whose expertise at political intrigue shines in his final film. Donald Sutherland and Alec Baldwin do some of their best work in years (as Clark Clifford and Robert McNamara), although the great actor Michael Gambon, while impressive, doesn't quite capture the honey lilt of LBJ's beguiling style. Among the many superb scenes: Johnson intimidating an outmatched George Wallace (an unbilled Gary Sinise, re-creating a role from another Frankenheimer HBO film) on civil rights. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Re: Very very good
Its always fascinating when a movie comes out that shows the inner workings of Government and/or the White House....to get a sense of how our elected officials tick. To be honest I was not all that familiar with the Vietnam War so this movie provided me with some fascinating insight. All the performances are terrific,
very highly recommended.

Great Movie
We could not stop watching, a great movie.

The Forgotten Society
I highly recommend this movie for two very good reasons.

First, the acting and the dialogue involved with this project are great. I can still hear Lady Bird Johnson telling a frightened and fatigued LBJ "When eloquence of words are no longer effective, then perhaps it is time for eloquence of action..." And with these words, LBJ decides to retire the presidency and public life.

Second, I recommend "Path to War" because of the subject of this impressive movie is Lyndon Baines Johnson. Arguably one of the most controversial figures of American history, it is easy to forget all the good he has done for our country in the hell of Vietnam. This movie finally reminds the viewer that although President Kennedy had such wonderful dreams and ideas for our society, it was President Johnson who made those dreams a reality by maneuvering the congress to enact the "Great Society" laws. The audience can feel his joy and elation as he sees his vision of an America that has beaten poverty, racial discrimination, and the host of other social ills present in America during the 1960s. Then, we see his dreams transformed into nightmares as the American public become increasingly angry and hostile with his policy towards Vietnam. The audience is shown the private torture inflicted by decisions president Johnson makes in regards to Vietnam and the anger he knew they would generate...In conclusion, "Path to War" reminds me of a Greek tragety; riveting and enjoyable to watch and experience in the comfort of ones own home.

The last great film of John Frankenheimer
Being a huge John Frankenheimer fan, this movie was on my list to see for some time since I don't have HBO. Overall, I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, somehow I have that perception with all made-for-tv movies. The movie certainly has that feel in the first few minutes, with acting that seems a bit forced and wooden. But as the story progressed, I slowly got pulled into the situation and characters of all involved. By the time the movie was over, I was impressed with the portrait provided of LBJ as a troubled man who wanted to do so much for the country, but was held back with a stalemate war. It's expertly directed by Frankenheimer, with his classic visual style that exudes tension with facial close-ups. Gambon does a pretty good job too, although most of his acting in this movie falls into the 'concerned man' and the 'screaming and yelling man' episodes; it still shows the bi-polar sources pulling at him.

It resonates a bit with the current tensions and war in Iraq (some of this is mentioned in the bonus features), but it still carves out its own identity; when was the last time a President talked about a Great Society? It makes me wonder how significant of a President Johnson could have been (many books defer to this position as well, almost worthy of a place on Mt. Rushmore). But as a youngster, most of the Presidents I've been alive to experience are focused more on cautious outlooks than on civil progression and visionary goals. Of course its all easier said than done, but it seems to me the era visionaries has ceased with Johnson's statement not run for a second term in office.

I know very little of the historic values of past Presidents, but it's a genre I enjoy experiencing in the movies and television. If you watch the West Wing on a regular basis, or just enjoy movies with historical facts and situations (13 days, JFK, All the Presidents Men), then you'll enjoy this movie. I expected little, and I got a home run in return. I think it's a great movie that concludes Frankenheimer's career. I like his work a lot, and he will be missed.

It should be noted that the movie is not 4x3 full frame format. Instead it's in 16x9, anamorphic format; and the transfer I would rate as 'good' but not exceptional.

