Reviews (2)

GREAT MOVIE!!
I'm not a Tom Cruise fan but this gets two thumbs up! Saw it twice in the theater, and am gonna buy it on DVD and watch it again!!

Micheal Mann will do it again
I know this movie will be awesome this is a Micheal Mann movie. Just look at the list of movies he's made Manhunter, Heat (one of my all time favorites), The Insider (another one of my all time favorites), and Ali. In all Micheal Mann's movies there are alway's awesome plot's, plot twists and performances. Ten years ago Tom Cruise was an awesome bad guy in Interview with the vampire, and again Tom Cruise will be awesome as a bad guy. I know Jamie Foxx who is always good, and Mark Ruffalo will put on good perfomances. So be ready for a night on the town. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Very funny remake, It cracked me up
A remake of a 1955 Alec Guinness film, The Ladykillers transfers the action from London to America's rural South. Tom Hanks takes over Guinness' role. And directing duties land in the laps of O Brother Where Art Thou? masterminds Joel and Ethan Coen.

When good Southern church-going widow Marva Munson first lays eyes on Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr III, Ph.D., she's not too sure what she's lookin' at. Besides, she's pretty distracted by the fact that her seemingly dapper-if not a bit dopey-gentleman caller just let her beloved kitty escape through the half-open door. Once the feline is safely back inside (with Dorr's generous assistance), she learns that Dorr wishes to rent a room. She agrees. He gallantly informs her that he plays ancient Renaissance music with a group of colleagues, and requests to use her root cellar for practices. She can't see any harm in that-as long as they're not playing any of that nasty "hippity-hop" music-so the deal is struck.

What follows is part black comedy, part madcap caper and part morality tale. And it's spiced up by exceedingly vibrant characters. Dorr is an eccentric professor-type obsessed with dead languages and the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. He's the mastermind of the heist. Assisting him are Gawain MacSam (a trash-talking ne'er-do-well with a short fuse), Garth Pancake (a bumbling munitions enthusiast), The General (a grimly lethal excavations expert) and Lump (a decidedly dim-witted muscle-man).
"We really like the original movie," says Ethan Coen. "It's a strong story premise. It just has good bones. We ripped out the spine of it, kept that and threw out everything else."

Back in the '40s and '50s, when the Hays Movie Production Code was in place-and the original Ladykillers movie was produced-films were allowed to show criminal behavior only if it was done in such a way as not to make viewers sympathize. Consequences were big back then, as evil men generally reaped what they sowed. The Coen brothers' remake sticks to that ideal, and despite the film's cynically comedic underpinnings, moviegoers leave the theater thinking about what exactly the wages of sin are.

The Hays Code also barred the use of scores of profane and crude words. It's in this realm that the new incarnation of The Ladykillers goes out of control. Had it been released a half-century ago, throngs of outraged moviegoers would have literally ripped its prints from their reels to stop the ruckus. But forget decades-old social standards. Even applying modern artistic sensibilities, I'm left feeling that what I heard while I watched this otherwise masterful movie utterly destroyed its credibility, tore up every layer of its delicate nuance and scribbled haphazardly all over its colorful characterizations.

A disappointing, often unfunny entry from the Coen Bros...
I'll raise my right hand and swear that I'm a huge fan of the Coen bros. I savor every quirky moment of The Big Lebowski, I believe Fargo is one of the best movies ever made, and I think that Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing are classics waiting to be discovered. So why did I dislike The Ladykillers so much? I honestly don't think it was a case of being let down; even a lesser Coen entry (Blood Simple) has its interesting, entrancing qualities. So why is this movie so lame? It sure as hell starts off promising: Tom Hanks, as Professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, spews off Coen-esque words with innate skill and Irma P. Hall is hilarious as Mrs. Munson, the old lady who lets Dorr board in her home. They have a curious little chemistry, Dorr and Munson, and their scenes of dialogue elevate the movie. And then the real plot sets in, with supporting character after supporting character. And to boot, some of them don't even fit into the movie at all - Marlon Wayans is especially ill-fitting as a foul-mouthed casino-boat worker who seems to have no other purpose but give the movie an R-rating. But wait! Let's throw in some jokes about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, more cultural stereotypes, and a third act that drags on and on and on and what comes out is simply the worst Coen film I've seen. This movie could have been so much better, and in fact, it's not horrible. There's geniune comedy in it, but too often it's shrouded by the overly-confident directors urging us that we should be laughing our asses off at things that aren't that funny (black churches are hilarious! dumping multiple people into the river is funny even after the 5th time!). If only they'd deployed the subtlety and atmosphere that makes nearly all of their movies great. I wanted so much to like this movie, but when you're done with it after an hour, it's impossible. GRADE: C

So disappointing
I expected this movie to display the same sense of humor as "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", but I was sorely disappointed. There are some funny moments, but Marlon Wayans' unnecessary profranity is so jarring, it disrupts the comedy before it can get started. The best scenes are the dialog-free establishing shots where you'll enjoy the excellent cinematography characteristic of the Coen brothers movies. Second best is Irma P Hall's performance. She's wonderful, especially in her solo scenes or those talking to the sheriff. You really wish the Coen's had thrown away the script, fired all of the "ladykillers" and just rewritten the movie around Irma and the Mississippi setting.

Great movie - if without the swearing
The Coen Bros have offered another hilarious flick. Tom Hanks does a great job in the role as well. The premis of the movie is simple and a good entertainment value. I would consider purchasing this on dvd - if I could show it to my family. However I give it only 3 stars because of the unnecessary profanity which all but ruined the film for me or the family. IF it was release minus the bad language, I would be the first in line to own it.

Southern Comfort
The plot is meaningless : a band of amateur burglars are emptying the underground « money reserve » of an offland casino in Mississippi with a tunnel, explosives, etc. They start from an old black very christian lady's cellar, pretending to be a group of Renaissance or baroque musicians rehearsing there. Banal. The ending is just as surprising as all the different moments of this plot and it is not the main interest of the film. The film is interesting in two elements. First Tom Hanks plays the role of a cultivated scholar specializing in Greek and Latin literature and Edgar Poe's poetry. He is an ephete, sophisticated snob that has a very strong charm on the black ladies of this neighborhood. His acting is just perfect. Second it is humorous but in what I will call a « southern comfort » style. It is slow, calculated, yet inspired and impulsive, responsive too, and never in any way exagerated, always underplayed, more humorous innuendo than hilarious fun. This creates an atmosphere that does represent what Mississippi might be for some people : a contained and always understated and underestimated play on words, circumstances and situations. He who knows or has lived in the South for a while will recognize this slow flow of words and events, as if the climate was making life and the world crawl along, but in style and correct appearances. As for me, I think it is a little too slow at times. The best character is the cat, and this cat is no Fritz the Cat, and yet, maybe it is in a way.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Amazon.com

Readers of John Berendt's bestselling novel were bound to be at least somewhat disappointed by this big-screen adaptation, but despite mixed reaction from critics and audiences, there's still plenty to admire about director Clint Eastwood's take on the material. Readers will surely miss the rich atmosphere and societal detail that Berendt brought to his "Savannah story," and the movie can only scratch the surface of Georgian history, tradition, and wealthy decadence underlying Berendt's fact-based murder mystery. Still, Eastwood maintains an assured focus on the wonderful eccentrics of Savannah, most notably a gay Savannah antiques dealer (superbly played by Kevin Spacey), who may or may not have killed his friend and alleged lover (Jude Law). John Cusack plays the Town & Country journalist who arrives in Savannah to find much more than he bargained for--including the city's legendary drag queen Lady Chablis (playing "herself")--and John Lee Hancock's smoothly adapted screenplay succeeds in bringing Berendt's characters vividly to life with plenty of flavorful dialogue. In similar fashion to Warner's acclaimed DVD of L.A. Confidential, this classy DVD includes a behind-the-scenes documentary titled The Real People in the Garden and an interactive map tour of Savannah and its most celebrated (or notorious) citizens. The original theatrical trailer is also included. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Dark at "Midnight"
The echoes of Southern Gothic don't come much more gothic than "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," Clint Eastwood's flawed adaptation of the bestselling true crime book. While the movie only dips briefly into the genteel decadence of the upper-crust South, and the general air of Savannah, it does have its fun moments and good acting.

