Amazon.com

Originally produced for the Independent Film Channel, John Lurie's idiosyncratic take on the classical fishing program places the genre in entirely alien terrain--and that doesn't just refer to the strange and exotic locations. Best known to filmgoers for roles in Stranger Than Paradise and The Last Temptation of Christ, Lurie is also a composer, a saxophonist, the leader of the jazz group the Lounge Lizards, and a painter. Fisherman, however, is nowhere to be seen on his résumé, so this city-bred hipster's foray into rod and reel country is obviously another kettle of fish. Reeling in buddies Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper, and director Jim Jarmusch to join him on his fishing trips to such faraway locales as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Thailand, Lurie takes his show completely out of the "how to" realm: imagine a talk show defined by its contemplative silences. Fishing with John teaches nothing about fishing. Instead, John simply enjoys the company of his buddies as they venture out into unfamiliar territory and drop a line in the water, tossing in a current of absurdist commentary (dryly intoned by Roy Webb) and surreal speculation for good measure. This is the ultimate fishing show for people who could not care less about fishing. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (31)

a new perspective on fish, life, and everything in between
Awkward, and at times uncomfortable, John Lurie invites the viewer to accompony him and some rather amazing film and music stars on his extreme fishing trips. While going completely off target, and abandoning all sense of reality, Lurie manages to leave everthing behind except what is fundimentally important in life (whether you're Dennis Hopper, Tom Waits, or nobody in particular), and that is: well, i'm still not quite sure. Whatever it is, John Lurie has somehow caputered in these episodes...
Brilliant work...

But what about fishing with John 2: Peanut Butter on Cheese
I can't believe that it's been ten years since John Lurie made this series and it still holds up. Great comedy fishing show that isn't over-the-top. Its more crack a smile humor most of the time but certain episodes are clearly made just to make us laugh - the episode with John and Jarmusch comes to mind (every time they show a school of fish they use the sound effect of a bunch of children playing) - and other episodes - such as the one with Tom Waits - are more thought provoking. The locations that are used - Montauk, Vietnam, Canada - are all gorgeous and are far and above any run of the mill fishing show. Even if you aren't into fishing at all - this is the show for you. Its a fishing show that isn't about fishing at all - just a guy hanging out with his celebrity friends and occasionally catching some fish. That is, until he and Willem Dafoe find themselves snowed in and unable to catch anything and they go insane and die. There aren't any fish in that episode.

Fishing with bad movie.
Fishing, in general, is dull, which makes it a bad premise for anything. Nowhere in the Amazon.com review do the words funny, laugh, amusing, or good appear. The review describes it excellently, "imagine a talk show defined by its contemplative silences." What does that mean? It means don't watch this.

Life is beautiful,for some more than others.
This DVD is the next best thing to fishing.

an odd comedy and mockumentary
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition.

This is the first non movie released through the Criterion Collection. It is a short lived TV series, which is a satire of the saturday morning fishing shows which used to be popular.

Im this show, experimental musician John Lurie goes fishing with movie stars. There are 3 half hour episodes and one two-part hour long episode.

The special features are audio commentary by John Lurie and a music video of his band, the Lounge Lizards.

This show is one of the oddest comedies I have ever seen and completly out of the mainstream. Fishermen and comedians will both like this show. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

"Clove Oil? What are you, a salad?"
The title to this review is one of my favorite movie lines ever, EVER. This movie came out right before Steve Buscemi had a part in literally every movie that came out for 2 straight years. As cool as he is, I must admit I got a little over-Buscemi'd there for a while. This is one of my favorite roles he's done but the main reason I have always remebered this film is Seymour Cassel. His role as the fatherly, mysterious and awesomely spontaneous gansgter is pure freakin' genious. I've yet to see him in a role I didn't like but this has got to be one of his best. Another classic Seymour Cassel line: "20 minutes, what are they gonna do, read it in brail?" You'll just have to see it but trust me, if you even remotely enjoy films by Hal Hartley, Jim Jarmusch and the like, you will love this film.