Path to War
Path to War is a great movie for several reasons. For one, it is a movie about LBJ, which is rare. In most movies he is a background figure, perhaps because it is hard for an actor to capture his personality. Secondly, it is a Vietnam movie that shows a different side of the war: the political side. Movies like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, and The Deer Hunter have done a superb job of showing the side of the common soldier in Vietnam, but what went on in the corridors of power in Washington is rarely shown. And, finally, the filmmakers have assembled a great team of actors and historians to bring this film to life. Michael Gambon, who portrays LBJ, does a commendable job, as does Alec Baldwin as Robert McNamara, but the best is Donald Sutherland as Washington insider Clark Clifford. As an added bonus, the DVD version of the film is loaded with extras including cast interviews and commentary by historian Michael Beschloss. Despite its length, it goes by fairly fast, and it is easy to get caught up in the tension and paranoia that plagued LBJ during his presidency. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Completing the loosely connected trilogy that also includes Metropolitan and Barcelona, writer-director Whit Stillman brings his signature style to this casually structured but acerbically witty ode to... well, to the last days of disco. Set in New York during 1980-81, the film follows its half-dozen central characters onto the strobe-lit dance floor of The Club--the anonymous name Stillman gave to the central setting, knowing at the time that his film would be released in close proximity to 54, the bigger-budget movie about the legendary and infamous nightclub Studio 54. In fact,Stillman's film captures the same period with greater accuracy, and draws us into the waning disco craze with more incisive wit and deft handling of a first-rate cast.

The film's casual plot revolves around six recent college graduates, and Stillman charts their clashes and intimacies with a keen sense of human foibles and frailties, pausing throughout for such characteristic touches as a hilarious conversation about the sexual politics of Disney's Lady and the Tramp or the homoerotic subtext in an episode of Wild Kingdom. Sharp dialogue is in rich abundance here, and through it all Stillman captures the fading glory of disco as his characters make the transition toward adult responsibilities. It's here that we see how this film is subtly intertwined with Stillman's earlier work, and where we gain a fuller and more satisfying appreciation of a filmmaker who has carved a singular niche for himself in the world of independent movies. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (67)

My favorite movie of 1998.
Just as I loved "Metropolitan" when it was released in the early 90's, this was a wonderful homecoming after a less than enthralling "Barcelona." To me, "The Last Days of Disco" was the perfect summer movie. Released around the same time as the mind-numbing "Armagedon," I felt like I had sat down for two hours of conversation with some good friends.

The thing I enjoyed most about this movie is that we are shown both the highs and the lows of these character's lives. And although there has been much criticism of their narcissism, I find these people very real and very refreshing. I feel that Whit Stillman captures a class of people, a time of life, a social milieu, and a part of history with such dead on accuracy that I was just in awe as the movie unfolded.

I saw the movie three times in the theater and was moved to tears each time by the end scene on the train. To me it so perfectly brought the movie to a close, and, sums up the experience of life with such precision: the pain, the humiliation, the joy, the beauty, the excitement, and the struggles we all experience on a daily basis, but in the end, being alive really is something to dance about.

Equal to, or the best, Stillman "social trilogy" film
When watching a Stillman film, one should take it with a grain of salt. He has the ability to simply give an observation on the type of persons populating his films, who are usually rich, sheltered, urbane and dangerously pretentious. The importance of what he shows is that one could identify with the characters, or perhaps see someone they know. Although I grew up in the rural south, I was still able to identify with the actions and thoughts of the characters in "Disco". Much is made of Kate Beckinsale's painfully superficial and 'bitchy' character--however, it Chloe Sevigny who brings a sense of 'everyman(person)' and an honesty and morality to the rather directionless and morally ambivalent folks throughout the movie. It is the poetic justice of seeing Chloe succeed despite her social insecurities--and seeing Matt Kesslar follow his ideals and a moral code which wins him a girl he falls for, which made this a joy to watch for me. The moments of social dissection using "Lady of Tramp" and the epitome of mid-twenties life, the Unemployment Office, provide hilarious elements of droll humor. I identify with alot of the events in Stillman's movies, even though I never said the things that are said. Scares me a little, but I think moviegoers know or are those people in his films--and it scares them too. "Metropolitan" and "Barcelona" are important to view first before taking in this small breath of fresh air. As a sidenote, the music to "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" preludes the beginning of "Metropolitan"--I believe that is reference to the Protestantism of the lives of Stillman's characters thoughout this "WASP Social trilogy"--and makes it an interesting aspect of these films in this age of political correctness and leftism of Hollywood.

