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As revisionist history, Michael Mann's intelligent docudrama The Insider is a simmering brew of altered facts and dramatic license. In a broader perspective, however, the film (cowritten with Forrest Gump Oscar-winner Eric Roth) is effectively accurate as an engrossing study of ethics in the corruptible industries of tobacco and broadcast journalism. On one side, there is Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), the former tobacco scientist who violated contractual agreements to expose Brown & Williamson's inclusion of addictive ingredients in cigarettes, casting himself into a vortex of moral dilemma. On the other side is60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), whose struggle to report Wigand's story puts him at odds with veteran correspondent Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer) and senior executives at CBS News.

As the urgency of the story increases, so does the film's palpable sense of paranoia, inviting favorable comparison to All the President's Men. While Pacino downplays the theatrical excess that plagued him in previous roles, Crow is superb as a man who retains his tortured integrity at great personal cost. The Insider is two movies--a cover-up thriller and a drama about journalistic ethics--that combine to embrace the noble values personified by Wigand and Bergman. Even if the details aren't always precise (as Mike Wallace and others protested prior to the film's release), the film adheres to a higher truth that was so blatantly violated by tobacco executives seen in an oft-repeated video clip, lying under oath in the service of greed. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (233)

Exceeding my expectation
I didn't go to the cinema to watch this movie because I thought it's 3 hours length would have put me to deep sleep. Then, I reasoned the imposssibility of a director to dwell on an issue for 3 hours when we already knew beforehand that smoking is bad for you. Well, I will have to put my hands up in air & admitted defeat as this movie is compelling to watch. It could be the tightness of the script, the intensities of the main characters; played so well by Al Pacino, Russell Crowe (with his new found American accent), Christopher Plummer (a far cry from his Sound of Music day); brilliant directions by Mann; or semi documentary format of the movie. I had watched his previous offerings such as The Last of the Mohicans, Heat but The Insider would have to be my all-time favourite. I admired Wigand's bravery for standing up against the big giant corporation amid losing everything that he's owned, the loyalty of the Producer of 60 minutes for not hanging out Wigand to dry. Whilst it's true that in real life, that might not be the whole truth but the ideal is definitely worth reminding. One thing that niggled me would be Mann's usage of same actor & actress in his other movie such as Al Pacino (who could fault him?) & also the lady who played his wife in Heat, who played Wigand's wife in this movie. Highly recommended. Wide screen format is an extra bonus.

Of Smoke, Mirrors...and Truth
I enjoy a well acted and well written movie, especially if it's a true story, and most especially if the story is based upon a newsworthy event. For me, "The Insider" delivers on all accounts! I found myself completely captivated by this film from start to finish. It combines a compelling true story, sparkling performances by an all-star ensemble cast, an outstanding screenplay filled with sharp, crackling dialog, a beautifully haunting musical score, and cinematography which is darkly brooding. All add up to a taut and suspenseful real-life thriller.

This is the riveting tale of how the lives of two men - Jeffrey Wigand, the famous tobacco industry "whistleblower," and Lowell Bergman, a producer for CBS News' "60 Minutes" - become suddenly entwined in the maelstrom of one of the most controversial political and social issues of the mid-1990s: the conspiracy by American tobacco companies to enhance the addictive properties of cigarettes, and then cover up that conspiracy. It is the story of how one lone "whistleblower" publicly exposed the secret actions of the tobacco industry, and endured his enemies' public vilification for his efforts. It's also the story of how one of America's greatest and most respected news organizations, when confronted by the truth of that "whistleblower's" information, betrayed its own journalistic principles in the face of a threatened lawsuit by the tobacco industry.

This film abounds with superlative acting. Al Pacino delivers yet again a stunning performance as Lowell Bergman, the self-assured, still idealistic-after-all-these-years CBS News producer. Russell Crowe, nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Jeffrey Wigand, richly texturizes his character - in part a tormented soul, in part an easy to dislike cynical tough guy, and in part a dreamy idealist. Christopher Plummer brings a perfect blend of shirty arrogance and pomposity to the character of Mike Wallace. Other performances of note include Diane Venora as Liane Wigand; Philip Baker Hall as CBS News boss Don Hewitt; and Michael Gambon as Brown and Williamson CEO Thomas Sandefur.

If you enjoy an intelligent, fact-based movie, one that is unafraid to confront real and controversial issues, and one delivers a powerful message, you will most definitely enjoy "The Insider." It is a movie that I will view and savor...over and over again!

Saved My Life
Dear reader, I was a 5 packs a day man when the insider moved my insides and thus forced a desion from within my soul barren to quit this awful fart inhalation. Well I didn't quit but I changed from a Brown and Williamson product to a Philip Morris product and I now smoke the great Marlboro Reds(recommend by me).

But in our hazen discovery of the truth lest us not neglect our shakeperian duty to rise and fall like an empire of sand, liquid sand. dissolving me and you and the constipation and lts us have our deeply desired laxative, yes dear reader, a laxative is what THE INSIDER reminded me of and it is the best laxative of 1999. But crowe has acne, but I dug venora you know.

A superb thriller!
"The Insider" starts out slowly, but with arresting gravity, and snakes its way into a riveting, superb thriller. The acting is magnificent, the direction superb, the pacing precise, and the dialog riveting. It's a long movie, but you can't stop watching it. Everyone involved should be congratulated, for this is the telling of a complex story on film that captures multiple layers, human pathos, and modern paranoia, all equally effectively. A MUST SEE!

Doesn't really go inside
Quick camera movements and hushed dialog heighten the claustrophobia and paranoia faced by Russel Crowe, the putative hero of "The Insider". A former scientist for a cigarette manufacturer. Crowe's Jeff Wigand is already an outsider in the first few frames, and on the verge of losing a severance package negotiated to keep him silent about the workings of his ex-employer's marketing tactics. Al Pacino, a producer for 60 Minutes proves, at about the same time, that he's not afraid to put his personal saftey on the line for the story. Christopher Plummer is a surpisingly effective Mike Wallace. Unfortunately, this account of the dirty tricks the cigarette makers will stoop to to hide business practices that ensure continued addiction to smoking is undone by its own murky paranoia - just how do these menacing guys manage to hold onto their political power the way nicotine holds onto smokers? Least convincing is speed with which the editorial staff at "60 Minutes" caves into corporate pressure to dump the story. It's never really explained how guys who regularly face-off against government bureaucrats, corporate honchos and the leaders of terrorist factions in the darkest corners of the new century crumble like a house of cards before big tobacco. The film, by never explaining the stranglehold of the cigarette industry implicitly supports them - that the "big" in big-tobacco is a myth created by the self-righteous of the media and government to explain their own inability to deal with America's nicotine problems.

For all its murkiness, the film remains evocative, a collection of great scenes, like Crowe's epiphany in a hotel room, and Pacino's giving a hotel attendant long-distance instruction in the art of talking like Al Pacino. Remember this as the movie in which TV action fixture Wings Hauser played a lawyer for the tobacco industry. ... Read more

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Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction, but the casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker as buddy cops was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Although Chan fans may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung fu craft, Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that he had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of mediocrity.

Rush Hour 2 is easily recommended to fans of its returning stars. The action--and there's plenty of it--starts in Hong Kong, where Detective Lee (Chan) and his L.A. counterpart Detective Carter (Tucker) are attempting a vacation, only to get assigned to sleuth a counterfeiting scheme involving a triad kingpin (John Lone), his lethal henchwoman (Zhang Ziyi, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and an American billionaire (Alan King). Director Brett Ratner simply lets his stars strut their stuff, so it hardly matters that the plot is disposable, or that his direction is so bland he could've phoned it in from a Jacuzzi. At its best, Rush Hour 2 compares favorably to Chan's glossiest Hong Kong hits, and when the action moves to Las Vegas, the movie goes into high-pitched hyperdrive, riding an easy wave of ambitious stuntwork and broad, derivative humor. Rush Hour 2 is a palatable dish of mainstream comedy; it insults and comforts the viewer at the same time, and while some may find Tucker's relentless hamming unbearable, those who enjoyed Rush Hour are sure to appreciate another dose of Chan-Tucker lunacy. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT ME TO SAY? IT'S JUST SUPER!!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ACTION PLUS HILARIOUS COMDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hilarious Movie
Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan werre an excelent team in this movie. This movie is better and funnier than Rush Hour 1. The time and the setting starts in china and ends in the U.S.A. Jackie Chan was kicking [rear] and taking names later with Cris Tucker by his side. There were a lot of action and comedy more than Rush Your 1.