"Every great artist had to suffer a little."
Adolfo Rollo (Steve Buscemi) is flat broke and the rent is due. He has only one precious possession to sell--and that is a 500 plus page film script of his epic "Unconditional Surrender." Adolfo places a 'for sale' advertisement in the paper, and someone responds. Adolfo meets the prospective purchaser Joe (Seymour Cassel) in his run-down hotel room. Adolfo wants $200 for the script, but Joe gives him $1,000 and offers to get funding to make the film. Now since Joe makes the offer in his underwear--without even bothering to read the script--it's obvious that something is wrong here.

"In the Soup" is a wildly bizarre comedy--there's not a normal character in the entire film. Jennifer Beals plays Angelica--Adolfo's prickly neighbour, and she has a few problems with immigration. Adolfo has a giant crush on Angelica, and wants to put her in his film. His relationship with Angelica is complicated by her bizarre, jealous, obnoxious French husband, Gregoire (Stanley Tucci). Adolfo's landlords are the singing Bafardi brothers, the owners of Bafardi's liquor. And then there are a couple of nudist game show hosts. Amidst all this madness and mayhem, Joe attempts to get funding for Adolfo's incredibly rotten film. Joe and his psychotic brother, Skip have some illegal methods to get the money.

I read several professional reviews of this film that stated that it was not funny. I must say that "In the Soup" was one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. For the first half of the film, I laughed practically non-stop. After about the halfway point, the film briefly lost some of its humour and took on a more serious tone, but then the humour quickly swung back into motion. Autobiographical events in director's Alexandre Rockwell's life inspired the story. Rockwell isn't too well known in America, but he also directed "The Wrong Man" story in "Four Rooms." "In the Soup" is inspired, original, wickedly funny, bizarre, and quite fantastic. Adolfo's life is going nowhere, and then he meets the unstoppable Joe. Joe is one of those people you never forget--although you can't quite fathom him either. Steve Buscemi as the loser Adolfo is marvelous. He seems to have a knack for these sorts of roles, but it's Seymour Cassel's film all the way. "In the Soup" could well become a cult classic, and it deserves a much wider audience--displacedhuman

Great wacky comedy
With a stellar cast including indie film fave (sorry for the chintzy language!) Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassell, Stanley Tucci, Will Patton, Carol Kane, and filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Alexandre Rockwell's In the Soup takes the tried and true tale of a guy wanting to make a film and manages to make this story decidedly fresh and original.

Seymour Cassell's Joe is a consummate con man who knows exactly how to squeeze, steal, and/or cajole money out of a whole plethora of situations. Joe the slickster with a sexy Asian girlfriend is a perfect match for Steve Buscemi's close-to-broke Adolfo the intellectual bumbler (who dreams of his neighbor Jennifer Beals' Latina Angela), whose 450 page film script--Unconditional Surrender--sends Joe into a rapture of delight at the prospect of financing a real film. Of course the way Joe raises the dough to make the film is not exactly, shall we say, kosher.

The juxtaposition of naivete, dream, imagination, and petty crime, along with Will Patton's menacing hemophiliac brother and Stanley Tucci's French ex-husband should be seen to be believed. This is one film that truly deserves to be on DVD. As of this writing (August 2003), it ain't. A shame.

A great picker-uppper, a lot of fun, and an all around hoot. Put In the Soup on your shelf. You won't be sorry.

Best Soup Ever!
I saw this movie when it came out in theatres when I was ten years old. Even at that age I really enjoyed it but not as much as I appreciate it now. I actually got to meet Seymore Cassel the second time I saw it. He was really great to take his time and talk to the crowd at the theatre. This was a really smart film. A movie about making a movie. I really hope this comes out on DVD. Some other great Seymore Cassel movies are Rushmore and the new release in theatres The Royal Tenenbaums.

Great Spirit!!
I accidentally ran into this movie on Bravo. It greatly potrays the innocence and struggle of a young artist, Adolfo Rollo, who wanted to create something unique-in the realms of Goddard etc. In contrast we find Joe, an old man of experience with a no-nonsense attitude towards life. Joe jumps into Adolfo's movie project- pretending to be interested in producing it- to exploit the young man's desires and half baked plans to his own benefit.