John Kelso (John Cusack) has come to Georgia to cover the famous Christmas party of the wealthy James Williams (Kevin Spacey). As well as Williams, Kelso ends up befriending a bevy of eccentrics, including some happy-go-lucky partygoers and the Lady Chablis (played by... the Lady Chablis), a drag queen with a mischievous sense of humor.

But things go wrong after the party. Williams' employee/boyfriend Billy Carl Hanson (Jude Law) is found dead after a fight with Williams -- and Williams seems like the most likely suspect. As a not-so-pleasant trial begins, Kelso sets out to unravel the mystery of what really went on that night, and what the truth behind Hanson's death is.

The biggest flaw of "Midnight" is that it is way too short for the material it stems from -- several years and multiple trials are compressed into a matter of weeks, and many of the endearingly freaky people of Savannah are given short shrift. Only the Lady Chablis gets enough time -- the guy with the flies and poison, for example, is touched on but never dealt with.

But as far as execution goes, much of "Midnight" is quite charming -- warm, sleepy and a little overgrown, much like the vision of Savannah it shows. Even a midnight voodoo session doesn't break the mood. And Eastwood manages to give us a charming view of the eccentricities of "Gone With the Wind on mescaline." (Exhibit A: The guy walking an invisible, deceased dog)

Both Cusack and Spacey do an excellent job bringing their characters to life: Cusack always seems a little out of the current, a realistic outsider, while Spacey exudes grace, charm and a sort of apologetic pride. Jude Law, for the brief time we see him, does a good job as the redneck hellraiser. And who can forget the Lady Chablis? Chablis is pretty clearly having a wonderful time (playing herself, no less). The one cast flaw is Alison Eastwood, who doesn't seem to bother acting.

While "Midnight of Good and Evil" fails to live up to its promise, it is a charming and funny look at the deep South. Well-acted but patchily adapted, this is an amusing movie if you don't expect it to stick too closely to the book.

A timeless piece of eccentric south
I have lived in the south all my life. Watching this movie reminded me of how beautiful and special this place is. Clint Eastwood's interpretation of John Berendt's piece of literary art was splendid in its own right. It reminded me of how rich our heritage is. The music, the superb casting (no one can deny the talent of the great Kevin Spacey) and the seemingly endless parade of characters kept me enthralled from the beginning. It's not often a film can pull at my heartstrings, teach me something about tolerance and history, reveal such beauty and amuse me at the same time. The movie so moved me that I read the book. Although somewhat different, each form was intriguing. I have just returned from Savannah. I was constantly reminded of the story of Jim Williams as I walked the squares and felt the history therein. This filmed turned attention once again to a wonderful magical place, the South.

I liked this movie...
...back when it was called "The Great Gatsby!" This movie (and book) is a thinly-veiled rip-off of The Great Gatsby.

One of Eastwood's best and funniest movies
For years I put off watching this movie because of lukewarm reviews, but when I finally rented it I was delighted by its surrealistic regional irony. In fact, I was laughing out loud through much of the movie. Granted, social satire tends to rely on exaggeration and stereotype for effect, but its humor succeeds most when it portrays characters in a sympathetic rather than derisive light. This movie succeeds admirably in that regard.

One complaint is that, as with many Ron Howard or Steven Spielberg movies, a bit of sentimental shmaltz creeps in at times, for example with the voodoo priestess character. Thank heaven at least they didn't cast Whoopi Goldberg in the role.

If movies such as "Fargo", "Best in Show", and "Eyes Wide Shut" left you more puzzled than tickled, then this movie may seem as slow and inactive as some critics accuse. Other critics bemoan that it doesn't do the book justice: I have not read the book, but I do feel that the movie stands well on its own. So much so, in fact, that I immediately went to Amazon afterwards and purchased it. For me, anyway, this movie is a keeper.

Not what I expected
I read the book when it first appeared on the bestseller list, and waited for the movie, holding my breath. The book was simply wonderful and deserved it's place as number one, but sadly, the movie was lacking. But there were some good points. Part of the fun of watching this movie is sorting out the real characters from the actors. John Cusack's role as a writer for an upscale magazine was an understandable, even essential fabrication to tie the events together with some dramatic continuity. How many people noticed Cusack's sister Ann in a brief walk-on appearance? One character that stands out, and I mean really stands out is Lady Chablis. If you watch this movie for no other reason, watch it to witness this highly unusual and sometimes hilarious real life personality who as a local entertainer still resided in the Savannah, Georgia area at the time of the DVD release. Again, for such a wonderul book, the movie didn't do it justice. One can only hope that McCrae's book, "Bark of the Dogwood--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens" does not suffer the same fate. ... Read more

Reviews (113)

Solid Acting
This movie is beautiful and painful to watch. It tries hard to live up to Toni Morrison's novel and succeeds in capturing many of the book's powerful images. The story's central characters are Sethe and Paul D., two ex-slaves from the "Sweet Home" plantation. Denver is Sethe's teenage daughter, the only of three (living) children who has not been driven away by the baby ghost in Sethe's house. Beloved is a strange young woman who comes to stay with the other three characters, stirring up memories of Sethe's horrible past. Acting awards go to Kimbery Elise as Denver and Thandie Newton as Beloved, who carry the movie with grace and strength. Denver is the movie's heart, and dares you not to look at her each time she crosses in front of the camera. Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Gay Hamilton do very well with the character of Sethe, portrayed at two different ages. Danny Glover is neither special nor offensive as Paul D. The story is easier to follow if you have already read the book, and might even then take more than one viewing to sufficiently grasp. The camera work is skillful, and the sets and costumes add very much to the film. Because of its style and three hour length, seeing this movie feels like watching a really good miniseries. It's an inspiring and artfully made film.

Loved Beloved
For those who did not understand or found it difficult to follow the story line of this hauntingly strange yet beautiful tale, I'm sorry for their loss. Had I closed my mind to this film after its first five minutes or because of the critics reviews, I too would have missed this powerful drama. Winfrey, Glover and the entire cast have my gratitude and respect for bringing Toni Morrison's story to film. Sethe, Paul Dee and Denver were wonderful strong characters. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. My eyes beheld Beloved and found it a beauiful well done work of art. Like many, I allowed the critics to discourage me from the theater and almost ignored it completely.

The shock of several scenes depicting the horrors and cruelity of slavery wained after my first several viewings, but I continued to find the story powerful, sad, joyous, strange and hauntingly beautiful. I can't seem to get enough and have returned again and again. My purchase of this movie will be a great addition to my most selective library of films.

This film has stayed with me. I though it should be given a chance and have asked several friends who also passed it up to view Beloved just for their opinion. It seems more people than not truly enjoy this film once they give themselves permission to view it with an opened mind and look pass the five second dog scene. It's a shame Winfrey, Glover and the entire cast were so overlooked for their contributions. This film should be given a second chance. What do you think?