The plot was interesting because the one who in control over the Chinese mob fake moneyprocess was a friend of the father of the character Jakie Chan played. That person fooled both Jackie and Chriss by faking his murder. At the end Jackie found out and had to kill him. Also when Jackie Chan and Cris Tucker solved the case, they both went on a vacation.

Funny Up The Yin-Yang
Rush Hour: The daughter of a Chinese diplomat is kidnapped, and the FBI has no leads. Her father calls in Chinese detective, Lee, who knew the girl, but the FBI is afraid of him getting killed, so they call in LAPD officer James Carter to distract him. And distract him he does, because Carter has a lot more bark than bite. They can't stand each other at first, but they eventually become friends, and actually work together to save the day. This is definetly the better of the two movies, because of plot and acting, both of which were far stronger here.

Rush Hour 2: While on vacation in Hong Kong, a US embassy is blown up killing two undercover customs agents. Lee and Carter try to solve the case themselves, but that gets the lead suspect killed. Now they must secretly solve the case to avoid suspension. This movie is funny, but the plot is very, very weak.

Chan and Tucker: Duo of the Turn of the Millenium!
Two very entertaining films starring one of the best comedy teams
of all time: Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. One's all action and one's all talk. They are aided by a rich supporting cast over both movies that includes Don Cheadle, Tom Wilkinson, Zhang Ziyi, Jeremy Piven and John Lone. What more could you ask for?

HILARIOUS
These are my two favorite movies of all time. I love the comedy of Chris Tucker and the action of Jackie Chan...and when Jackie tries to be funny, and Chris tries to kick butt. They both actually have good plots and I can't wait to see Rush hour 3. And when you see these movies don't stop the tape right when you see the credits. Make sure and look at all the hilarious out takes. If you don't see these movies you will miss out. I have watched these movies over 15 times and I still laugh everytime I see them. These are the best movies ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

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The plot line may sound familiar: Two mismatched cops are assigned as reluctant partners to solve a crime. Culturally they are complete opposites, and they quickly realize they can't stand each other. One (Jackie Chan) believes in doing things by the book. He is a man with integrity and nerves of steel. The other (Chris Tucker) is an amiable rebel who can't stand authority figures. He's a man who has to do everything on his own, much to the displeasure of his superior officer, who in turn thinks this cop is a loose cannon but tolerates him because he gets the job done. Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction. It rehashes just about every "buddy" movie ever made--in fact, it makes films such as Tango and Cash seem utterly original and clever by comparison. So, why did this uninspired movie make over $120 million at the box office? Was the whole world suffering from temporary insanity? Hardly. The explanation for the success of Rush Hour is quite simple: chemistry. The casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Fans of Jackie Chan may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung-fu craft. On the other hand, those who know the history of this seasoned Hong Kong actor will be able to appreciate that Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that Chan had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of pitiful mediocrity. --Jeremy Storey ... Read more

Reviews (265)

An excellent DVD.
The Movie:

Chris Tucker is the funniest man in the world, in my opinion. It's too bad that the movies he acts in are always running to try and hopelessly catch up with him. One of the funniest things in cinema and some of the most enjoyable comic moments in the past few years have come from watching Tucker's performances. You can almost see his mind working in overtime trying to think up what to say next; and you never know what he'll say next. He takes the best of what Eddie Murphy used to be and just speeds it up a few hundred....thousand notches. It's just his looks of mock anger that always make me laugh. Never has anger been so funny.

He's joined by action star Jackie Chan in this film, which, although it's very funny at times, never really moves above the level of average, forgetable entertainment. Chan has done better "stunt-orientated" films like "Supercop" and "Rumble In The Bronx". In those films, he really shined with his mix of good humor and quick action. Here he's made to be more in the shape of the plot's need for humor and dialogue over stunts...not to say that there aren't any stunts; there are. It's just that they are a little few and far between.

The story revolves around a Chinese Console member who's daughter is kidnapped. Chan is brought in by the console member. The only problem is that the FBI wants to solve this case itself, and Chan's detective is not welcome. Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are watching Tucker's detective come to the realization that all he's called on to do is babysit Chan's detective. So, we start into the age old buddy cop flick.

Thankfully, this one isn't too bad. A nice script, some very good moments also from Chris Tucker when he's allowed to just improv his performance. Thank god Tucker and Chan liven up the proceedings; Chan has his usual array of incredible stunts, running up and down the sides of everything, kicking, doing it all; Tucker's mouth and Chan's quick feet make a nice balance of opposites. It's unfortunate that the direction is average, the plot is something you've seen all before, but it's through the performances of Tucker and Chan who make "Rush Hour" worth watching. It's nothing new, but when it works, "Rush Hour" is a whole lot of fun.

The DVD: Picture Quality: New Line has done a phenomenal job with the transfer of "Rush Hour". The colors of Los Angeles are incredibly vivid and just pop on this disc. Look at the reds in the Chinatown scenes or the colors of the neon at night. The color saturation is wonderful and there is no bleeding in the colors; the light from a neon sign looks perfectly sharp and clear. Speaking of sharpness, the images themselves are perfectly clear and sharp throughout the disc. There are a few instances where there is a small shimmering problem, but compared to a lot of the other discs I've seen lately, the shimmering in this disc isn't worth mentioning. Again, images are razor sharp throughout, there aren't any other problems at all with this disc. There are a lot more pros to talk about, though. Skin tones are 100% perfect. There is definitely no pixelization in the disc whatsoever, even in the low-light scenes or in the backgrounds. Black level in the picture is fantastic and contrast is wonderful. Shadow level is excellent and overall, this is a nice continuation of the New Line tradition of replicating the theatrical experience at home. There's occasionally a problem with otherwise great discs such as shimmering or what not and it takes you out of the experience. There's nothing on this disc that's problematic enough to take the viewer out of the experience of the movie and that's a sign of the very best DVDs. The 2.35:1 image is excellent. Excellent job, New Line.

Audio Quality: Impressive sound quality on this disc, emphasizing the sounds that added to the tone of fun on this disc and that's Lalo Schifrin's fun, urban and light score melding old R&B hits and current rap along with other wonderful bits and pieces of fun music to make an enjoyable score. The score fills the room and sounds full and clear. Dialogue also has that "same room" impression, recorded with clarity. There's a lot of impressive sound on this disc like the gunfire(director Ratner talks on the commentary about how he wanted to make the gunfire loud and emphasize it to make it "exciting"), which sounds great. The explosions also fill the room with great impact and force.

Extras:Now here's where this disc really shines: Commentary: There's an outstanding commentary with director Brett Ratner(who sounds at times sort of like Quentin Tarantino), who talks in depth wonderfully about the details of the production and working with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. It goes into the detail of working with the screenplay and building the stunt scenes. This is a commentary that really is exactly what I want to hear in a commentary: it tells the story of exactly what it took to get the story to screen, not just what's happening on the screen. This is a fascinating commentary and I recommend it as one of the best commentaries out there. There is also an isolated score(and it's a fantastic score) with commentary by the great composer Lalo Schifrin.

Documentary: Again, it's what I want to see in a documentary. The box calls it a "featurette", but "A Piece Of The Action: Behind The Scenes Of Rush Hour" is something I would consider a full documentary. There's a lot of fun going on in the interviews with the cast and crew, and it doesn't seem like a usual studio promotional documentary. A lot of the camera work is hand-held and it just seems like it was all done in fun and the fun that the cast and crew has carries over to the viewer. The documentary runs about 40 minutes and the last chapter is more in the way of the hilarious outtakes that ended the film.