This is one of those rare jewels one finds by accident: the original and evocative music sound track by Madden, the original development of the drama, and the obsessions and misinterpretations of innocence add up to movie which is full of spirit and heart. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Finally...................but could be better.
Finally a film about Neil Young and Crazy Horse, but I have to agree with 'Young and Disjointed' (previous reviewer). I LOVE Crazy Horse. Neil and the Horse are by far one of the greatest live bands ever. But these are nowhere near their best performances. This movie seems to have been filmed mainly during the 1996 Broken Arrow tour. The band seems bored and Neil appears to be already moving on to the next thing but is stuck finishing this tour. There are some great moments but not enough to make this a GREAT film which it could be if performances from every era of Neil and the Horse were shown, such as some Danny Whitten gigs, Tonights the Night tour, Rust Never Sleeps tour, more of the Zuma tour. How come the great footage of 'Like a Hurricane' from 1976 all of a sudden cuts to the end of the 1996 live version just as the 1976 version starts to mesmorize? It's things like that that make the film disjointed. It could be so much better, and I think Neil knows it.

Crazy Horse & Jim Jarmusch: the wierd turn pro. . .
For the Rusties and anybody who wants to see what ordinary guys who happen to work in Rock & Roll do for a living this is a fine film. Jarmusch has inveigled himself into the band and comes off as one of the strangest people in the film (albeit that a groupie/fan/nutcase in one clip clearly is a brick shy of a load).

This is an avant garde film of working-man rockers and it shows what 30 years together means to these men ... if only by scratching the surface. Neil & Frank (Pancho) come across as very human and, quite frankly, I believe that this film contains about as much information about their lives and personal business that anybody outside the group ought to have access to. I know that these men have worked hard to stay honest to their muse, they don't back down from nobody and they do get up in the morning.

this is a masterpiece
One bandmate jestingly complains that some artsy filmmaker from NYC can't get to the essence of Crazy Horse (and what they've gone thru for 30 years) , but Jim Jarmusch gets as close to it as you can in 107 minutes. The band members open up, each individually interviewed in a basement with a washing machine in the background, in their hotel rooms, and on the tour bus. And the concert footage from different eras is often stunning. Some of the complaints below are essentially that the film is non-linear but these critics miss the point because this is an artists depiction of fellow artists and the artists he's depicting are masters of the psychedelic experience. It's NOT supposed to be linear. My favorite parts were Jarmusch's visual dipictions to go along with the music (far better than any MTV videos), they are simply stunning compositions, they are as true to the music as can be, they add to the music. This is a must for those into the artistic psychedelic experience. Roll one up, have a few bottles of wine, strap yourself in and enjoy the trip!

By the album instead
Although die-hard Neil Young fans will no doubt embrace every song in the movie, casual fans may become a bit bored. The song selection here does offer a few choice cuts that are not on the live Neil Young album of the same name, such as the rarely heard "Stupid Girl". And that's a good thing. However, a couple of cuts on this video, such as the the brash and tired "F*&kin Up", may make you reach for the remote.

As for the "documentary" side of things, the interviews between the songs tend to quickly become dull. Fans will learn nothing new, and casual viewers may be confused as to who these people are that are being referred to. The guitarist Poncho states snidely (and I am paraphrasing here), "You think you can learn everything about this band from this short documentary?" Then the camera cuts away leaving the viewer with nothing at all. Later in the film, he says almost the exact same line to the camera, perhaps forgetting that he said it before. The answer clearly is, "No, I won't learn very much at all from this documentary."

A saving grace for the video comes in a few short clips of documentary footage from the '70's and '80's. These clips show the band sometimes unaware of the camera, sometimes hamming it up. They're a great depiction of Neil Young and his band in their prime. They also represent everything a documentary film should be. Sadly, there are too few of these moments in this film.

The director does manage to sneak himself into the picture several times, along with the name of his production company (I think they're even in the trailer.) This should make it easier to avoid his documentaries in the future.

Buy the DVD "Rust Never Sleeps" if you want a concert movie, or buy the album "Year of the Horse" to get the music from this film instead.