Almost a masterpiece
It took me a long time to watch the movie Beloved due to the fact that it wasn't easily available in South Africa, I truelly enjoyed this movie and was really happy with the way it stayed true to the book which is one of my all time favourites, I've read the book so many times I even know most of the lines, I mostly was anxious to see the movie cos I wanted to see how they would manage to bring such a story to life, thankfully I wasn't dissapointed, the only problem I have with the movie was the casting of Danny Glover in the role of Paul Dee, I strongly feel that he spoiled the movie,they would have done better to cast another actor to the role, If you want to see poetry in motion(which I deeply believe the book is) then you have to watch this movie, Bravo to everyone(except Mr Glover but for whom I would have given this film 5 stars)who was involved in the making of this film. Well done for an outstanding protrayal of what I truely believe must have been the hardest novel ever to bring to life.

Didnt do the book justice
Oprah ruined the whole essence of the book with this movie. I was expected an oscar performance and got garbage. The book was poetic and explained the relationship between the family members, the relationship that blacks have with religion each other, slavery etc etc. The movie did not catch any of that. Most of the movie did not even make sense. I was sorely disappointed.

Love your heart!
I recommend you reading the book by Toni Morrison before watching this movie (which I did) because I can understand the flashbacks being confusing if you have not read the book by the Nobel winning author Toni Morrison. "Beloved" is about a woman named Sethe who was "married" to a man named Halle at the plantation "Sweet Home" during the times of slavery. Sethe escapes slavery and is beaten by some white men while she was pregnant with her daughter Denver, and the white men drank her milk from her breasts. The scar from the cowhide whipping still remains on her back after many years, and it looks like a cherryblossom tree. Her husband Halle saw the whole thing and went crazy because of the experience, and she never saw her husband again. She has her baby with the help of a white girl named Amy Denver who is going to Boston to get some velvet. Amy is the one who points out that her back looks like a tree, and Sethe names her baby "Denver" after the white girl. She goes back home to Halle's mom's house, Baby Suggs, where she has hidden her children. Baby Suggs is an inspirational Christ-like character who gives sermons on loving your hands, skin, and heart because no one else will love them. Her speech scenes are done beautifully. Paul D, a man from Sethe's "Sweet Home," comes into their lives. Sethe's baby "Beloved" is haunting the house.
Beloved comes back in the body she would have been in had she lived. Sethe finally finds out that it is her baby, and she reveals that long ago when the white men came to claim Sethe's babies as property, she killed all of her children except Denver so that they would not be brought into slavery.
It is a beautiful and touching movie, and if you have never seen Oprah act, you are missing something! Glover and Winfry are both beautiful actors in this movie. Don't miss it! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Very good movie, grab a box of tissues.
This movie was excellent, very sad but realistic about racism and how African Americans were not treated equally in the South. A great line from the movie that sums up the entire film is "when a white man dies, a black man has to pay for it", in summary. No matter who is actually guilty, whether there's proof or not, a black man must die. I don't think I'd want to see this movie again because it was very, very sad, but powerful. A great movie and I'm glad I watched it.

Faithful to the book
This movie faithfully captures the essence of the book and brings it to life. When I read the book I just loved it. Shortly after I finished reading the book, I found out that HBO was going to show the movie, but I didn't have HBO. So when I saw that it had come out on DVD, I knew I had to buy it. When I got it, I popped it in right away and WOW, I was pleasantly surprised. It followed the book very well and wasn't "Hollywood-ized".

I warn that this movie isn't very action-packed, but it's a great intriguing drama. I recommend it to anyone looking to see an intelligent, well-made movie.

Deals With Issues Much Deeper That Skin Color
I missed the first few minutes of this film, so I watched the rest not knowing if the convicted man was guilty. By the end of the film, it was no longer an issue...
The same appeared to happen with the racial issues presented. The open demoralizing of the blacks (by the whites) was soon overshadowed by the more personal issues of spirituality and self-esteem. One of Cheadle's finer performances, in my opinion, with equally impressive supporting performances.

This is a wonderful film, with a "Lesson" or two for us all.

Dreadful PC Propaganda
I'm a huge Don Cheadle fan, but this film is unworthy of him. [People] who claim that it's a story about racism either don't understand the film or don't understand racism. Basically, here's the plot: The character played by Mekhi Pfeiffer is an unwitting accomplice in a botched armed robbery that leaves three people dying on the floor of a grocery store. Rather than summon help for the others, all Pfeiffer can think to do is help himself to the money in the cash register. He is caught, and in the ensuing trial the prosecutor calls him an animal because of his depraved indifference to human life. That is supposed to be the psychological turning point in the film, because Pfeiffer's family insists on proving that he's no animal and can take his punishment -- in this case, death -- with his head held high. Yeah, right. Guess what? He is an animal, and if the story had involved all-black or all-white characters, racism wouldn't be an issue. A more compelling question: if Pfeiffer's family was so concerned with his "dignity," why didn't they teach him moral values in the first place?

Great Film Adaptation!
This was one of the best film adaptations of a book that I have seen in a long time! The film had a great cast and managed to capture the essence of the book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a story that's too flimsy to support its running time, this road-movie comedy has plenty of problems, but at its best it's a surprisingly inspired vehicle for the clever teaming of Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence. Robbins plays an addled advertising executive who comes home early one day and discovers his wife in bed with his boss. To make matters worse, he's later carjacked by a struggling, unemployed family-man-turned-petty-thief (Lawrence), and that's when he loses his cool completely. He takes the carjacker hostage and recruits him on a road-trip scheme of revenge against his wife and boss. Plotting to break into his boss's high-security vault, Robbins gets a criminal assist from Lawrence, but they're also on the run from another pair of would-be thieves who trail them to the vault's location. The routine plot is occasionally limp and sluggish, but writer-director Steve Oedekerk (who makes a wacky cameo appearance as a security guard) mines comedy gold during several scenes that detour from the plot for the sake of sheer lunacy. Robbins and Lawrence have great comedic chemistry (if you can tolerate Lawrence's constant profanity), and although the movie ends on a false note with some unlikely turns of fate, it's definitely good for more than a few solid laughs. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (37)

From Bad To Worse
In "Nothing To Lose" Nick Beam (Tim Robbins), a white executive from the suburbs of Los Angeles, is having a really bad day. To start with, he walks in on his wife in bed with another man. He's having a really rough time with his boss. And to top it all off, he gets carjacked by T.(Terrence) Paul (Martin Lawrence). Feeling he has "nothing to lose," Nick decides to turn the tables on this would be carjacker and take him for the action packed thrill ride of his life.

In this 1997 comedy, directed by Steve Oedekerk, you will get 98 minutes of gut busting laughs. If you like comedies with lots of action, hold-ups, high speed chases, and revenge, I would recommend this movie to you.

I give this film four stars because, while it is a very funny film, it does have a lot of foul language. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend this film for young people, or people who prefer to keep young sensitive ears.

Tim Correll's Nothing to Lose review
Tim Robbins (who is white) and Martin Lawrence (who is black) are great together in this movie. They committ a couple of robberies in Arizona and are mistaken for another white and black man (John C. McGinley and Giancarlo Esposito). Nick Beam (Robbins) hated Terrance P. Davidson (Lawrence) at first but he met the Davidson family and change his perspective completly. There are a lot of funny moments in this movie and (in my opinion) Nothing to Lose is quality entertainment. Die hard Martin Lawrence fans should definetly see this movie!