Deleted Scenes: A short reel of deleted scenes that at the most, are about 1 minute. Nothing earth-shaking, but interesting to see. The reel is a few minutes in length.

Short film: Director Brett Ratner's very strange short film from when he was a student at NYU, "What Ever Happened To Mason Reese?". The film starts off with an intro from the director and commentary from the director is also available. The film itself....well, it's just strange, but it's nice to have on the disc.

Trailer: Of course, the trailer.(letterboxed at 2.35:1)

Cast/Crew: Very nice biographies of the cast/crew.

Music Videos: 2 music videos.

DVD-ROM: The screenplay, an interactive game and web links(available only to Windows DVD-ROM computer users)

MENUS: Sharp animated menus that start with a very funny piece of dialogue from Chris Tucker.

Grades: The Movie:A- Picture Quality:A- Sound Quality:A- Extras:A Menus:A Overall:A
This review was originally posted at the website "A Guide To Current Film/DVD".

Lots of laughs in oddball 'buddy' movie
Jackie Chan, the great Chinese action star, plays a Hong Kong detective at the time of China's taking control of the city. A friend of his is dispatched to Los Angeles in a consulate position, and Chan is summoned soon thereafter when his buddy's daughter is kidnapped by gangsters. The FBI, not wanting any interference in the case, arranges to pair him with one of the wildest cops in LA history. As played by Chris Tucker, he is also the loudest. This ploy to get Chan away from the investigation doesn't work, of course. As always, the FBI agents are made to look like they are sharing a brain. You've already guess that the two policemen get along at first like cats and dogs, but by the end of the picture, they are best buddies. Along the way, they solve the case.

As a comedy team, Chan and Tucker work well together. The quiet, low-keyed Chan plays straight man to the brash, outrageous Tucker. There are the usual ongoing jokes about cultural differences, but at least in this case, pairing a Chinese character with an Afro-American does create a lot of opportunity for humor. Opposing tastes in food is a good topic, as is the language barrier. There is also a running joke about our obsession with hand guns. Jackie Chan is hard not to like, while Chris Tucker has much in common with W. C. Fields, Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey. People either love him or hate him.

As is the rule in action comedy, the plot makes no sense. What carries the movie is the teaming of two actors whose personalities work well together. The special effects don't hurt either. There's an explosion every three minutes.

Lalo Schifin delivers a fine musical score. The set design is appropriately garish. A special thanks goes to Rush Hour's editors, who made sure it was short and to the point.

While Rush Hour is often entertaining, it does not measure up to a couple of similarly themed comedies - 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop - that were big hits when I was younger. Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

Jackie Chan needs to retire
This is not bad considering that most of Jackie Chan's movies are pretty much the same. That aside, story wasn't bad and there was some decent action scenes. Chris Tucker, however, does nothing but gets on your nerves with his irritating voice, bad acting and an IQ of a chimpanzee. In the outtakes, they show a scene that requires Chris Tucker to say two words in Chinese and he would blow it every single time. Talk about a dimwit

Rush Hour has great combos!
The idea of combining Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in one movie was a great idea! Jackie Chan does the main action while Chris Tuckers does the main comedy. Together they did a good job! The plot was good and the movie was so funny. I give it 5 stars for awesome action and nonstop laughs!

Great Entertainment - Funny & Exciting.
Rush Hour revitalized the buddy action flicks of the 80's and has become a modern classic. It is a movie in the tradition of 48 Hrs and Lethal Weapon, and like those two movies, it has perfect casting. Chris Tucker is hysterical in his best performance since Friday, Jackie Chan is in top form, complete with incredible stunts, cool martial arts and hilarious broken English.

The story is well-written and full of funny situations for both Tucker and Chan. Look for the scenes where Chan is in a predominantly black pool hall and Tucker buys some Chinese food from a cart. The chemistry between the two leads is probably what makes this movie so great. Great individually, but even better together. All this makes Rush Hour a guaranteed good time. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Worth Your Contemplation
This movie will make you think. What exactly are "rules of engagement" in battle? Can rules even apply to conflict?

Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson are both excellent as veteran Marine soldiers fighting the battle of their reputations. Incidents occur in Yemen that unfortunately result in civilian deaths. So who takes the blame? Soldiers. This film brings to light the willingness of civilian judgement against someone volunteering to fight for his country. I don't think a bunch of desk jockies should have that right considering they have never faced a loaded gun and a moment to make the decision of their lives. This film will make you think about your own judgement and about the information you receive.

William Friedkin directs this film with an easy hand, allowing the actors to carry the movie rather than a bunch of guts and glory. Although it was released in 2000 the events are very much related to today. Consider the court marshalls currently taking place against our soldiers in Iraq. Who is to say what rules exist for a young man or woman prepared to die. We know scapegoats exist if only politicians would take their share of the blame. Is it even possible to have rules when some people are immune to following them? Soldiers aren't playing a game that can be replayed for fairness, if they were none of them would ever die would they?

Stellar Performances Spark Thought-Provoking Drama
"Rules of Engagement" is a terse and tough drama that opens in the Vietnamese war and moves to the Yemen of today in a story that could easily have been ripped from today's news stories. Samuel L. Jackson is accused of ordering his Marine troops to open fire on a group of men, women and children who were allegedly peacefully protesting at the American Embassy, and murdering eighty-three of them. He enlists his Vietnam buddy, Tommy Lee Jones, to come out of retirement to defend him and save his career and reputation. The story moves along at a rapid pace, sparked by outstanding performances by Jones and Jackson. The many close-ups of their endlessly subtle reactions create a powerful effect and draw you into the drama. The story itself is thought-provoking and challenging in that it asks the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions regarding right and wrong in the Middle East. Blair Underwood is on deck to deliver an excellent two scene tour-de-force; he is well on his way to becoming one of our finest younger actors. Ben Kingsley and, especially, a notably de-glamorized Anne Archer, also provide high points. Director William Friedkin keeps things moving right along with his hand on the pulse of the story throughout. Well worth the time.

Engaging
The framework in which this story is centered around is quite compelling: an American embassy in a 3rd world country is being besieged by an angry and volatile anti-American mob. A security detail from a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) is called in to defuse the situation. From that point onward, utter chaos breaks out.

In this day & age the scene of the mob is sure to be quite gripping to any American viewer. This is especially the case given the fact that we've had several embassies overseas bombed in the past 10-20 years. Ever since 9/11 it has been exceedingly difficult to have a whole lot of sympathy for anti-American mobs, regardless of where they are.

While the film examines nicely some of the ethical intricacies of combat, the major flaw is that there is a rather large hole in the plot that even the least clever moviegoers will be able to point out. As the rest of the movie is pretty good, the best thing to do is to try and overlook this unfortunate inconsistency.

Another facet that strikes close to home is the cover-up attempts of the State Department. Not only is this plausible, but it is downright realistic. Few people with morals work for the State Department and the history of the department is filled with cloak-and-daggar silliness.

In all, this is an entertaining movie that compels one to think. It would have been a great movie, if not for the hole in the plot. It is a story that reminds us that the rules that govern war according to the Geneva Convention were written by lawyers who sat in the comfort of debate tables and not battle-hardened soldiers on the front-lines who get shot at on a daily basis.

Disgraceful!
This is a piece of disgraceful American jingoism, implying that all Arabs are evil, and that only the US can save the world. And the inference is that it's a true story - IT'S NOT! It's Stars and Stripes fiction of the most racist kind. And to cap it all, it's a huge waste of talented actors. It's the responsibilty of reasonable people to make sure that the young and naive never see this tripe. They could end up believing it's true.