Amazon betrays its buyers again
The video is fine. But Amazon's "marketplace" provider, a company in Canada, sent me a FRENCH version. When I pointed out the order had specifiec ENGLISH, they apologized for their error. Per their instructions, I return-mailed the FRENCH video June 28, almost 9 weeks ago. They claim the mail hasn't arrived and refuse to send me the correct ENGLISH version until the mail gets through Amazon won't do anything to help, nor will they let me post my "feedback" on the transaction. They claim I'm not allowed to post feedback after 60 days pass. I love Neil Young, I hate Amazon. I'll never shop here again. Watch out for the "A-Z guarantee." It's worthless. Their customer service employees probably used to work for Enron. ... Read more

Description

In the uproarious follow-up to the hit comedy SMOKE, Harvey Keitel (PULP FICTION) returns with a red-hot all-star cast that includes Michael J. Fox -- SPIN CITY, STUART LITTLE), Roseanne (ABC-TV's ROSEANNE), and Academy Award(R)-winner Mira Sorvino (1995 Best Supporting Actress -- MIGHTY APHRODITE). It's nonstop laughs when a wacky group of locals visits the neighborhood cigar shop, looking for good times ... and finding plenty of hilarious fun! But when the greedy owner threatens to close the shop for good -- and turn it into a trendy vegetarian restaurant -- the neighborhood proves they'll do just about anything to save their favorite hangout! Don't miss the highly original and entertaining comedy that had critics and audiences cheering! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting diversion from the Hollywood norm....
'Blue In The Face' chronicles a snapshot of life in Brooklyn NY. At the centre of this life is a cigar store that is frequented by a parade of weird and wonderful people. So that is it - there is no story line, or indeed it appears there is no script - just a series of 'situations' designed to be a wonderful showcase for the actors involved.

And what a cast of actors!!! Memorable performances by Lou Reed, Michael J. Fox, Madonna, Roseanne and a host of others make this movie a must see. They don't appear to have to operate within the confines of a script so their full ad-lib abilities shine. At the centre of the action is Harvey Keitel who gives a wonderful performance as the laid back cigar store worker.

Another fascinating angle to this movie is the inclusion of real Brooklyn residents describing Brooklyn and their lives. Even though the unstructured aspect of the movie makes for no story lines, it does seem as though it is a homage to Brooklyn and its residents.

The picture quality on this DVD is outstanding. Perhaps a little too soft in places, but otherwise it is hard to fault. No special features are included which is a shame. It would have been great to have interviews with the cast to hear their thoughts on the movie.

'Blue In The Face' is a bizarre movie, but with it featuring some very well known faces in roles they have not been seen in before, made Blue in the face riveting viewing for me. ... Read more

Description

R.I.P Rest in Piecesis director Robert-Adrian Pejo’s intimate portraitof painter Joe Coleman, who is known around the world as a shamanic,moral voice diagnosing the ills of 21st century America. Coleman holdsnothing back, telling us of a world wracked with tumorous cities,perversion, divorce, violence, atomic bombs, and a human racedestroying itself "simply because we are born. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Masterworks of a Victim Artist
R.I.P.
Rest in Pieces: A Portrait of Joe Coleman
DVD review by
Jaye Beldo

Back in the 1980's, I devoted much time and energy criticizing/denouncing Victim Art via such publications as Art Paper, New North Artscape and Art Muscle. My beef was that so called artists with little or no technical skills, dedication to craft or a willingness to actually create a work of art with any hint of lasting merit were really destroying culture and not contributing anything worthwhile at all. These talentless, spineless sycophants, who bitched about how oppressed they were (mostly by the so called patriarchy), intimidated art critics, with their sleight of hand tactics, into actually advocating their mediocrity. All the while, more authentic and dedicated artists who still adhered to integrity of craftsmanship and actually made an effort to create worthwhile things were being snubbed all across the board by the welfare agencies disguising as grants organizations. I had forgotten all about this futile crusade I went on until I received the Joe Coleman Rest in Pieces DVD from Disinformation Company.