Absolutely funny!
I'm a fan of Tim Robbins. I saw this at the movies and just had to have it in DVD. The story is a typical buddy film but the chemistry between Robbins and Martin Lawrrence was priceless. The funniest line from Robbins in response to the real spider crawling on his head was, "I'm not up on all this jive talkin' homeboy lingo". This is a must see!

Odd couple vehicle for Robbins and Lawrence (He so crazy!)
This movie is basically an odd couple comedy. ONe man, Nick, is a successful white busines man and the other, T for Terrance, is a down on his luck black man. Not the most original set-up.

The plot starts of with Nick coming home only to spy his wife having sex with his boss (played by Michael McKean of Spinal Tap fame). He walks out of his house in a daze and just starts driving the streets of L.A. He come to a bad part of town, rap music now plays in the background, and is mugged in his car by T.

Well, the mugging doesn't go as planned. Nick maces T and keeps driving. They get all the way to the desert in remote Arizona.

From here on the rob together, fight, and meet up with another mixed crime spree couple. They get to know each each other and there are some fairly touching moments as they understand each other's background. You'll have to see the movie to see how it all ends.

I thought the movie plot was fair but a bit contrived as a vehicle for Martin's screwball antics. Fans of Martin should enjoy this flick. Also look for the clear-faced ex-Oxy spokes-girl Rebecca Gayheart.

MARTIN AT HIS BEST
IN THIS MOVIE, A MAN [TIM ROBBINS] DISCOVERS HIS WIFE CHEATING, THEN TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, HE GETS CARJACKED BY A THIEF [MARTIN LAWRENCE] THEN HE JUST LOSES HIS MIND. SUPRISINGLY FUNNY, AND MARTIN LAWRENCE AND TIM ROBBINS MAKE A VERY GOOD TEAM FOR A BUDDY MOVIE. IT'S FUNNY AND IT'S VERY FUN TO WATCH. I WOULD RECCOMEND THIS TO ANY MOVIE FAN THAT LIKES COMEDIES. A VERY FUNNY AND ENTERTAINING MOVIE FOR ALL. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No one with romantic tendencies will be able to resist The Love Letter. Campbell Scott plays a Civil War buff who buys a desk from that era. While polishing it, he discovers a secret compartment, in which sits an unmailed letter--a letter written by a young woman named Lizzie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) over a century earlier. Touched by her yearning for passion, he writes her back, egged on by his mystically inclined mother (EstelleParsons). Magically his letter reaches Lizzie and they begin a correspondence that threatens Scott's impending marriage but promises to bring fulfilment to Lizzie. The Love Letter is absurd, yet somehow that doesn't stop it from being completely engaging and even moving. Scott and Parsons are solid, while Jason Leigh is downright rapturous--the movie may owe its success to her. The plot has surprising twists and the conclusion is sweet and satisfying. An unexpected pleasure. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (11)

very nice story, a lesson for all

A FAMILY THING

Robert Duvall, James Earl Jones, Michael Beach, Irma P. Hall, 1995

Synopsis

An Arkansas man (Duvall) in his 60's finds out, after his mother dies, that his birth mother was a black woman, who died giving birth to him. He then goes to Chicago to find his half brother (Jones), who does not want anything to do with him. It is thru his Aunt T. (his birth mother's sister) that the two men grow to understand the truth of their relationship.

My Review

You can't go wrong with Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones. Irma P. Hall (grandmama from 'Soul Food') gives a great performance giving this movie that special boost that makes it worth seeing and talking about. The flashback scene near the end of the film is superb. An interesting and touching story.

MOVIE BY OUTSTANDING VETERAN ACTORS FOR EVERYONE
Oddly enough, I purchased this video from a bargain bin of pre-viewed tapes at a local video store. The cast led by Robert Duvall (Earl Pilcher Jr.) and James Earl Jones (Ray Murdock ) was enough to peak my interest. I had not heard of FAMILY THING until taking it home that evening. This is the poignant story of an intense midlife crisis lived through by an ordinary middle aged white Arkansan, played by Duvall. Head of an extended family, upon his mother's death Pilcher is handed her personal letter to him by their family minister. Her letter says, his secret birth mother was his adoptive mother's then taboo Black friend. Also, he has an older half brother Ray Murdock (skillfully played by James Earl Jones). This is how the story begins. A central character named Aunt T (Murdock's surrogate mother) is so well played by veteran actress Irma P. Hall that her not receiving a nomination for an Academy Award cannot so easily be explained as an oversight. The tensions, ironies and intense character developments interpreted by Duvall and Jones keeps this movie alive from beginning to its happily resolved end. It is too bad that censors in Hollywood were embarassed by common and infrequent street talk and a mild childbirth scene in a flashback. Making an optimistic guess, these innocent segments alone led to the movie's PG-13 rating. Yet it contains important social and family messages that should be received by all children (and adults). Having raised four of my own, my position would have been to allow my nine years old and older to see Family Thing on their own.

IMPORTANT AND WELL MADE MOVIES STILL CAN BE SEEN AT THE TURN OF THE MILLENNIUM. Family Thing is one of them.

One Great Movie!
To make a long story short, this is one awesome movie. I'm proud to own it on dvd. I highly recommend it. This movie plainly proves that we're all God's children, pure and simple!

EXCELLENT MOVIE -- A FAMILY THING
When my husband asked me to watch this with him, I was like "ok, there's nothing on cable, might as well". I wasn't really thrilled about watching it but to my surprise it is one of the BEST movies I have ever seen. Robert Duvall is super in this movie not to mention James Earl Jones. This movie really says it all "it doesn't matter your color...family is family, it's just A FAMILY THING. I give this 2 thumbs up and 5 stars.

Overlooked masterpiece
When I looked over the video box and saw the fine cast, I rented this movie expecting some enjoyable but fluffy entertainment. However, this sleeper turned out to be a true masterpiece, easily making my list of all-time best. Within the first few minutes, Robert Duvall gives us a study in fine acting when he confronts his father with the mother's letter about their long-buried family secret. And how many people would recognize the authentic Southern slang when James Earl Jones declares, "I ain't studyin' you!"

The only flaw I can find in this picture is the jarring music that inappropriately breaks the mood to introduce the final credits. But that's the only one, a millionth of a percent. I will snap up the DVD now that it is available.

Good story, great cast, engrossing from beginning to end. So why didn't this movie receive more attention? Was it because it isn't the kind that generates huge box office receipts? Was it moviedom politics? Or did the reconciliation between brothers who grew up on different sides of the color line make the p.c. types, the ones for whom injustice and victimhood are the only valid racial topics, uncomfortable? ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Another waste of people talent and production money
Why I say that? I see in movies over and over the same plot. This is just like 48 hrs. with Eddie and Nick. Chris Rock always gets lame scripts. Is like nobody has the time any more to write a decent script. What happen about telling a story with some action, romance or somehting. In certain old pictures people took the time to put a story together. Sir Tony Hopkins in this picture look like he was just walking through it. Chris Rock can play some serious roles if somebody put something together. But I guest in Hollywood it's all about the money now. Who cares what type of movie is out. As long they make their money back twice over. You know I think Sir Tony Hopkins only play in this movie to get another pay check. Especially since Mr. Hopkins has never played in an actually action film. Always serious roles. Like Tony Hopkins said he can't believe he is still working. I wonder if Sir Tony Hopkins only took this role because he never played along side a black man. Bad Company is horrible. ...