William Friedkin is a Man of Honor
Within the sanguine moral abyss of combat, lies the grey zone. William Friedkin peels back the souls of men like a savage karmic banana, embedded with the shrapnel of moral ambiguity, the kind that fuels the war machine. And caught in the middle are the Marines, elegantly exemplified by the firebrand conviction of Samuel L. Jackson and the decency incarnate Americana personified by Tommy Lee Jones. Under the hands of maestro William Friedkin, "Rules of Engagement" proves that only honor survives amongst the ashes of men. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

WE WILL ROCK YOU
In time of crisis, nothing is better than the 'Panis et Circenses' politics. And the US government kwnew it for sure. So, in the late 20's, early 30's was created the Federal Theatre Project. Many treatre groups nation wide were sponsored by the government, as long as they staged plays that cheer the audience, which, by the way, was formed mostly by unemployed people. Later on, the Congress investigated the FT due to some accusasion of comunism. After a 20% cut in the sponsor, many plays had to close and many artists increased the number of unemployment. One of the plays most affected by it was "Cradle Will Rock", a pro-union musical directed by Orson Wells that is prohibited of being released.

Tim Robbins's movie uses the Wells's production as an 'excuse' to show us how art and politics can affect each other in many levels. The film is a wonderful American quilt with many tiny stories that little by little get togheter and creat a huge power over the audience. Besides "Cradle..." story, there is also the fight between Nelson Rockefeller and Diego Rivera over a mural painted by the artist in the lobby of The Rockfeller Center, in NY. The magnate went mad when he saw displayed in the painting Lenin's face. Another important pole of the movie is an ex-Mussolini's lover, who is in the US selling works by Italian geniuses, like Leonardo and Michelangelo, in order to get money to help Facism in Italy.

All there plots look a bit distant from each other in the beginning, but as the movies grows, one can notice how all of them are showing the power of the art and the artists over a society that is changing. Robbin's direction is very effective and touching. He shows how much he loves the artistic class and arts in genneral. But it is nothing new coming from one of the most political actors in Hollywood. The script mixes comedy, with musical and drama in perfect doses. Although the film takes some Artistic licences, they do not ccpromise the accuracy of the facts. By the way, as it is said in the beginning, it is 'based on a mostly true story'.

The cast is a huge who-is-who, and every actor seem to be perfectly fit in his/her part. Joan Cusack has never been so deliciously hateful. Susan Sarando has a wonderful Italian accent and we can notice how sad her charater is because she has to sell works from masters to get money. Vanessa Redgrave is wonderful as a theatre enthusiast. She shines every scene she is in. The most importat female role belongs to Emily Watson, who perfectly plays an unemplyed-turn-to-actress singer who has to deal with lack of money in order to survive. The male cast is also exceptional. Hank Azaria is wonderful as the composer Mark Blitzstein, and it is amazing to watch his creation process of the show. John Cusack is as hateful as his sister, playing Nelson Rockefeller. Bill Muray is perfectly melancholic as a ventriloquist.

If Karl Marx had written musicals instead of essays, he probably would have written something very close to " Cradle Will Rock", the play. It has an extremely polical tune. Once I read in an interview Tim Robbins saying that Emily Watson's character was the hero of the movie. But I'm not sure of it. I think she may be the most important, but it seems to me that the hero -- if it happens to be one-- is the ART, which is portrayed as having a power to transform society. It is a wonderful smart and touching movie, that needs be discovered. Another thing, how do you understand the ending? I could not come up with a conclusion. It is very open.

No Lenin -- Rather, Lennon...
This is a brisk, fun film in many ways, because director Tim Robbins understands that it is very difficult to be didactic and entertain. But, as Oliver Stone uses fast cuts and snappy dialogue so as to "keep it moving," Robbins does just that too; and -- also like Stone -- he employs an exemplary cast to great result.

Ramon Blades portrays Diego Rivera as a wryly perceptive charmer; John Cusack is a superficially sophisticated Nelson Rockefeller; Emily Watson is a poignant portrait in sadness as the actress actually "off the streets," Olive Stanton; Bill Murray is equally impressive as the melancholic, resentful vaudeville ventriloquist, Tommy Crickshaw; John Turturro is powerful and inspiring as the principled Italian immigrant who plays the union organizer in the radical Federal Theatre project musical that gives its title to this film. (And I must add an accolade for Corina Katt, who is Frida Kahlo: she takes a small part with only a few lines -- in Spanish, already! -- and you literally can not take your eyes off her when she is on screen.)

As I say, there is a great deal of "fun" in this film, yet its essential story is serious and sad. It chronicles the erosion of politically potent (meaning "radical") popular theatre into the (generally) escapist entertainment that pervades most American arts today. From "Lenin" (who does not "stay" -- as Rivera's Rockefeller Center mural attacking imperial capitalism is destroyed by a self-righteously indignant Nelson) we have declined to "Lennon" -- i. e., a song like John Lennon's "Imagine" is as "radical" as pop culture is likely to allow.

And note especially the masquerade ball sequence in which Nelson Rockefeller, William Randolph Hearst, and "Gray Mathers" (a fictional but representative steel magnate) discuss their scheme to exalt "individualistic" (i. e., ego-centered) abstract, scenic and erotic art at the expense of art with social purpose and a social conscience. If you wonder why there are so few good films that seriously critique our society and system (and so much silly, adolescent-oriented soft pornography), here is an explanation worth pondering -- as well as a movie worth seeing.

INTERESTING PASTICHE OF CHARACTERS, BUT TRIES TOO HARD
Tim Robbins' ambitious attempt to blend the spirit of a screwball comedy with the conscience of a meaningful film with a message. A dazzling ensemble of characters who are seemingly separate from one another but all their loose ends are woven back together at the end, just like in Altman's movies.

The subject I'd say is a bit cliche (Business = bad, Unions = good) but under proper direction could have been made interesting. Yet, Robbins chooses to apply such a hamfisted hand that it's difficult to get caught up in the story, despite the blistering pace at which he tells it.

Plus, the protagonists seem shallowly defined. Either they're good, salt of the earth sort of people, or they're insecure, lonely and desperate whistle-blowers (like the character played by Bill Murray).

At roughly 2.5 hours length, some judicious editing was in order, but despite the epic scale of the production and the calibre of the actors, this film ultimately winds up being little more than a overdrawn diatribe on the state of big businesses in the US.

Recommended rental perhaps for some neat camerawork, or perhaps the last 20 minutes that were without a doubt the most clever and entertaining bit of the entire film.

Will Rock You... Awake!
Where is class warfare now that we need it? In the 1930s, when most decent people feared a Communist in every closet, no one thought twice about the fascists and their capitalist allies despoiling the commons. Into this time stepped the

Federal Theater Project (an offshoot of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration), which provided outlet and employment for Depression-era artists. Too bad they were Socialists, too. If you don't know the history of the period, you'll miss a lot of this fascinating story. Cradle Will Rock reflects the title of an FTP production, a real musical written by the real-life playwright Marc Blitzstein (played by Hank Azaria).The anti-communist Dies Commission tried to close down the FTP because it criticized capitalism and harbored Communists. But The Cradle Will Rock opens defiantly in another venue, on June 16, 1937, when the original theatre is padlocked.

Getting to opening night is a fascinating, serpentine historical journey. Imagine this mix of personalities: Orson Welles (Angus Macfadyen) crossing creative swords with John Houseman (Cary Elwes), Nelson Rockefeller (John Cusack) trying to temper the revolutionist artist Diego Rivera (Ruben Blades) - a confrontation played somewhat better in Frida. And then there were other, lesser-known and fictional, characters, such as real-life actress Olive Stanton (Emily Watson), pining for a role; real-life Margherita Sarfatti (Susan Sarandon), passing the hat among capitalists like fictional steel magnate Gray Mathers (Philip Baker Hall) to support the fascist Mussolini; fictional actor Aldo Silvano (John Turturro), balancing his socialist theatre aspirations against his pro-fascist family; and the FTP director and advocate, Hallie Flanagan (Cherry Jones), who fights the good fight for survival against the Dies Committee and do-gooder Hazel Huffman (Joan Cusack). (Huffman is lusted after by jaded ventriloquist Tommy Crickshaw, played by Bill Murray).