It would be impossible to classify Joe Coleman as a prototypical Victim Artist because of his extraordinary technical skills, especially revealed in his consummate mastery of the one hair paint brush. His excruciating devotion to detail, nearly rivaling that of Ivan Albright, not to mention the vivid and astonishingly effective way he renders his subject matter, from Ed Gein to Edward Teller to teenaged murderers calls for a more thorough, well deserved scrutiny and even respect. In the Joe Coleman Opera section of the DVD, the camera pans over Joe's paintings were a bit too fast at times and I had to repeatedly hit the pause button so I could examine and appreciate Joe's devotion to microscopic detail. It really is staggering to partake of. The pain that the resulting images convey runs so incredibly deep that I had to step back from the role I've assumed as art critic and actually experience what Coleman so effectively paints. This has happened only one other time really, when I recently took in a German Expressionist exhibit in Milwaukee. The images (especially those of WWI and WWII) could only be critiqued with tears and not words. I could barely breathe when confronted with these images. Same goes with Joe's work. I found myself asking, between the gasps, if his painful articulations were liberating or imprisoning something within myself. The answer I got was that Mr. Coleman has made an obviously Herculean effort not only to reveal the darkness of our very own psyches, individually and collectively, but to actually FEEL it, something most commendable during a time when we are so anesthetized, Paxil-lated and Zolofted into an oblivion of indifference and dissociation.

While highly impressed with Coleman's Three Ring Circus of Horror kind of paintings vividly depicted on the DVD, I thought the exchanges between the artist himself and the filmmaker Jim Jarmusch were rather lame, especially their so called dialogue shot in some church, full of uncomfortable pauses/dead space, indicating that neither are very good at ad hoc improvising (nor should they be). Joe's performance art attempts also fell a little short in my critical book as well. He comes off as being somewhat self conscious and a bit stiff, not accessing the depths within him like he does so effectively in his paintings. Perhaps he needs a good acting coach of the caliber of a Grotowski if he wants to theatrically rival his own 2-D work and break through some residual character armor that shows when he is on camera. Biting the heads off of live mice surely will leave sanskaric imprints on his soul that he'll have to deal with in a future incarnation, in my karmic opinion. (Yet, on the other hand, look at what head biting has done for Ozzy Osbourne's career). The morbid bit of bravado he shows in the autopsy segment of the DVD also comes off as something contrived and pointless (although he would qualify for becoming an Aghori Yogi I suppose). In spite of these off- the- canvas shortcomings, Joe did have some very compelling observations to share such as parallels between Freud's Id, Ego and Super Ego and the Father, Son and Holy Ghost for starters, something I wish he would have expounded more in depth/length upon.

Joe should be awarded an artist's version of the Purple Heart medal for enduring the front lines of the pathological horror war of his own past and surviving to share his experiences of it with us. The R.I.P. DVD is really quite a paint stripping tease however, causing me to want to see Coleman's work in real time and real space. With his name now on the map and with stars such as Leonardo de Caprio buying his works, I suggest stepping right up and taking a peek at this mostly wonderful docu-DVD before his Coleman's works all disappear into various celebrity cloisters.

Like "Crumb" but with Joe Coleman!
If you like Joe Coleman, you are gonna LOVE getting your grubby mitts on this DVD! It's fantastic! It's obvious the director was hewing a little close to the "Crumb" line when this was made, but SO WHAT? It's awesomely funny, cool, insightful and yes, it has a cast of the weirdos surrounding Joe Coleman (similar to "Crumb" I mean to say). With Hasil Adkins, Jim Jarmusch and extras with foxy mama Asia Aregento. I loved this DVD, it's excellent quality, too, you can really see his paintings. Shot on 35mm for a high class package all around.