Better than I anticipated
From the reviews I heard, and read, I was expecting Bad Company to be a horrible movie. This movie was actually not bad. Granted there were some far fetched issues, like Anthony Hopkins running up flights of stairs in no time, but too me this movie was a good action comedy.

Chris Rock plays Mike Turner/Jacob Hayes. As Jacob Hayes, he is a bookie/DJ/hustler who is coming to terms with his ending relationship with Julia who after three years is moving to Seattle to move on with her life. Jacob is brought into the CIA to help finish a case his now murdered brother Mike Turner was working on. Agent Oaks has 9 days to make Jacob as polished and knowledge as Hayes to make the mission a success. Jacob is to help twart a possible suitcase bomb from getting into the wrong hands. As Mike Hayes he has to speak well, and well act like his brother without blowing the whole case. Turns out he can mix his street smarts and get over. He can't fool everybody though. When Nicole (played by Garcelle Beauvais) she knows right off he is not Mike. Jacob has to dodge bullets, and is ready to leave the case all together until His girlfriend Juila is kidnapped by the bad guys.

The movie had some great action scenes. Some of the comedic lines were out of place, but the comedic lines that did fit well in the film were funny. The scene where puts Air supply son "All out of Love" on in a club was very, very funny. Those folks in the club looked like they were about to jump him!!! Kerry Washington has a bright future if she keeps getting some good roles. Irma P Hall has a role in the film as Jacob foster mother. Michael Early also had a very small minor role, so small and minor there was really no sense in him being in the film. The same with Garcelle Beauvais her role was so minor I wondered if it was really necessary. Aside of that I really enjoyed this film, the movie is predictable at time, but interesting enough to keep you watching. I would actually rent this again.

If you enjoyed Rush Hour, or Enemy of the State then you should enjoy this movie.

Disney=Greedy Grubbing Grabbers
This review is NOT for the movie, but for the preposterous, boneheaded idea of EZ-D. It is up to us, the consumer, to make sure this illogical scam fails miserably! Why would you pay nearly seven dollars for a DVD that you can only watch within 48 hours after opening, when you can buy a new release-that will play forever with proper care- for about double the bones (sometimes less, if you look).
This is Disney's ill-conceived attempt to muscle out the rental market. Again I present the argument of price. It only cost me a couple of bucks to rent a new release. And some video stores have recent and old releases (but not new) for a buck for 7 days. If more rental stores across the nation would offer this, the EZ-D format would die the quick death it deserves. Do NOT buy anything in this format!! I've always suspected the evil undertone of Disney, and my suspicions have been confirmed. Hit 'em in the pocketbook, people!! You can fool some of the people some of the time, oh MegaEvilCorporation, but you haven't fooled me!

Throwing Nothing But Rocks
Bad Company is yet another attempt to put a new spin on the worn and weathered action-comedy buddy pic. Unfortunately, the film offers nothing new, and is only slightly watchable because Chris Rock is let loose every now and then.

After a top undercover CIA Agent is killed in the line of duty (Rock), while negotiating with terroists. It just so happens that they are holding on to a rougue nuke; Senior agent Oakes (Anthony Hopkins) decides to recruit his identical twin brother named Jake (Rock again) to complete the sting operation.

Poor director Joel Schumacher hasn't had very much luck lately. The last good film he turned out was A Time To Kill, ever since then, he can't seem to find good material. The script falls back on every tired cliche` Of course the pair don't see eye to eye, Jake wisecracks his way through as a fish out of water, and is afraid of getting shot. The villians are cardboard cut outs of what's come before. For his part, Hopkins seems like he knows he's in a bad film, and wishes he had said no to the whole thing. Despite the gravity of the situation--no one seems to care in the story. There's also not much tension in the film either. It seems as though no one had much confidence in this one anyway. At 156 minutes, all one really gets is a few funny one liners from Rock, that are good for a chuckle--that's it.

Not wanting to throw salt on the wound, the DVD only has one main extra: a typical 12 minute long behind-the-scenes featurette, aptly titled, "In Bad Company". A few sneak peek trailers are included for a lttle padding.

Rather than call the film Bad Company they should have called it Sad Company...Watch some of Rock's comedy concerts instead of this piece of trash. Trust Me. You will have a better time.

Rock is a crock and Hopkins is wasted, not good at all
with stupid twists and actions scenes and triple crosses, I thought this movie was a yawn. proably the worst from Joel Shumacher if not that but its right up there with his worst list. Rock is a total bore and he jokes arent great and Hopkins is wasted and never shouldve even been in this one. purely for stupid people. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Very funny remake, It cracked me up
A remake of a 1955 Alec Guinness film, The Ladykillers transfers the action from London to America's rural South. Tom Hanks takes over Guinness' role. And directing duties land in the laps of O Brother Where Art Thou? masterminds Joel and Ethan Coen.

When good Southern church-going widow Marva Munson first lays eyes on Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr III, Ph.D., she's not too sure what she's lookin' at. Besides, she's pretty distracted by the fact that her seemingly dapper-if not a bit dopey-gentleman caller just let her beloved kitty escape through the half-open door. Once the feline is safely back inside (with Dorr's generous assistance), she learns that Dorr wishes to rent a room. She agrees. He gallantly informs her that he plays ancient Renaissance music with a group of colleagues, and requests to use her root cellar for practices. She can't see any harm in that-as long as they're not playing any of that nasty "hippity-hop" music-so the deal is struck.

What follows is part black comedy, part madcap caper and part morality tale. And it's spiced up by exceedingly vibrant characters. Dorr is an eccentric professor-type obsessed with dead languages and the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. He's the mastermind of the heist. Assisting him are Gawain MacSam (a trash-talking ne'er-do-well with a short fuse), Garth Pancake (a bumbling munitions enthusiast), The General (a grimly lethal excavations expert) and Lump (a decidedly dim-witted muscle-man).
"We really like the original movie," says Ethan Coen. "It's a strong story premise. It just has good bones. We ripped out the spine of it, kept that and threw out everything else."

Back in the '40s and '50s, when the Hays Movie Production Code was in place-and the original Ladykillers movie was produced-films were allowed to show criminal behavior only if it was done in such a way as not to make viewers sympathize. Consequences were big back then, as evil men generally reaped what they sowed. The Coen brothers' remake sticks to that ideal, and despite the film's cynically comedic underpinnings, moviegoers leave the theater thinking about what exactly the wages of sin are.

The Hays Code also barred the use of scores of profane and crude words. It's in this realm that the new incarnation of The Ladykillers goes out of control. Had it been released a half-century ago, throngs of outraged moviegoers would have literally ripped its prints from their reels to stop the ruckus. But forget decades-old social standards. Even applying modern artistic sensibilities, I'm left feeling that what I heard while I watched this otherwise masterful movie utterly destroyed its credibility, tore up every layer of its delicate nuance and scribbled haphazardly all over its colorful characterizations.