It is gratifying to know we can still get a pro-union film produced in this country, even though a lot of films escape to Canada to avoid union rules and negotiated pay rates. Just to give you an example of why rights for workers are necessary, here is an excerpt from a 23 December 2002 news story:

"Last week a jury confirmed what labor activists have argued for years - Wal-Mart is a corporate criminal making its profits by illegally breaking wage and labor laws: `In the lawsuit, 400 current and former employees from 18 stores in Oregon accused the company of violating federal and state wage laws by systematically pressuring them to work unpaid overtime.' And this case is just one example, as Wal-Mart has been quietly settling other lawsuits by employees across the country. Globally, Wal-Mart's drive for low wages extends to contracting with sweatshops in developing nations that systematically violate human rights and workers rights."

Writer-director Tim Robbins has venerable liberal credentials, dating to the wicked satire Bob Roberts (1992), and he juggles all of these story lines with consummate skill. He and his excellent cast capture the excitement of putting on a show that might actually change minds, rather than just bring in spare change. There was a time in American history when some people were paying attention to what's good for American people rather than just American corporations. Cradle Will Rock is meant to rock you, not to sleep, as most entertainment does, but wide awake.

Brilliant Exploration of Art and American History
The only thing one can say after watching this film is WOW. Tim Robbins takes on such a wide range of issues and does it well. The cast is amazing. The subject matter -- Art/Censorship/Wartime Politics/Patriotism - is so relevant today. I wish the studios would re-release this and soon, before we wind up with an Ashcroft/Rumsfeld witch hunt related to Iraq and 9/11. Even without thinking of these larger issues, the movie is simply great entertainment. There's romance, drama, comedy, rags to riches sub-plots and history. Characters include Nelson Rockerfeller, WR Hearst, Diego Rivera, and Orson Wells. I mean this is ambitious stuff. If I taught high school or college American History, I would show this film as a teaching tool. Enjoy this film and hope that hollywood makes more like it. ... Read more

Reviews (311)

Man of a Thousand Faces
All I can say is if you want to laugh your pants off check this movie out. Jim Carrey, thus far, is at his best in Bruce Almighty. His comedic rapport bears similarities to his characters in The Mask and Ace Ventura, and there's no denying how funny this guy really is -- he is definitely going to join the ranks of all the great comedians, such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Soupy Sales (maybe I should just list the entire ensemble cast of all those 1950s movies, variety shows, and sitcoms), and a list too numerous to mention.

Supporting Carrey in the film are Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, and Sam the dog. This movie is also a touching film that grapples with the emotions -- the romance between Carrey and Aniston and the other issues in relation to the human heart.

Words can't really describe this film, but only that it is a must to see if you want to wet your pants or hyperventilate laughing. I guarantee if you're looking for humor, you will find it in this gem of a movie.

Jim Carrey "Carreys" on his rep
When i first saw the previews for this movie it didn't appeal to me at all, by i rented it the other day and i truly have to say, i enjoyed it, im not saying its a must go out and buy, but if your a JC fan maybe you should.

Divine Work From A Little Devil
Bruce Almighty reunites funny man Jim Carrey with his Liar, Liar director Tom Shadyac. The end result is another sprited collaboration that allows for Carrey flex his comic muscles and for viewers to a good time.

Bruce Nolan (Carrey) is about to turn 40 and feels that the world is out to get him. He has a job as a TV reporter that's going nowhere and not even his main squeeze Grace (Jennifer Aniston) can help him. After an encounter with GOD (Morgan Freeman), Bruce is endowed with devine powers, in order to see if he can do any better.

Carrey is allowed to do his thing, while still sticking to the story, and he once again proves that given the right material, he can really strut his stuff. Some sequences are genuinely the laugh out loud kind. Freeman, who rarely disappoints, and Aniston, prove that they can both hold their own with "rubber face" Shadyac and Carrey make a good team, and despite a few minor hiccupps, they have another winner here.

The DVD loses points for its skimpy extras. Sure, things are solid, but there's just not enough here. Freeman and Aniston are surprisingly absent from the festivities...and it shows. The audio commentary from Shadyac is good enough for some insight but would have benefited with comments from others. The Process of Jim featurette has the director showcasing Carrey on the set. Along with at least 15 deleted scenes and a few outtakes, there's certainly enough smiles to go around but...Topping off the extras are the usual filmographies and the film's theatrical trailer.

Bruce Almighty is a must see if you liked Liar Liar. Just forgive the powers that be for shortchanging the extras and you should be fine.

Delightful material!!
This movie is vintage Jim Carrey!! I laughed at almost every scene. The screenplay was structured properly and the roles were more on-point than any comedy I have ever seen. Carrey's hits include "The Mask," "Ace Ventura," "Liar, Liar," and it seems like we're use to all the lovable characters that he creates. There is no other comic that has the ability to bring joy out of you, make you laugh out loud, and make you cry all in the same instance.
One thing that will grip you is how the plot leaves you intrigued. Carrey plays the highly-spirited Bruce Nolan, a newscaster who gives the people the "lighter side" of news. Everyone appreciates his moral demeanor, except for himself. He has a promising relationship with his wife-to-be, Grace (played by Jennifer Aniston) and what keeps their relationship strong is how firmly she believes in him and has great faith in God. While Grace is spiritually motivated, Bruce feels as if God is "picking on him" because he wants the anchor job that his nemesis, Evan (played by Steve Carell) is picked to get. So when Evan gets the job, Bruce loses it during a "live" session and is fired from his job. He often seeks God (played by Morgan Freeman) to give him a sign and finally encounters Him. So in order to get what he wants from God, He endows Bruce with his powers to see if He can help others as well as himself any better. This movie is basically a testimony for those who have finally found a revelation and a relationship with God in the midst of their tattered life. You can also pray so much where you only want God to always meet your needs. God helps everyone.
Bruce finally realizes that he must be able to forgive and put others first before himself when he and Grace briefly separate and he almost loses his life. This a delightful tale and every scene is pretty much a riot. From the Latin thugs in the alley with the monkey, to the gibberish-talking Evan scene, Bruce Almighty is a heaven-sent comedy for the ages.

Much more than meets the eye
The first time I heard of "Bruce Almighty", I cringed in my seat. The very thought of Jim Carrey playing with the powers of God was enough to make me a little uneasy. There are very few movies of Carrey's that I would admit to liking, and I'd probably only admit to even remotely enjoying "Liar Liar" if you put a knife to my throat and refused to move it until I finally confessed. But not so with "Bruce Almighty". This is a film that, though goofy and a little rude on the surface, is really a thoughtful comedy about all the misconceptions people constantly have about God.

Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a news anchor whose career is simply not going the way he'd like. His nemesis Evan(the always funny Steve Carrell) is stealing all the glory, he's constantly late for work and, to top it all off, his dog Sam seems physically unable to go to the bathroom inside the house. Bruce is so frustrated with his life that he decides to turn his back on God, saying that he himself could clear up the mess of his life within five minutes, and that God is neglecting his job. Enter...God! Hearing Bruce's claims that the Almighty is unfit for his job, God(Morgan Freeman) willingly hands the reigns to Bruce, wishing him good luck. After a series of self-indulgences that cause serious unforseen consequences, including the loss of his girlfriend Grace(Jennifer Aniston), the only person who has ever totally supported him, Bruce finally submits himself to God's will, and learns to accept that the world does not actually revolve around him.

There are several clever innovations in the film. When Bruce discovers that he cannot possibly listen to all the prayer requests coming at once (in the form of terribly obnoxious voices in his head), he creates a database where he can read prayer requests in the form of e-mails. The name of the database: Yahweh. When Bruce lassoes down the moon for Grace, a huge freak tidal wave occurs in Japan as a result of "strange lunar activity". I'd talk about more of these clever parts, but I wouldn't want to ruin the film.