Disjointed Documentary
Being a fan of Joe Coleman's paintings I was looking forward to this DVD release of R.I.P. which originally came out in 1996. I came away knowing a little more about Joe Coleman's work, but in the end, this documentary lacked focus and was too disjointed for my tastes. Most of the film is Coleman talking about his world views, his views on art, and his views on his own paintings. There's also old footage of his performance art and interviews with friends of Coleman's. There's very little footage of Coleman at work showing how a painting develops over time which would have been interesting. Throughout the entirety of the film you see him working on a small area of a nearly completed painting. You also get glimpses of Coleman's "Odditorium" but overall the film gives you many bits and pieces without making a cohesive whole. The most interesting parts were the interviews with his ex-wives/girlfriends and with his current wife who is shown in a short segment as a DVD extra. For a documentary about such a wonderful painter, there wasn't enough focus on the art. Coleman fans will still find something to like in this DVD but overall it's a disappointment. ... Read more

Description

Film producer Sy Lerner makes a bet with a fellow film executive thathe can turn any nobody into a star at the Cannes Film Festival. A New York cab driverthat is visiting the festival is chosen as the test subject to settle the bet. Sy uses his skillsof hype and manipulation to try and turn the cab driver named Frank into a geniusscreenwriter and the talk of the town. Loaded with celebrity appearances, the film takesyou on a surreal trip through the world of the Cannes Film Festival like you have never itbefore. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hilarious trip to Cannes
I've been to the Cannes Film festival, and this film captures it perfectly - naked women on the beach and blowhards selling films, while celebrities cajole and cavort with each other. If you're a fan of filmmaking, look for cameos from the Director of the Usual Suspects along with Benicio del Toro, Robert Evans and others. The film is laugh out loud funny, and don't know why it took this long to be on DVD. Five stars.

Funny Film, Good Night's Entertainment
Sy is a movie producer who is in Cannes for the festival, as usual. However, he needs for someone else to pay all his bills there so takes a bet, that he can turn a young nobody seen on the beach into a credible writer that he can use to raise ...millions while in Cannes. Not a single word has been written but Sy sees that as no impediment to approaching every star in the universe to become involved in his movie, with virtually all of them saying yes, from Johnny Depp to Dennis Hopper to John Malkovich and so on. A hilarious, droll view at the film world that is light as a souffle. It won't stick with you but it is fun for a night. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hilarious trip to Cannes
I've been to the Cannes Film festival, and this film captures it perfectly - naked women on the beach and blowhards selling films, while celebrities cajole and cavort with each other. If you're a fan of filmmaking, look for cameos from the Director of the Usual Suspects along with Benicio del Toro, Robert Evans and others. The film is laugh out loud funny, and don't know why it took this long to be on DVD. Five stars.

Funny Film, Good Night's Entertainment
Sy is a movie producer who is in Cannes for the festival, as usual. However, he needs for someone else to pay all his bills there so takes a bet, that he can turn a young nobody seen on the beach into a credible writer that he can use to raise ...millions while in Cannes. Not a single word has been written but Sy sees that as no impediment to approaching every star in the universe to become involved in his movie, with virtually all of them saying yes, from Johnny Depp to Dennis Hopper to John Malkovich and so on. A hilarious, droll view at the film world that is light as a souffle. It won't stick with you but it is fun for a night. ... Read more

Description

In 1954, legendary filmmaker Samuel Fuller (PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, SHOCK CORRIDOR) was sent by 20th Century Fox to the most remote regions of the Amazon to scout locations for his upcoming film TIGRERO!, a rousing adventure tale that was to star John Wayne, Ava Gardner and Tyrone Power. Fuller brought with him 75 cigars, two cases of whiskey, a gun, and a 16mm camera. There Fuller befriended the Karaja Indians, lived with them, and photographed their ceremonies and way of life. Reluctantly, Fuller returned to Hollywood but the film was never made.

Forty years later, Sam Fuller returns to the Brazilian jungle, bringing with him his friend and fellow filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (DEAD MAN, DOWN BY LAW), a camera crew and the footage he'd shot those many years earlier. The ultimate storyteller, Sam tells Jim about his time with the Karaja, his career in Hollywood and his unique philosophy of life. They show the Karaja the footage Sam shot, conjuring up their friends and loved ones, some who's faces they haven't seen for decades. TIGRERO: A FILM THAT WAS NEVER MADE is priceless travelogue, a meditation on the power of film and the magic of memory, and a loving portrait of a gentle and spiritual culture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice B movie of the 60'd biker gang
Northern California 1967, Archie also known as Bad Trip is a newly inducted member of a 60's biker gand known as The Cannibals. After stealing a bike from one of the members, Archie is given 30 minutes to escape after which he will be hunted by the gang. ... Read more