A disappointing, often unfunny entry from the Coen Bros...
I'll raise my right hand and swear that I'm a huge fan of the Coen bros. I savor every quirky moment of The Big Lebowski, I believe Fargo is one of the best movies ever made, and I think that Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing are classics waiting to be discovered. So why did I dislike The Ladykillers so much? I honestly don't think it was a case of being let down; even a lesser Coen entry (Blood Simple) has its interesting, entrancing qualities. So why is this movie so lame? It sure as hell starts off promising: Tom Hanks, as Professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, spews off Coen-esque words with innate skill and Irma P. Hall is hilarious as Mrs. Munson, the old lady who lets Dorr board in her home. They have a curious little chemistry, Dorr and Munson, and their scenes of dialogue elevate the movie. And then the real plot sets in, with supporting character after supporting character. And to boot, some of them don't even fit into the movie at all - Marlon Wayans is especially ill-fitting as a foul-mouthed casino-boat worker who seems to have no other purpose but give the movie an R-rating. But wait! Let's throw in some jokes about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, more cultural stereotypes, and a third act that drags on and on and on and what comes out is simply the worst Coen film I've seen. This movie could have been so much better, and in fact, it's not horrible. There's geniune comedy in it, but too often it's shrouded by the overly-confident directors urging us that we should be laughing our asses off at things that aren't that funny (black churches are hilarious! dumping multiple people into the river is funny even after the 5th time!). If only they'd deployed the subtlety and atmosphere that makes nearly all of their movies great. I wanted so much to like this movie, but when you're done with it after an hour, it's impossible. GRADE: C

So disappointing
I expected this movie to display the same sense of humor as "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", but I was sorely disappointed. There are some funny moments, but Marlon Wayans' unnecessary profranity is so jarring, it disrupts the comedy before it can get started. The best scenes are the dialog-free establishing shots where you'll enjoy the excellent cinematography characteristic of the Coen brothers movies. Second best is Irma P Hall's performance. She's wonderful, especially in her solo scenes or those talking to the sheriff. You really wish the Coen's had thrown away the script, fired all of the "ladykillers" and just rewritten the movie around Irma and the Mississippi setting.

Great movie - if without the swearing
The Coen Bros have offered another hilarious flick. Tom Hanks does a great job in the role as well. The premis of the movie is simple and a good entertainment value. I would consider purchasing this on dvd - if I could show it to my family. However I give it only 3 stars because of the unnecessary profanity which all but ruined the film for me or the family. IF it was release minus the bad language, I would be the first in line to own it.

Southern Comfort
The plot is meaningless : a band of amateur burglars are emptying the underground « money reserve » of an offland casino in Mississippi with a tunnel, explosives, etc. They start from an old black very christian lady's cellar, pretending to be a group of Renaissance or baroque musicians rehearsing there. Banal. The ending is just as surprising as all the different moments of this plot and it is not the main interest of the film. The film is interesting in two elements. First Tom Hanks plays the role of a cultivated scholar specializing in Greek and Latin literature and Edgar Poe's poetry. He is an ephete, sophisticated snob that has a very strong charm on the black ladies of this neighborhood. His acting is just perfect. Second it is humorous but in what I will call a « southern comfort » style. It is slow, calculated, yet inspired and impulsive, responsive too, and never in any way exagerated, always underplayed, more humorous innuendo than hilarious fun. This creates an atmosphere that does represent what Mississippi might be for some people : a contained and always understated and underestimated play on words, circumstances and situations. He who knows or has lived in the South for a while will recognize this slow flow of words and events, as if the climate was making life and the world crawl along, but in style and correct appearances. As for me, I think it is a little too slow at times. The best character is the cat, and this cat is no Fritz the Cat, and yet, maybe it is in a way.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Description

A Girl Thing, Showtime’s hottest original mini series, consists of four separate stories featuring women dealing with life’s unexpected twists and turns. As the individual stories unfold, each of the women seeks advice from psychiatrist Dr. Beth Noonan (Stockard Channing). Facing her own personal struggles, Dr. Noonan assists each of the women in making successful transitions in their lives. Starring Kate Capshaw, Mia Farrow, Elle MacPherson, Stockard Channing, Linda Hamilton, Peta Wilson, and Rebecca DeMornay. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A great must see for all women!
I thought the movie was great! I recommend it to all women. The varied story lines containing the different situations were excellent because they showed the differing emotions that women face in different situations.

The whole lesbian scene was beautiful. The relationship between the two of them was just wonderful to watch unfold and develop. Kate Capshaw made a very believable and convincing bisexual. That made the scene even better. She's very attractive! I didn't like how the relationship ended though. I would have liked to see where the relationship could have gone. That scene in particular touched me and really made me think about how I would have reacted if put in that situation.

The second scene was hilarious yet touching. Allison Janney had the funniest lines. I don't have sisters so it was a little harder to relate, but it was still great.

The third scene hit kind of close to home, but at the same time, it didn't keep my interest as well as the others. As much as I liked the idea of getting revenge on the husband, I didn't like the way it was done. Mia Farrow was too passive, and Lynn Whitfield was too aggressive. It would have been better if Mia Farrow would have shown more interest in the plan to get back at the husband instead of being forced into it. Overall, the scene was pretty good. I'm glad the husband got what he deserved.

The fourth and final scene was disturbing. I still am not sure what was going on in Camryn Manheim's head. She really needed some help. The hostage situation was semi-believable. I especially liked the boldness of the coffee store owner. That was probably the best part of the scene.

Overall, the movie was an absolute joy to watch. I definitely recommend it!

Tasteful sex scene. Elle & Peta back to acting school !
Kate Capshaw is HOT! HOT! HOT! and convincing as a bi-sexual. Steamy lesbian sex but tastefully done with a superb score by Joni Mitchell. The only flaw with the first story is that if Elle MacPherson is so uncomfortable playing someone involved in a lesbian relationship, she should consider not undertaking similar projects in the future.

The second story about the three sisters is both hilarious and sweet. It reminds us all of the love that exists amongst siblings despite of nasty things we might have dished out to one other when we were young and silly.

Not much to say about the third adultery story except Lynn Whitfield and Linda Hamilton both have a long way to go before they could possibly hope to attain Mia Farrow's calibre of acting.

I loved the dry humour of the coffee house owner, and especially her courage, in the fourth story. Stockard Channing is, as always, a brilliant actress and acts as the conscience in the movie.

Overall, this movie is a "MUST SEE" chick-flick. However, I would strongly recommend that both Elle MacPherson and Peta Wilson take up acting lessons or go back to concentrating on their modelling careers!!

what could have been
I can watch Stockard Channing in anything

I can watch Camryn Manheim in anything.

Elle MacPherson and Kate Capshaw are, well, so beautiful it hurts.

This is an extremely badly written movie. Clearly, no technical assistance was received regarding therapeutic practices or what lesbians do in bed. Capable actresses can only do so much with this abysmal script. At times I cringed, really cringed. This could have been so darn good.

The sad part is, I still liked it and I don't have any significant reasons why. Except:

I can watch Stockard Channing in anything and

I can watch Camryn Manheim in anything and

Elle MacPherson and Kate Capshaw are so beautiful it hurts. I know they could do better in bed if they practiced!

A Girl Thing - Better than I expected
My favorite segments were the first two pieces, the one on the lesbian relationship and the other about the three sisters. I loved Kate Capshaw and found Elle MacPherson believable as a very uptight proper lawyer who lets public opinion ruin a heartfelt first love affair with another woman. I have seen Elle play a completely different, sexually loose character in Sirens. Because of this, I thought her uptightness was acting and not a reflection on how she feels about lesbian relationships. I watched the sex scene several times and what I saw emerge was that Elle had captured the tenderness between women in bed. At first, she is so hesitant, and then grows bolder and bolder with Kate Capshaw and then gives herself over to her completely, where she becomes "too dependent" and then withdraws from the relationship for 2 reasons. One is that the outside world does not welcome lesbian relationships, the other is that she has allowed herself to become so close to another, her fear of rejection takes over. The lesbian sex scene did not do justice to what could have been. I would have loved to have seen a sex scene where both women could have been directed to do what women do to each other to achieve orgasm rather than the motions that simulate sex between a man and a woman. At first I loved Kate Capshaw and then, once I let go of the fact that Elle has made her money mainly appealing to male sexual desires, I could see that she understands the tenderness between women.