The DVD is loaded with neat special features, including exstensive outtakes and alternate/cut scenes, all of which are fun to watch, and a couple of which provide just a little more food-for-thought. There's even a short featurette showing alternate cut parts of Carrey's scenes.

"Bruce Almighty" is sort of a diamond in the rough. Though it's advertised as a wacky, crazy comedy, and looks like your typical Carrey vehicle-lots of chances for the star to use his outrageous facial exspressions(and there's plenty of that too)-there's really quite a bit more under the surface than there seems at first, leaving us with a fun, enjoyable movie that leaves you laughing as well as thinking. ... Read more

Description

When the truth becomes a weapon, power comes at a stunning price.Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges and Christian Slater deliver electrifying performances in this controversial, suspenseful and critically-acclaimed thriller that Ebert & Roeper and the Movies call "exciting and unusually intelligent, two very enthusiastic thumbs up!" Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot. ... Read more

Reviews (145)

The Contender
Joan Allen gives a tour de force performance in this first rate political thriller. Allen plays Laine Hanson, the first woman ever to be nominated for Vice President. There are many who want Laine out of the position, and dig up dark secrets to oust her.

Laine Hanson is accused of "sexual deviancy" for participating in an orgy while in college. When the secret is made public, Laine refuses to speak of the incident. "My past is just that. Mine." She continues this resolve as she is attacked vehemently on every aspect of her life, and persecuted until she is in danger of losing everything. The President (Jeff Bridges) still thinks that she is the right person for the job, and continues to believe in her.

"The Contender" is a tautly written drama with first rate performances from Oscar nominated Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges, and Sam Elliott, Gary Oldman, and Christian Slater do well in supporting roles. You will be on the edge of your seat as Laine staunchly upholds her beliefs and refuses to lose her dignity. Jeff Bridges is great as the President, giving a stirring speech at the close of the film. Ultimately, "The Contender" is about one noble woman's fight to have the right to choose and succeed in a man's world. Joan Allen is so unforgettable in this role, it seems impossible that Julia Roberts was the one who walked away with the Oscar.

Because it's political themes echo are own at the moment, "The Contender" did not do well at the box office. It is a suspenseful, powerful statement about America, with a cast that soars. See it.

EXPLOSIVE!!!
The vice president is dead, and the president (Jeff Bridges) is getting ready to make his choice for a replacement.

Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen in a role written especially for her) is the nominated choice, making her the first woman in history to hold the office.

Hidden agenda's explode, as the president's rival Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) plans to stop at nothing to keep Laine out of office.

"The Contender" is a riveting thriller, that depicts the lies, and manipulation used in the game of politcs. From the first frame you are glued to your seat; not knowing who to trust, or what lie will surface next, the plot twist and turns exposing one shock after another. For two hours you are entertained, as the movie culminates in a powerful, and satisfying ending.

Joan Allen is excellent as the senator; she lights up the screen with an intense, heartfelt performance. Jeff Bridges, in one of his best performances in years, plays president Jackson Evans, a man with his own agenda. Gary Oldman is magnificent (as usual) as the bad guy, Shelly Runyon. Also on hand are Sam Elliot, Christian Slater, and William Petersen in terrific supporting roles.

The DVD contains lots of extras including commentary with writer/director Rod Lurie, and actress Joan Allen, as well as many deleted scenes.

"The Contender" is one of the best films of the year, and a MUST own for thriller fans.

Nick Gonnella

Depends on your point of view...
...as to answering the question, "will you like this movie?". If you have liberal leanings, politically, you might very likely enjoy this movie. If you are of the conservative like, then you would probably not like this movie. If you can manage to take how you feel about politics out of your mind while watching this flick, you have great self thought control. Politics aside, this movie is not bad, though. I thought Jeff Bridges was likable and the rest of the cast did a better than decent job, acting. The writing, on the other hand, was at times ok, but at times a bit over the top (the final presidential speech, for example). If you sit on the left side of the isle, you will enjoy how conservative politicians are generally portrayed as hypocritical scum bags. If you sit on the right side of the isle, you will point to this movie as just another example of how the left mis-portrays conservatism to meet their own agendas. My rating is 2 1/2 to 3 stars

"CONTENDER" TRIES TO PUT DOWN CLINTON INVESTIGATION
"The Contender" was made by a former West Point guy who is a liberal, a rarity in and of itself. It does not take a highly liberal position, but it is not conservative. The film's message is that the right's overarching investigations into Clinton's sex life were intrusive, although it does not examine the fact that his lies came under legal oath.
The V.P. dies and a woman Senator is nominated to replace him. A rumor circulates that while in college she was gangbanged by a fraternity. She refuses to answer the allegations. A conservative Senator (Gary Oldham, who is actually conservative and later expressed dismay at script changes to make conservatives look worse than originally planned), opposes her because of her alleged youthful promiscuity. He is also in league with another Senator who he wants to get the nod. The President (Jeff Bridges) sticks by the nominee and after a few twists and turns she gets in. The charges are never publicly refuted, which is the film's message. She reveals privately that the gangbang story was false, and the moral is that politician's personal lives are not open season for the press. This resonates to an extent, but the timing of the film, in light of the Clinton scandals, makes it obvious that the purpose is to dissuade the public that Clinton's immorality is our business.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

Pretty bad
The Contender is almost a joke at times. The script is pretty poor, the acting is bad, it's just weird watching the woman jog through the cemeteries, and the premise was just unbelievable. The worst part was the president giving the speech at the end. What kind of president would give a speech like that? Even the parts in it that were essentially porn weren't that great. The only reason it gets two stars is because of the plot twist at the end. All in all, though, it was a waste of film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before hitting the big time with his second film Boogie Nights, young filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson impressed critics with this deftly conceived, low-budget film noir chamber piece. With its minimalist plot, deliberate pacing, and brief, but shocking bursts of violence, Hard Eight won't please everyone, but Anderson and his first-rate cast were clearly working on the same authentic wavelength. It's a mystery at first why a solemn professional gambler (Philip Baker Hall in a captivating performance) cares for a down-and-out loser (John C. Reilly) and a dimwit, Reno cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow). But his motivations become clear--and the movie packs a quietly effective punch--when the gambler faces blackmail by a small-time crook (Samuel L. Jackson). This unheralded film seemed like a closely kept secret itself, until it showed up on the 1997 top-10 lists of several prominent critics. In tandem with Boogie Nights, it marked the arrival of a new filmmaker whose talent is as impressive as that of that other '90s hotshot, Quentin Tarantino. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A nice Find
Hard Eight is one of those sharp character driven dramas that film fans will appreciate if they Like Paul Thomas Anderson in general. Anderson is the kind of writer that brings new things to life each time out. This time he finds a lonely gambler in his later days who befriends misfits. A great cast led my Phillip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly make the movie a treat and Sam Jackson and Gweneth Paltrow also show up for supporting roles.

The Special Features offer three scenes from the movie shot on video as part of a Sundance workshop. It also has two commentary tracks. The first one with Anderson and Hall is interesting, because Anderson is really funny and well spoken and has a lot of interesting things to say. Hall, on the other hand, drones on and on about character motivation and dynamics and sounds like a junior level college course on acting. Not to take away from Hall's performance which is top notch, but listening to actors talk about what goes on in an actor's mind is numbing.