Description

The history of Hollywood and filmmaking comes alive in this spectacular nine hour celebration of movie magic. It's a mesmerizing, epic analysis that combines rare archival film, key scenes from immortal movies, interviews with leading filmmakers and commentary from noted film scholars and critics. As seen on PBS, this highly acclaimed series is the definitive chronicle of the American cinema, from its beginning to today. Includes interviews with Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Spike Lee, George Lucas, Sidney Lumet, Julia Roberts, Martin Scorsese, Gene Siskel, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and many more! Episodes: The Hollywood Style, The Star, Romantic Comedy, Film Noir, The Western, The Combat Film, The Studio System, Film in the Television Age, The Film School Generation, The Edge of Hollywood. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Accessable and Lively Film History
I use this set for film and history classes because the references are fresh and available to those whose have interest but little knowledge. The absence of academic vocabulary may by off-putting to some, but it makes the viewer feel well-informed and well-entertained at the same time. My idea of education!

Misses ONE Major aspect of American Cinema
Animation. Even Orsen Welles has said on numerous occasions that the single biggest influence on his visual approach to Citizen Kane was Walt Disney's Pinocchio. Disney's impact on cinema with his specific use of sound and especially Technicolor,and its ability of color to support the dramatic stories he told must not be underestimated. Disney even had exclusive rights to 3 strip Technicolor for a number of years. The "integrated" movie musical BEGAN with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and was immediatly co-opted by MGM in it's succesful slew of musical movies. Why he is virtually entirely missing from this documentary is quite simply shocking. Otherwise, it's a fun watch.

The Cheapest Film Class You'll Ever Take
Writing a screenplay? Trying to do an indie? This set TOUCHES on 100's of important (sometimes obscure) American films...just enough to make you want to find some of them for further study and ignore others. You will see, within catagories or timelines, snippets, some brief but some several minutes, give you the highlights, the substance.

This is NOT MGM's "That's Entertainment".

This IS a series of entertaining, lucid programs that follow like film school seminars but are easily understood by even the most casual viewer. Note, the series does not play to the lowest common denominator. A true film buff and their film-hating spouse could watch this together, and both walk away amazed. My elementary school kids now understand as much about film making history as many professionals I know.

This would be a great gift to your local school.

I highly recommend this if you are interestted in Digital Video, especially home filming, guerilla film-making, or just getting ready for film school itself. This set is entertaining, but is an education in itself.

The shots, the sounds, the explanations of what works, the experiences of current filmmakers, the reasons for success of prior filmmakers, WHY the public taste changed in every decade(o-o-h, never thought of THAT, eh?)... This is a dream come true if you do not live within commuting distance of a film school or don't have the [money]...

Trust me on this one. You will not regret this purchase.

Who's Running This Show?
The first half of the series was terrific, but the last half happened to miss one of the greatest American filmmakers of our century: Woody Allen. Was it due to timing (the affair) or was Mia on the board?
Other than that, it's a pretty decent view of what this continent has had to offer the world of cinema.

wonderful overview of american film
This ten-installment love letter to Hollywood and American film was originally aired on PBS, and comes on two two-sided DVDs. Introduced by John Lithgow, each segment is then narrated by a different actor and covers the following subjects: The Hollywood Style, The Star, Romantic Comedy, Film Noir, The Western, The Combat Film, The Studio System, Film in the Television Age, The Film School Generation and The Edge of Hollywood.

Each segment runs about 54 minutes and is well-written, loaded with illustrative scenes from great films, and filled with interviews by filmmakers, actors and film scholars. I especially enjoyed the Romantic Comedy and The Studio System segments, but each is so well done that you will undoubtedly find favorites of your own.

The only weakness here is the lack of any real documentation. When so many films and actors are discussed, it would add value to this collection to have a good index.

If you enjoy film and are interested in a thoughtful introduction to this American art form, you can't go wrong with this collection. ... Read more