Nice coverage of issues but not a lot of fun
This mini series is not what you rent for a night in with the girls...or a date. With a running time of about 4 hours, it's more a crash course in women's issues than a night of entertainment. Each segment does a good job of addressing some trial that comes with womanhood, but at times it feels like the story will never hit its climax. With such a bright cast, it's surprising that the acting can get quite atrocious. The film has its purpose and fills its role in addressing the troubles faced by women. Watching it just requires patience and a lot of free time.

Now, if you're thinking of renting for the lesbian content, things get a little brighter. When Elle Macpherson gets into it with another woman, how can you go wrong? The action is a little canned but there are some scenes worth watching more than once. If you're willing to spring for a rental with just an hour of lesbian content, it's worth watching. Even if it is with the sound off.

Bottom Line
Cuddles: **
Kleenex: *
Hotness: ****
Laughs: ***
Quality: ***
Due to the length, it's best to borrow ... Read more

Reviews (192)

Laughter is the best medicine
"Patch Adams" is truly a great movie in every way. Robin Williams plays as Patch Adams, a doctor who tries to be more than just a doctor to his patients, he tries to be a friend by making them laugh and by getting to know them personally. With his sense of humor, Patch Adams isn't like any other doctor. Doctors are known to be all business and to mainly be stuck up and to just get to the facts and then that's all. Therefore, when some of the people, mainly his roomate and the person who owns the hospital, notice Patch Adams's antics, they get angry about the way he does his job and they let him know about it. On the other hand, many of the doctors and nurses like Patch and think he is great for the hospital. But one thing's for sure, ALL of the patients like Patch a lot. Even though Patch is pretty old to be in medical school, he makes friends fast and develops a real important relationship with one of the female students at the school.

"Patch Adams" is one of the best all around movies I've ever seen and in my opinion, it's Robin Williams's best movie by far. Like usual Robin Williams is hilarious while he's doing his antics in the movie, especially when he uses a skeleton to talk to the woman he likes. But even better, he does his humorous tricks in the movie and gets to know the patients and the other people with a real passion and understanding that shines through and makes this Robin Williams's best effort ever, in my opinion.

Going to the doctor might not be such a hassle or a burden if there were more doctors like Patch Adams. "Patch Adams" is an inspirational and heartwarming movie that I recommend anybody to watch. Whether you like comedy movies, drama, or any type of movie, I recommend giving "Patch Adams" a try. It's hard to put into words how great this movie really is.

Helps kids realize that there is hope and not to give up.
There are two reactions that Patch Adams wants you to encounter: Those who are inspired by the true story of a troubled man who finds happiness in helping others and a man who's set on changing the world and who may well accomplish the task. And then there are those who feel manipulated by this story, who want to kill the young medical student, Patch, every time he begins his silly antics. Hunter Adams commits himself into a psychiatric ward, where he not only relishes the nickname "Patch," but learns the joy in helping others. Because all the joy he gets from this experience, he decides to go to medical school, where he clashes with the critisms of the establishment as he attempts to apply humor and humanity into his treatment of the patients. ("We need to start treating the patient as well as the disease," he declares throughout the film). Robin Williams, in his major role, is as charming as ever, although someone should tell him to broaden his range. His sidekick Truman, Daniel London, steals the show with his gawky allure and eyebrows that threaten to overtake his lean face; he seems more real, which is odd considering that Patch Adams does exist and this film is based on his real life. The major draw back of this film is that the good guys are just too good and the bad ones are just plain mean. Patch Adams, though, does provide the tears, the giggles, and the fun people who will keep you smiling until the very end.

Robin Williams in great Patch Adams
The always delightful robin williams once again delivers a heartwarming performance in patch adams, a movie based on the actual real life character named Patch Adams who also wrote a novel about his experience. This is a great movie by good director tom shadyac and includes a great cast including williams and philip seymour hoffman as patch's friend mitch.

Williams stars as patch adams a guy who comes to work for a hospital with several patients who are either very ill or whose doctors have done little to improve their condition. adams though, knows that the way to improve their patients is not through medicine but through goodness and happiness. in adams case, he brings laughter and joy using an unusual brand of humor.

In several instances, adams dresses and acts like a clown complete with a red nose. He entertains the dying patients in the hospital with his gentle heart and breathes new life and hope into them.

''You treat a disease, you win or lose, you treat a patient, i'll guarantee you ll win'' that great lines is Adams philosophy toward treating patients.

He sees that one of the main reasons the doctors have failed in improving their patients conditions is because several of the doctors are cold-blooded and unfeeling. The doctors fail to get know their patients intimately and fail most of all to make their patients happy. several of william's colleagues a guy named mitch and a girl name annie are skeptical at first, but after witnessing the improvement in the patients, they see that adams is just what the doctor ordered.

However, not all the people in the hospital is happy with adams. The main boss of the hospital (obviously jealous with adams amazing ability to relate and bring joy the patients) wants adams to quit or be fired from the hospital. i liked this movie very much not only because of williams performance but because of the message. in today's age with greedy HMO's, high medical costs and unfeeling customers service, todays patients don't really get the high quality medical care. Many doctors are rude and impatient with the patients, Nurses fail to get there patients personally and so forth.

Of course not all Doctors and Hospitals are cold-blooded are bad, but it would stupid to say that all of them are good, because they are not. If you turn on the news, there's always a news segment chronicle the bad service of a hospital or doctor, or a lawsuit against both.

So the movie is very fact based. It's actually based on the 1970's real life events of Hunter ''Patch'' Adams (Robin Williams), who founded the Gesundheit Clinic.
Williams does his usual great heartwarming , comedic performance that only he can do. This is a very great film. If you work in the medical profession, you'll probably learn alot.

If you're a Williams fan, you'll love it.

A novel approach to healing, a proven fact!
This movie emphasizes a known fact that humor is better than any medicine. Personally, I had my own Shaman named Jeff Rollins who played a big part in my recovery from elbow surgery four years ago as he kept me laughing and gave friendly encouragement. We all need someone like Jeff Rollins or Patch Adams.

Robin Williams was at his peak when he made this film; he was brilliant as a therapist with cancer patients and other terminally ill adults and children.

A couple years ago in downtown Knoxville, I quite by chance encountered a person out on the street (actually coming out of a coffee shop) dressed as a clown with a big, red nose. I asked, "Are you Patch Adams?" and was given a business card with a sketch of 'Poppy' on which he was quoted in 2000, "A smile from the heart is the essence of the universal language and shows our love of people."

It turns out his name is Wes Flener, a respiratory therapist from LaGrange, KY, here to entertain at a seminar at a local hospital. When I suggested that he visit the patients over at Children's Hospital across the street from his local destination, he presented me with a card "Good for One Laugh."

This movie follows the daily interaction between Patch, his associates, and the patients who need his help. Allowing the mentally challenged and disturbed Larry to join the mountain retreat as a resident was a monumental mistake.

PATCH ADAMS is an unforgettable story based on truth.

Laughter is still the best medcine
The movie proves that laughter is still the best medicine to cure one's loneliness and despair and Dr. Hunter Patch Adams is one of the few people who are agents of spreading cheers and hope to people. Patch Adams is no ordinary guy that you could meet everyday, he is one of the rarest person you can encounter. A person who never run out of cheers and good tidings to patients. Bringing hope to them and the unique cure of laughter to ease one's pain for the meantime. A person who's human spirit never give up to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor, and yes, a doctor of his own right.