Burn Yuppie Burn
Stillman's obvious artistic kinsmen are Woody Allen and Eric Rohmer. Yet, Stillman doesn't wallow in self-pity like the former and doesn't constrict his stories within 'moral' discourse of the latter. Stillman, at his best, manages the right balance between lively chatter and somber reflection. His writing, rather like Allen's, sometimes has the annoying characteristic of rehearsed monologues interrupted by token protestation by others merely for the sake of furthering the monologue. Sometimes, no matter how clever or engaging, the exchanges are about trivial matters though contextualized within the general theme. Stillman also isn't quite a director of actors; the performances are adequate, even charming, but never tour-de-force. This restraint may seem somewhat odd in a movie about wild and crazy disco, but it isn't really about disco. Disco is simply used as a backdrop, as a phase in musical culture as well as in life, which defines these lives. This movie could just as well have been set in the hippie 60s or charleston 20s. Stillman is, foremost, concerned with certain timeless lessons revolving around friendship and love. There's something about chivalry and honor in all of his movies, values that are old-fashioned but refreshing in today's movie values of cynicism and violence. Also, interesting is Stillman's nostalgia for disco which is paradoxically colored by his conservative instincts. We usually associate disco--as with most other forms of pop cultural movements--with novelty, faddishness, and disposability, yet Stillman conjures up a vision of a city on a hill, of camelot, with its knights, princesses, and jesters. Stillman understands new become old. What was revolutionary becomes conservative; in a way, it's a statement about youth; how youth is identified with new ideas and values yet as we grow older it becomes a time and place to cherish and mythify, to remember and behold. In this harking back to a special period to which we can't return but has defined the mood and mode of our lives, Stillman has found the core of conservative instincts--if not ideology--in all of us. Ultimately, Stillman's films are not about passion but about dignity, not about Truth but honor. Stillman's instincts, being conservative, do not lean toward utopian visions, all-encompassing truths, or mad passions. He believes most people can, at their best, find some kind of moral compass in life and direct their actions with a modicum of moral consideration. Stillman believes people can think and can change. Hardly original but rare in movies today with their stock characterizations and simplistic, determinist dynamics. Perhaps, Stillman doesn't have the gusto of PT Anderson, the bravura inventiveness of Tarantino, or the morbid gravedigging obsessiveness of Solondz, but his grasping for sanity in an ever-changing, deceptive world is much needed and welcome. Thank god not every director is a Stillman but we need him just as any other, just as the New Wave needed Truffaut as much as it needed Godard, Rohmer as much as Chabrol.

WONDERFUL PICTURE
This is the BEST film i've seen about the disco era and an all round great motion picture, hands down, its not even an issue, BUT why on earth is the dvd sooo expensive? Were there limited copies to beginwith or something? All i know is i'm not going to shell out a $100 bucks for any single dvd title, i don't care what movie/film is on it, and its a shame because this is really a fantastic film.

Stillman has still got it baby
I loved this movie with a flame. Im a huge Whit Stillman fan, man, Barcelona and Metropolitan, god those where so awesome, and if you havent seen his other works then check them out or this one out. Chole Sevingy and Kate Beckinsale are simply amazing. Robert Sean Leonard has never been more cooler and grand. Matt Kesslar is good as well. doesnt let go for a minute and then movie rocks. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Right up there with Office Space
I had very low expectations going into this movie, as it had Jenny McCarthy in it, but it was a nice surprise. What a great date move! Rented it on a friends recommendation and bought it the next day. It is a must for your movie collection. Consider Crazy Little Things as the romantic comedy version of Office Space.

Funniest movie I've seen in a long time...
I had never heard of this movie, but it was recommended by friends.

It is very funny story about two people that seem to keep running into each other. It's not a quote "chick flick" but it will more than keep her happy and it is funny enough to make you cry with laughter.

It's the same type comedy as Office Space.

Hilarious and Clever
I am looking forward to this DVD very much. I was only able to catch this movie on the Oxygen channel a few months ago and have had trouble tracking it down (it's other name is "A Perfect You").

I thought this movie was hilarious!! The scene where she thought he was a gigalo and he thought she was a prostitute, had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I am completely unfamiliar with Jenny McCarthy (wasn't she some MTV personality before?), but she really was this character to me - positively perfect for the part. This film really is in my top 10 of favorite films... and only now will I be able to see it whole, unbeeped (cuss words) and without commercial breaks (I taped it off the tv in case I wasn't able to find it elsewhere!).

I have no idea how another reviewer could have found this boring!!?? It had good, quick pacing; the characters and the story were interesting as well as hilarious. Even my husband thought this moview was well written even though it's not his usual storyline of choice (girl meets boy, boy/girl have conflict, boy/girl keep meeting, work through it and finally see each other as the true people they are... **sigh** it's been awhile since I've enjoyed a romantic comedy so much!!)