Hard Eight is as interesting if not as ambitious as Anderson's later projects. If you like his other films, you'll do yourself a favor seeing this one.

compelling and heartfelt
My personal favorite of Paul Thomas Anderson's films, Hard Eight quenches my thirst with a good twist and ending. Boogie Nights and Magnolia seemed to me to be primarily centered around the characters (which is great in it's own respect), but both movies left me wanting a bit more. Philip Baker Hall stars this time as elderly lonesome gambler Sydney, who, for reasons unknown, helps two young confused kids find love and peace in the world.
This film deals with issues of regret, guilt and self-redemption as Sydney's generosity and charity is not as selfless as it may seem. And so we follow the daily lives of Sydney and these young adults, as their neuroses guide them into very unique situations which brilliantly outline the chaos they feel in their lives. The characters are sad, realistic, and evoke empathy from the viewer simply on maintaining their everyday lives.
The question that is raised is whether or not personal guilt of the past can ever be abolished by performing acts of kindness in the present. Can a man redeem his character even when he is in his 70's, or have his bad choices set the tone for his existence? Is covering up the past while refusing to deal with it head-on a detrimental decision? These questions are left unanswered in this compelling story of a lonely old man's attempt to clear his conscience.

SLICK
Move over Tarantino and Mamet we got a new writer director in town.Paul Thomas Anderson.Boogie Nights and this one Hard Eight
make him an easy competitor in the world of indie film-making
this movie is great.Philip Baker Hall finally scores a lead role
and does an outstanding job as Sydney,the kind,nice,and all to
calm and slick pro gambler who helps John(John C. Reilly)a down
on his luck chum.Then they become good freinds and we skip a head
2 years and we meet Clementine Johns new love played good as usual by Gweneth Paltrow and slick casino pro Jimmy played by
Samuel L.Jackson who is the standout.This movie crackles with
dialogue and your never bored because you never know whats gonna
happen next and we find out secrets about our nice freind Sydney
and from their it gets interesting.SEE IT NOWWWW

Too ambiguous and understated
Maybe I was born into a generation of short attention spans, but I just felt this movie moved too slowly. I understand that it's a character-driven drama and not an action flick, but I do now believe there's such a thing as too much subtlety. Ninety percent of the film consists of extremely drawn-out, quiet conversations between two characters, with lines no more than a couple of words long: "Cigarette?" "No thanks," etc. It seems too artsy and contrived. A lot of filmakers - I can't help but mention Tarantino here - use mundane, understated dialogue to act as comic bathos, or to develop character, but it doesn't work so well in Hard Eight.

That said, it still deserves at least 3.5 stars (rounded to four). Hall's unrelentingly phlegmatic Sydney plays so well off of Jackson's 'enobled thug' Jimmy; the scenes where they confront each other, Sydney doggedly trying to assert his principles, Jimmy exposing Sydney's hypocrisy and condescension, are well played-out. You have trouble deciding where your sympathies lie, which always good, and I was strangely satisfied with the ending as well. Also, it's such a short, simple and (in some ways) unpretentious movie that it's hard to judge it very harshly; it would be like condemning a nice little schoolhouse in relation to the Taj Mahal.

Hard To Stay Awake...
Don't get me wrong here. I am a fan of Anderson's work in general, especially Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love. But I just could handle Hard Eight. Usually Anderson's slower pace is a welcome change for me as I really enjoy character driven dramas. The acting was pretty good, but I just thought the script lacked anything of interest. Maybe next time, but I can't recommend actually buying this one unless you want a complete Anderson collection. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

From Evening World News this movie is so cool.
I remember hearing about this movie from the news and I missed watching the movie until now this move is very cool and it keeps you glued to the screen. I highly recommend this dvd.

It's the "War of the Worlds" as presented on TV...
As the reviewer below mentioned, this made-for-TV movie is loosely based on Orson Welles's famous radio broadcast in 1938. The broadcast was based on the classic 1898 novel "War of the Worlds" in which seemingly-invincible, octopus-like Martians invade and lay waste to England before suddenly dying from a simple Earth virus. Welles took this sci-fi story and turned it into a disturbingly realistic, minute-by-minute radio news broadcast of Martians landing in the New Jersey countryside and then moving towards New York while destroying everything in their path. Welles intended for the broadcast to be a ratings-boosting Halloween "trick", but many people thought that it was a real news story and panicked, packed up their cars and families and headed for the hills to escape the Martian "invaders". In "Without Warning", CBS-TV attempted to do what Welles did on CBS radio decades earlier: present a frighteningly realistic TV News broadcast of an alien invasion of the Earth. The two-hour movie is presented as a genuine news broadcast - there's the typical TV newsroom you see on CNN or Fox News; there's the team of anchorpeople giving updates (to add to the realism Sander Vanocur, a real reporter who's covered Washington politics since President Kennedy, was hired to play the anchorman); and there's the "live" satellite feeds from around the world as the evidence rapidly mounts that the Earth is being visited by not-so-friendly aliens. And the story is at least as frightening as the Welles version so many years ago. Originally, reports come in of a large UFO that's been shot down by the Air Force; an entire town in Wyoming suddenly disappears, with empty cars lining the streets and people's half-eaten dinners sitting on their plates; a zombie-like little girl is found talking what appears to be "nonsense" (it's actually a message from the aliens), then a missing skier in Europe turns up spouting the same gibberish; then large asteroids are spotted heading for the Earth's major cities, poised to destroy them; and the US military in a hurried press conference announces their plan to destroy the asteroids before they hit the Earth. I won't give away anymore of the plot (the ending is a real chiller), but this fast-paced film grabs hold of you quickly and doesn't let go until the very end. I saw this movie by accident when it originally aired, and although I wasn't "fooled" (I'm a big fan of Orson Welles' original broadcast, so I knew it had to be fake), this film nevertheless is chilling to watch in its realism. If there ever is an alien invasion of the Earth (which I doubt), then this movie probably gives an accurate portrayal of how the TV news media would cover it. Highly recommended!

It's what you've been waiting for!
This is the television movie that stirred up a lot of trouble for CBS in 1994. Despite repeated disclaimers every commercial break, many viewers really thought this was real. Sound familar? It should. The style is loosely based on Orson Wells' War of the Worlds radio cast, where the story is told through breaking news coverage.
I worked at a CBS affiliate and scared people kept calling wanting to know if it was real.
Anyway, this is a fun movie. It is not HAMLET and is a bit over the top at times. But if you get into the spirit of things you might occasionally feel a chill go up your spine. ... Read more

Reviews (311)

Man of a Thousand Faces
All I can say is if you want to laugh your pants off check this movie out. Jim Carrey, thus far, is at his best in Bruce Almighty. His comedic rapport bears similarities to his characters in The Mask and Ace Ventura, and there's no denying how funny this guy really is -- he is definitely going to join the ranks of all the great comedians, such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Soupy Sales (maybe I should just list the entire ensemble cast of all those 1950s movies, variety shows, and sitcoms), and a list too numerous to mention.

Supporting Carrey in the film are Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, and Sam the dog. This movie is also a touching film that grapples with the emotions -- the romance between Carrey and Aniston and the other issues in relation to the human heart.

Words can't really describe this film, but only that it is a must to see if you want to wet your pants or hyperventilate laughing. I guarantee if you're looking for humor, you will find it in this gem of a movie.

Jim Carrey "Carreys" on his rep
When i first saw the previews for this movie it didn't appeal to me at all, by i rented it the other day and i truly have to say, i enjoyed it, im not saying its a must go out and buy, but if your a JC fan maybe you should.

Divine Work From A Little Devil
Bruce Almighty reunites funny man Jim Carrey with his Liar, Liar director Tom Shadyac. The end result is another sprited collaboration that allows for Carrey flex his comic muscles and for viewers to a good time.

Bruce Nolan (Carrey) is about to turn 40 and feels that the world is out to get him. He has a job as a TV reporter that's going nowhere and not even his main squeeze Grace (Jennifer Aniston) can help him. After an encounter with GOD (Morgan Freeman), Bruce is endowed with devine powers, in order to see if he can do any better.

Carrey is allowed to do his thing, while still sticking to the story, and he once again proves that given the right material, he can really strut his stuff. Some sequences are genuinely the laugh out loud kind. Freeman, who rarely disappoints, and Aniston, prove that they can both hold their own with "rubber face" Shadyac and Carrey make a good team, and despite a few minor hiccupps, they have another winner here.