This film will inspire, bring you joy and even, it could make you cry. A perfect blend of drama and sense of humor which you can find in this one fantastic movie. The script was well-written and very balance in terms of wit and sensibility.

I commended Robin Williams who played the inspiring life of Dr. Patch Adams. His role as Dr. Adams is absolutely fantastic and his performance is incredibly superb! he truly justified the character he played as Dr. Adams...flambuoyant, compassionate and free-spirited person. You will see a different Williams in this unique character. ... Read more

Reviews (192)

Laughter is the best medicine
"Patch Adams" is truly a great movie in every way. Robin Williams plays as Patch Adams, a doctor who tries to be more than just a doctor to his patients, he tries to be a friend by making them laugh and by getting to know them personally. With his sense of humor, Patch Adams isn't like any other doctor. Doctors are known to be all business and to mainly be stuck up and to just get to the facts and then that's all. Therefore, when some of the people, mainly his roomate and the person who owns the hospital, notice Patch Adams's antics, they get angry about the way he does his job and they let him know about it. On the other hand, many of the doctors and nurses like Patch and think he is great for the hospital. But one thing's for sure, ALL of the patients like Patch a lot. Even though Patch is pretty old to be in medical school, he makes friends fast and develops a real important relationship with one of the female students at the school.

"Patch Adams" is one of the best all around movies I've ever seen and in my opinion, it's Robin Williams's best movie by far. Like usual Robin Williams is hilarious while he's doing his antics in the movie, especially when he uses a skeleton to talk to the woman he likes. But even better, he does his humorous tricks in the movie and gets to know the patients and the other people with a real passion and understanding that shines through and makes this Robin Williams's best effort ever, in my opinion.

Going to the doctor might not be such a hassle or a burden if there were more doctors like Patch Adams. "Patch Adams" is an inspirational and heartwarming movie that I recommend anybody to watch. Whether you like comedy movies, drama, or any type of movie, I recommend giving "Patch Adams" a try. It's hard to put into words how great this movie really is.

Helps kids realize that there is hope and not to give up.
There are two reactions that Patch Adams wants you to encounter: Those who are inspired by the true story of a troubled man who finds happiness in helping others and a man who's set on changing the world and who may well accomplish the task. And then there are those who feel manipulated by this story, who want to kill the young medical student, Patch, every time he begins his silly antics. Hunter Adams commits himself into a psychiatric ward, where he not only relishes the nickname "Patch," but learns the joy in helping others. Because all the joy he gets from this experience, he decides to go to medical school, where he clashes with the critisms of the establishment as he attempts to apply humor and humanity into his treatment of the patients. ("We need to start treating the patient as well as the disease," he declares throughout the film). Robin Williams, in his major role, is as charming as ever, although someone should tell him to broaden his range. His sidekick Truman, Daniel London, steals the show with his gawky allure and eyebrows that threaten to overtake his lean face; he seems more real, which is odd considering that Patch Adams does exist and this film is based on his real life. The major draw back of this film is that the good guys are just too good and the bad ones are just plain mean. Patch Adams, though, does provide the tears, the giggles, and the fun people who will keep you smiling until the very end.

Robin Williams in great Patch Adams
The always delightful robin williams once again delivers a heartwarming performance in patch adams, a movie based on the actual real life character named Patch Adams who also wrote a novel about his experience. This is a great movie by good director tom shadyac and includes a great cast including williams and philip seymour hoffman as patch's friend mitch.

Williams stars as patch adams a guy who comes to work for a hospital with several patients who are either very ill or whose doctors have done little to improve their condition. adams though, knows that the way to improve their patients is not through medicine but through goodness and happiness. in adams case, he brings laughter and joy using an unusual brand of humor.

In several instances, adams dresses and acts like a clown complete with a red nose. He entertains the dying patients in the hospital with his gentle heart and breathes new life and hope into them.

''You treat a disease, you win or lose, you treat a patient, i'll guarantee you ll win'' that great lines is Adams philosophy toward treating patients.

He sees that one of the main reasons the doctors have failed in improving their patients conditions is because several of the doctors are cold-blooded and unfeeling. The doctors fail to get know their patients intimately and fail most of all to make their patients happy. several of william's colleagues a guy named mitch and a girl name annie are skeptical at first, but after witnessing the improvement in the patients, they see that adams is just what the doctor ordered.

However, not all the people in the hospital is happy with adams. The main boss of the hospital (obviously jealous with adams amazing ability to relate and bring joy the patients) wants adams to quit or be fired from the hospital. i liked this movie very much not only because of williams performance but because of the message. in today's age with greedy HMO's, high medical costs and unfeeling customers service, todays patients don't really get the high quality medical care. Many doctors are rude and impatient with the patients, Nurses fail to get there patients personally and so forth.

Of course not all Doctors and Hospitals are cold-blooded are bad, but it would stupid to say that all of them are good, because they are not. If you turn on the news, there's always a news segment chronicle the bad service of a hospital or doctor, or a lawsuit against both.

So the movie is very fact based. It's actually based on the 1970's real life events of Hunter ''Patch'' Adams (Robin Williams), who founded the Gesundheit Clinic.
Williams does his usual great heartwarming , comedic performance that only he can do. This is a very great film. If you work in the medical profession, you'll probably learn alot.

If you're a Williams fan, you'll love it.

A novel approach to healing, a proven fact!
This movie emphasizes a known fact that humor is better than any medicine. Personally, I had my own Shaman named Jeff Rollins who played a big part in my recovery from elbow surgery four years ago as he kept me laughing and gave friendly encouragement. We all need someone like Jeff Rollins or Patch Adams.

Robin Williams was at his peak when he made this film; he was brilliant as a therapist with cancer patients and other terminally ill adults and children.

A couple years ago in downtown Knoxville, I quite by chance encountered a person out on the street (actually coming out of a coffee shop) dressed as a clown with a big, red nose. I asked, "Are you Patch Adams?" and was given a business card with a sketch of 'Poppy' on which he was quoted in 2000, "A smile from the heart is the essence of the universal language and shows our love of people."

It turns out his name is Wes Flener, a respiratory therapist from LaGrange, KY, here to entertain at a seminar at a local hospital. When I suggested that he visit the patients over at Children's Hospital across the street from his local destination, he presented me with a card "Good for One Laugh."

This movie follows the daily interaction between Patch, his associates, and the patients who need his help. Allowing the mentally challenged and disturbed Larry to join the mountain retreat as a resident was a monumental mistake.

PATCH ADAMS is an unforgettable story based on truth.

Laughter is still the best medcine
The movie proves that laughter is still the best medicine to cure one's loneliness and despair and Dr. Hunter Patch Adams is one of the few people who are agents of spreading cheers and hope to people. Patch Adams is no ordinary guy that you could meet everyday, he is one of the rarest person you can encounter. A person who never run out of cheers and good tidings to patients. Bringing hope to them and the unique cure of laughter to ease one's pain for the meantime. A person who's human spirit never give up to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor, and yes, a doctor of his own right.

This film will inspire, bring you joy and even, it could make you cry. A perfect blend of drama and sense of humor which you can find in this one fantastic movie. The script was well-written and very balance in terms of wit and sensibility.

I commended Robin Williams who played the inspiring life of Dr. Patch Adams. His role as Dr. Adams is