UGH.
I think Jenny McCarthy is pretty funny, but not in this DOA stinker. Poorly shot and with a terrible script, this movie is the equivalent to watching paint dry...BORING. I hope she fares better in Scary Movie 3. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

What's up homebrew? ------ "..Everybody Felix!..."
What's up homebrew?
Hilarious dialogue! "..Everybody Felix!..."
It's a movie of conversations and very little action.. It's hilarious. I can't describe it.. Everyone is just so goofy! It's subtle....FELIX steals the show...And as a fan of Galaxie 500 and Luna, It is cool to see Dean Wareham in a movie and doing the music for it.. He does a cool version of "Frankie And Johnny". It's a real low-budget film shot in just 6 days! I don't know about the DVD, I only have the VHS version but it's a good movie for the people with a weird sense of humor! "How did my birthday boy spend his birthday?".... "NOTHING." this is for the people who like irreverent comedies. Support indie films. It's goofy, it's New York, it's indie, it's Rae Dawn Chong, Ally Sheedy, Justine Batemen and more! Same apartment...3 parties.. a birthday party, a halloween party and a New Year's party. "Everybody Felix! It's Felix's birthday! Everybody Felix! He's old in the best way!"

Bizarre, but quite funny
I'm a big NB fan. THis movie, with it's awful edits, still manages to be entertaining. It isn't nearly as good as his other two films, but still kept me glued to the TV for 75 minutes. The guest shots are fantastic, particularly the Ally Sheedy ones. Christopher Eigeman, my favorite actor, deserved a better part, but Carlos Jacott is terrific. Baumbach himself gives an enjoyable performance. THe movie is all about dialogue and much of it is inspired. If you are new to Noah Baumbach's work, go get Kicking and Screamin and then Mr. Jealousy. This film is really best for fans, and curious viewers. I'm awaiting Noah's next film with great hopes.

subpar versus Kicking & Screaming and Mr. Jealousy
Perhaps predictably, this movie suffers from not having the same kind of time and money invested in its production compared to Kicking & Screaming and Mr. Jealousy. Those two films had a uniquely beautiful combination of literate dialogue and humorous ensemble interaction. While Highball had many of the same actors from the first two movies, the overall dialogue and themes were totally different. The first two movies had irreverence mixed with the sympathy of nostalgia and the difficult emotional transition to adulthood. Highball had no direction at all.

While I no longer remember all the details of Highball, I felt that the characters were poorly defined and the plot less meaningful than Mr. Jealousy and Kicking & Screaming. The movie seemed incomplete and hastily put together.

If you like literate, witty ensemble comedies, you should definitely see Kicking and Screaming, then Mr. Jealousy, then the Whit Stillman trilogy (which also features Chris Eigeman): Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco. All 5 of those being among my favorites.

Quirky, crazy comedy
Interesting comedy told through the course of three parties in one apartment: a birthday party, a Halloween party, and a New Year's Eve party. Basically centered around the couple who's apartment it is who first are together (birthday), break-up (Halloween), and then are married (New Year's) and all their weird and strange friends they join together for each occasion. For anyone who can remember times like these or are going through times like these, there are plenty of moments to laugh at. Like the boring awkward birthday party magician?! Or the hideously costumed drunk hostess at Halloween?! Or a friend coming out on New Years Eve?! It's all there.....strangely and sadly so. You will recognize so man actors in this I don't know how the director got them all for this nothing of a movie but he did, from Stolz to Sheedy to Bogdanovich and more. You'll have fun guessing who's who, but there's plenty of who's not in the film too. Quirky, strange, but enjoyable.

One of the most clever scripts written!
It came upon accident i even saw this ridiculously funny movie. The editing sucks, the plot goes absolutely nowhere, but the undertones of great humor fullfill this movie even through the closing credits. If one is looking for a movie with flat out jokes please don't waste your time. To those with a sense of humor, on the other hand, this is one of my all time favorite movies. I've recommended this movie to most of my friends and have never had a negative comment. I have since purchased Mr. Jealousy and Kicking and Screaming by the same director, Noah Baumbach, god lets hope they are remotely compared to this outstanding work of art. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This satire of the art world springs from this question: What mattersmore, the art or the artist? Floundering artist Gus Bishop (Chris Eigeman,Barcelona) can't get a gallery to even consider his work. Then a thiefbreaks into Bishop's studio and steals one of his paintings, which--after thethief concocts a dramatic and sorrowful life for the reclusive artist--sells for$10,000. The lure of easy money helps the thief convince Bishop to manufacture ahoax and turn this fictional artist into an art star. Before long, Bishop findsmonstrous success that he can't take any credit for, and a girlfriend who dumpedhim when he was a failure decides to blackmail him for a share of the loot.Though The Next Big Thing has some lapses in logic, Eigeman's uniquecombination of innocence and cynicism carry the film along. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (10)