The DVD loses points for its skimpy extras. Sure, things are solid, but there's just not enough here. Freeman and Aniston are surprisingly absent from the festivities...and it shows. The audio commentary from Shadyac is good enough for some insight but would have benefited with comments from others. The Process of Jim featurette has the director showcasing Carrey on the set. Along with at least 15 deleted scenes and a few outtakes, there's certainly enough smiles to go around but...Topping off the extras are the usual filmographies and the film's theatrical trailer.

Bruce Almighty is a must see if you liked Liar Liar. Just forgive the powers that be for shortchanging the extras and you should be fine.

Delightful material!!
This movie is vintage Jim Carrey!! I laughed at almost every scene. The screenplay was structured properly and the roles were more on-point than any comedy I have ever seen. Carrey's hits include "The Mask," "Ace Ventura," "Liar, Liar," and it seems like we're use to all the lovable characters that he creates. There is no other comic that has the ability to bring joy out of you, make you laugh out loud, and make you cry all in the same instance.
One thing that will grip you is how the plot leaves you intrigued. Carrey plays the highly-spirited Bruce Nolan, a newscaster who gives the people the "lighter side" of news. Everyone appreciates his moral demeanor, except for himself. He has a promising relationship with his wife-to-be, Grace (played by Jennifer Aniston) and what keeps their relationship strong is how firmly she believes in him and has great faith in God. While Grace is spiritually motivated, Bruce feels as if God is "picking on him" because he wants the anchor job that his nemesis, Evan (played by Steve Carell) is picked to get. So when Evan gets the job, Bruce loses it during a "live" session and is fired from his job. He often seeks God (played by Morgan Freeman) to give him a sign and finally encounters Him. So in order to get what he wants from God, He endows Bruce with his powers to see if He can help others as well as himself any better. This movie is basically a testimony for those who have finally found a revelation and a relationship with God in the midst of their tattered life. You can also pray so much where you only want God to always meet your needs. God helps everyone.
Bruce finally realizes that he must be able to forgive and put others first before himself when he and Grace briefly separate and he almost loses his life. This a delightful tale and every scene is pretty much a riot. From the Latin thugs in the alley with the monkey, to the gibberish-talking Evan scene, Bruce Almighty is a heaven-sent comedy for the ages.

Much more than meets the eye
The first time I heard of "Bruce Almighty", I cringed in my seat. The very thought of Jim Carrey playing with the powers of God was enough to make me a little uneasy. There are very few movies of Carrey's that I would admit to liking, and I'd probably only admit to even remotely enjoying "Liar Liar" if you put a knife to my throat and refused to move it until I finally confessed. But not so with "Bruce Almighty". This is a film that, though goofy and a little rude on the surface, is really a thoughtful comedy about all the misconceptions people constantly have about God.

Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a news anchor whose career is simply not going the way he'd like. His nemesis Evan(the always funny Steve Carrell) is stealing all the glory, he's constantly late for work and, to top it all off, his dog Sam seems physically unable to go to the bathroom inside the house. Bruce is so frustrated with his life that he decides to turn his back on God, saying that he himself could clear up the mess of his life within five minutes, and that God is neglecting his job. Enter...God! Hearing Bruce's claims that the Almighty is unfit for his job, God(Morgan Freeman) willingly hands the reigns to Bruce, wishing him good luck. After a series of self-indulgences that cause serious unforseen consequences, including the loss of his girlfriend Grace(Jennifer Aniston), the only person who has ever totally supported him, Bruce finally submits himself to God's will, and learns to accept that the world does not actually revolve around him.

There are several clever innovations in the film. When Bruce discovers that he cannot possibly listen to all the prayer requests coming at once (in the form of terribly obnoxious voices in his head), he creates a database where he can read prayer requests in the form of e-mails. The name of the database: Yahweh. When Bruce lassoes down the moon for Grace, a huge freak tidal wave occurs in Japan as a result of "strange lunar activity". I'd talk about more of these clever parts, but I wouldn't want to ruin the film.

The DVD is loaded with neat special features, including exstensive outtakes and alternate/cut scenes, all of which are fun to watch, and a couple of which provide just a little more food-for-thought. There's even a short featurette showing alternate cut parts of Carrey's scenes.

"Bruce Almighty" is sort of a diamond in the rough. Though it's advertised as a wacky, crazy comedy, and looks like your typical Carrey vehicle-lots of chances for the star to use his outrageous facial exspressions(and there's plenty of that too)-there's really quite a bit more under the surface than there seems at first, leaving us with a fun, enjoyable movie that leaves you laughing as well as thinking. ... Read more

Description

An FBI bomb expert tracks down terrorists armed with exploding water. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Ron Silver, Ben Cross and Lisa Eillbacher. Year: 1992 Director: Christian Duguay Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Ron Silver, Ben Cross ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Highly recommended
"Live Wire" is a very good movie, a must for all Pierce Brosnan fans. There was a lot of violence, but it's a movie about violence, so I suppose it's to be expected. If you liked Brosnan before he was Bond, then get this video.

Live Wire is HOT!
Pierce Brosnan plays a very human bomb squad expert who is on the track of an explosive substance thats undetectable. His charector is also dealing with a marital seperation. Some of the scenes in this movie are some of the sexiest on film!

Brosnon is electrifying as a loose cannon with brains.
This movie is very underated, I happen to think it is better than every James Bond movie Bronson has made except for Golden Eye. Bronson's character in this movie has more depth than Bond's character which allowes Bronson to show of his acting talents and a wider range of emotions. In this movie he plays a capable, resoursful, tough, independent, bomb specialist. However, he is also a haunted drunk with a temper. Bronson's child drowned in a pool at their home while he was supposed to be watching her. The guilt has turned him into a hollow shell of the man he was. His wife has seperated from him and is now dating a senator who she works for. The senator, played by Ron Silver, is a great character. Silver does a supreb job of being sleazy and arrogant in this movie. The plot of this movie is unrealistic but intriguing nonetheless. Somehow a middle eastern terrorist/arms dealer has succeded in developing an explosive that exists in liquid form. For instance it looks like water but if you drink it you explode. The scenes where people explode are CRAZY!!! People get it really bad in this movie. The villian in this film is great, I have never heard of Ben Cross before and have never seen him in anything since this film and I do not know why since he plays such a great villian. His screen presence is astounding, he has even more presence than Brosnon. I lot of people gave this movie bad reviews but from reading what they wrote it seems to me that they had trouble following the plot. A lot happens in this movie very quickly and the plot involves a United States governent sponsored arms deal gone bad. In truth the movie could have spent more time detailing exactly what went wrong between the senators and the arms dealer (Ben Cross). Ben Cross's assistant is the guy who played the father on Ressecurtion Boulvd. (the Showtime orginal series about boxing) and he is good as a terrorist. I liked the fact that Bronson is pretty much the only good guy in the film, the senators are bad, and so is the arms dealer. Lots of intense action scenes, horrible death, etc. Good direction, script, acting, etc. The evil people in this movie get what is coming to them in the end, the senator especially.

One hot movie
Anybody who is a fan of Pierce Brosnan should definitely get a copy of the Unrated Version of Live Wire. It's worth the price of the movie just for the hot love scenes(and I mean hot!) between Pierce and Lisa Eilbacher.. .

BOMB
"Live Wire" wasn't able to make it into the theaters. That's because this is strictly second rate. The storyline alternates between being laughable and being predictable. Pierce Brosnan portrays a bomb expert who usually works for the FBI but also does some side work for the local police. His marriage is on the rocks because he allowed their young daughter to drown in the pool. How nice. The incident is shown only in flashback and seems almost trivial the way in which it is presented. Brosnan ends up becoming involved with an investigation into exploding politicians. Yup...that's right. Certain senators end up combusting in a big way after drinking what appears to be water. The end of the movie borrows more than a little inspiration from the TV show "MacGyver". This movie never really finds its place and contains your standard action sequences and rather poor special effects. Brosnan is much more impressive as Bond. ... Read more