What's up homebrew? ------ "..Everybody Felix!..."
What's up homebrew?
Hilarious dialogue! "..Everybody Felix!..."
It's a movie of conversations and very little action.. It's hilarious. I can't describe it.. Everyone is just so goofy! It's subtle....FELIX steals the show...And as a fan of Galaxie 500 and Luna, It is cool to see Dean Wareham in a movie and doing the music for it.. He does a cool version of "Frankie And Johnny". It's a real low-budget film shot in just 6 days! I don't know about the DVD, I only have the VHS version but it's a good movie for the people with a weird sense of humor! "How did my birthday boy spend his birthday?".... "NOTHING." this is for the people who like irreverent comedies. Support indie films. It's goofy, it's New York, it's indie, it's Rae Dawn Chong, Ally Sheedy, Justine Batemen and more! Same apartment...3 parties.. a birthday party, a halloween party and a New Year's party. "Everybody Felix! It's Felix's birthday! Everybody Felix! He's old in the best way!"

Bizarre, but quite funny
I'm a big NB fan. THis movie, with it's awful edits, still manages to be entertaining. It isn't nearly as good as his other two films, but still kept me glued to the TV for 75 minutes. The guest shots are fantastic, particularly the Ally Sheedy ones. Christopher Eigeman, my favorite actor, deserved a better part, but Carlos Jacott is terrific. Baumbach himself gives an enjoyable performance. THe movie is all about dialogue and much of it is inspired. If you are new to Noah Baumbach's work, go get Kicking and Screamin and then Mr. Jealousy. This film is really best for fans, and curious viewers. I'm awaiting Noah's next film with great hopes.

subpar versus Kicking & Screaming and Mr. Jealousy
Perhaps predictably, this movie suffers from not having the same kind of time and money invested in its production compared to Kicking & Screaming and Mr. Jealousy. Those two films had a uniquely beautiful combination of literate dialogue and humorous ensemble interaction. While Highball had many of the same actors from the first two movies, the overall dialogue and themes were totally different. The first two movies had irreverence mixed with the sympathy of nostalgia and the difficult emotional transition to adulthood. Highball had no direction at all.

While I no longer remember all the details of Highball, I felt that the characters were poorly defined and the plot less meaningful than Mr. Jealousy and Kicking & Screaming. The movie seemed incomplete and hastily put together.

If you like literate, witty ensemble comedies, you should definitely see Kicking and Screaming, then Mr. Jealousy, then the Whit Stillman trilogy (which also features Chris Eigeman): Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco. All 5 of those being among my favorites.

Quirky, crazy comedy
Interesting comedy told through the course of three parties in one apartment: a birthday party, a Halloween party, and a New Year's Eve party. Basically centered around the couple who's apartment it is who first are together (birthday), break-up (Halloween), and then are married (New Year's) and all their weird and strange friends they join together for each occasion. For anyone who can remember times like these or are going through times like these, there are plenty of moments to laugh at. Like the boring awkward birthday party magician?! Or the hideously costumed drunk hostess at Halloween?! Or a friend coming out on New Years Eve?! It's all there.....strangely and sadly so. You will recognize so man actors in this I don't know how the director got them all for this nothing of a movie but he did, from Stolz to Sheedy to Bogdanovich and more. You'll have fun guessing who's who, but there's plenty of who's not in the film too. Quirky, strange, but enjoyable.

One of the most clever scripts written!
It came upon accident i even saw this ridiculously funny movie. The editing sucks, the plot goes absolutely nowhere, but the undertones of great humor fullfill this movie even through the closing credits. If one is looking for a movie with flat out jokes please don't waste your time. To those with a sense of humor, on the other hand, this is one of my all time favorite movies. I've recommended this movie to most of my friends and have never had a negative comment. I have since purchased Mr. Jealousy and Kicking and Screaming by the same director, Noah Baumbach, god lets hope they are remotely compared to this outstanding work of art. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

"Do People Still Spit in the Cream Pitcher?"
While Mr. Jealousy hinges on the darker side of relationships than did Noah Baumbach's first feature, Kicking and Screaming, it's still a smartly stylized romantic comedy you're not likely to find at the top of the box office--but that's usually a good thing. In the tradition of Woody Allen and Jean Renoir (catch the Rules of the Game reference at the beginning of the film), Baumbach has crafted a neurotic, idiosyncratic love story, that, unlike Allen especially, seems to recover from its human folly with a somewhat optimistic ending. You're liable to laugh out loud at all of Carlos Jacott's (the real Vince's) scenes, as he pretty much reprises his role from Kicking and Screaming as a vulnerable yet loveable goofball--his moments in group therapy alone are worth seeing the flick.

Literate, Funny, Touching, and Beautiful
What I liked most about Mr. Jealousy was that it was really about these two writers and their growth and development as real people. The literary jokes were, like Kicking and Screaming, refreshingly funny. The fact that Mr. Jealousy is supposed to be a romantic comedy and is totally misrepresented by the trailer and box graphics/description might mislead certain people into seeing this movie. The film is really very sad at what should be the ending. The last bit that turns the movie into a "happy ending" seemed contrived and pasted on. Kicking and Screaming did not have that problem, but the ending really does not detract much from the movie's overall beauty and humor. I would definitely recommend seeing Kicking and Screaming first to appreciate the director's development of the "becoming an adult" theme which is further developed in Mr. Jealousy.

A Rare Mediocrity
Mirabella calls it "a comic revelation." I had a different reaction. I fell asleep. This in of itself cannot be considered a pan, as I have fallen asleep during a lot of movies that were highly acclaimed, such as the first Star Wars, which I saw with my dad and bored me to tears-or would have if I could have focused on the screen for more than the first twenty minutes. (He was there with his spanking new family.) This movie, which the New York Times of Jason Blair fame, calls "a shrewd comedy" I found to be wanting. The back of the DVD calls it "the most possessive romantic comedy ever." However, Lester, played by Eric Stoltz, is only vaguely jealous, which is appropriate considering the hair styles and vapid conversation of his new love interest, Ramona (Anabella Sciorra). Sciorra, who is not bad to look at, has a richly boring erotic past of flings with some twenty-odd twenty-somethings, each one (from what the sleeping reviewer can gather) a more inane yuppie than the last. And none of her inane yuppie love interests is more aggravating than Dashiell Frank (Chris Eigeman), the New York generation X writer who receives huge contracts for his best-selling short stories of intercourse in unusual positions with his x-girlfriends, of whom Ramona is, to Lester's consternation. Well, without giving the plot away (difficult considering my sleep and its absence), let's just say that the inanely unjealous Lester (who turns down a scholarship to the Iowa writing program because "he isn't interested in school"-MTV beckons, no doubt) spots the enviable and dashingly intellectual Frank and, following him, joins his group therapy group under an alias. Why? You'd have to ask the writers (?) but my guess is that, as so often in modern "cinema," these same writers were neuronally overstimulated from MSG from all the Chinese take out that they ate during the day (or two) when the screenplay, for which they were certainly overpaid, was composed. And group therapy (arguably the exact opposite of the solitary task of writing-but not of the Hollywood group marketing that passes for writing!) must have just commended itself to them as a brilliant technical device to tell their story. Edith Wharton in the introduction to Ethan Frome tells of the necessity of having the stories of simpler people told by more intelligent or complex ones. I think something similar occurs in movies like this: the would-be complex and intelligent writers (usually paid for by oil executives that own the film conglomerates) choose (or are forced to choose) as their subject matter relatively simple and less bright "ordinary people." It is this leveling process that may be in part responsible for what Kurt Vonnegut calls the American tendency of "aspiring to mediocrity." In short, a must-have for the serious possessive romantic comedy collector.

Huge Stoltz Fan
I enjoyed this movie Ilaughed a lot and Eric seemed he liked the role he played.

This is a great film.
I loved this movie, and for some reason didn't see it when it first came out. My girlfriend made me watch it which is kind of a bad sign but I think for all the right reasons. Great acting and music, it's funny and kind of sadly weird too. I'd never heard of it, but now I'm showing it to my friends. ... Read more