Reviews (115)

Not bad if you're an Angelina Jolie fan
Originally, this wasn't a movie I was very interested in watching until I realized Angelina Jolie was the co-star. Okay, so I admit-I'm an Angelina Jolie junkie. But that's beside the point.

The plot of "Original Sin" isn't too original. Wealthy Cuban landowner Antonio Banderas buys a mail-order bride (Jolie) and gets a little more than he bargained for. Not only is his soon-to-be bride more beautiful than the photo she sent, she is quite the hellcat in bed. Not exactly the demur Virginia schoolteacher she professed to be.

Following the typical Hollywood "stupid male" syndrome, Banderas signs over his fortune to his new bride, only to find she has absconded with his money. Not only does Banderas go off half-cocked in search of Jolie, but when he finds her, he only wishes to bed her, not concerned his fortune is gone. A bit too unrealistic here, considering Banderas was homicidal and violent only minutes earlier. Of course, Jolie is also following the Hollywood stereotype of female characters that fall in love with men who wish to kill them.

Thomas Jane adds an exciting dimension to the movie as the psychotic sidekick of Jolie, although their relationship isn't quite defined, nor explained. The "spit in the mouth" routine was a bit much for me and could have been left out with no detrimental affects to the movie.

In all, if you wish to see a lot of Angelina Jolie naked, this is the movie for you, although the flapping breast image was a bit much. Myself, personally, I could have went without seeing the naked butt of Antonio Bandera repeatedly, but to each their own. "Original Sin" is a skin flick of mild entertainment value.

-...

I Like them both...
I haven't seen it(yet) but I like them both, but I heard that Antonio has a few"eye popping moments" How much does he show exactly? Like everything? Or what? Just so I am not surprised when I do see it.. How much?

Mildly entertaining chick flick
WARNING: SOME VERY MILD SPOILERS*****

The first time I saw this, I was prepared to laugh at a sleazy, direct-to-video Harlequin novel-on-celluloid. What is it about Antonio Banderas? He's very handsome and not a bad actor, but he seems to choose a lot of really cheesy projects, "Femme Fatale" being a particularly awful one I recall watching.

But I thought this was a decently entertaining, if not brilliantly deep film. I was unaware at that time of it's provenance -- it's based on an excellent novel by Cornell Woolrich called "Waltz into Darkness". The book is well worth reading if you like this film. It was also made into a film in the mid-sixties by Francois Truffaut called (inexplicably ) "Mississippi Mermaid". Strange title, because the original novel is set in 1870s New Orleans and Julia travels to meet Louis on a steamer down the Mississipp BUT in the Truffaut film he reset the story in the 60s and the action of the film in colonial Africa and the French Riviera!

"Original Sin" is, interesting, vastly closer to the novel than the Truffaut version. The setting is changed to Cuba, presumably to accodomodate Bandera's accent, but the period is correct and the story doesn't work well in modern times, so overall, I find "Original Sin" to be the better of the two movies -- and that's saying a lot, as Truffaut is revered as a brilliant director. ("Mississippi Mermaid" is NOT by any means one of his better efforts, however.)

An early cautionary tale of "personals ads" and blind dating, the story seems even more relevant today than when it was written. Luis (Banderas) writes to a mail order bride, who is supposed to be plain, shy and religious. He is surprised when stunningly beautiful and sexy Julia (Angelina Jolie, of the collagen injected lips) shows up. Even though she betrays him and cheats on him and steals all his money...he still loves her. Both film versions clean up the ending -- I won't give the film ending away -- but in the book, Julia/Bonny actually kills Louis/Luis. A very bleak ending. Don't worry, the movie is a lot more fun.

The kind of film that falls under the heading of "guilty pleasure", "Original Sin" has lots of great costumes and sets and Banderas and Jolie are two of the sexiest people imaginable and we get to watch them getting hot and heavy. (BTW: the "unrated version" isn't really all that dirty...I don't get the rating thing. The sex isn't graphic or bizarre in any way -- it's two people who are MARRIED and making love. In the age of "Sex in the City", what the heck is the big deal?)

Anyways, call over your best girlfriends, microwave some popcorn and have a good time....

Some Memorable Lines From An Otherwise Forgettable Movie
Overall, I would rate this film a passable 3-plus stars, just above ok, but I just had to add the comment for anyone thinking of buying (or renting) this movie that I thought it had some unexpectedly apt and quoteable dialogue and astute observations on the nature of love. It has interested me in seeking out the book on which this film is based.

Being Sinful Can Be Good
Antonio Banderas plays a wealthy Cuban who is to be married to an American woman he doesn't know. He marries an actress, played by Angelina Jolie. But she isn't the woman he thinks she is. This movie had twists and turns wondering where it would lead the viewer. It was a seductive and captivating movie. Angelina Jolie plays the role of a seductress very well. Antonio Banderas is gorgeous as a dashing, yet naive man. ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Not bad if you're an Angelina Jolie fan
Originally, this wasn't a movie I was very interested in watching until I realized Angelina Jolie was the co-star. Okay, so I admit-I'm an Angelina Jolie junkie. But that's beside the point.

The plot of "Original Sin" isn't too original. Wealthy Cuban landowner Antonio Banderas buys a mail-order bride (Jolie) and gets a little more than he bargained for. Not only is his soon-to-be bride more beautiful than the photo she sent, she is quite the hellcat in bed. Not exactly the demur Virginia schoolteacher she professed to be.

Following the typical Hollywood "stupid male" syndrome, Banderas signs over his fortune to his new bride, only to find she has absconded with his money. Not only does Banderas go off half-cocked in search of Jolie, but when he finds her, he only wishes to bed her, not concerned his fortune is gone. A bit too unrealistic here, considering Banderas was homicidal and violent only minutes earlier. Of course, Jolie is also following the Hollywood stereotype of female characters that fall in love with men who wish to kill them.

Thomas Jane adds an exciting dimension to the movie as the psychotic sidekick of Jolie, although their relationship isn't quite defined, nor explained. The "spit in the mouth" routine was a bit much for me and could have been left out with no detrimental affects to the movie.

In all, if you wish to see a lot of Angelina Jolie naked, this is the movie for you, although the flapping breast image was a bit much. Myself, personally, I could have went without seeing the naked butt of Antonio Bandera repeatedly, but to each their own. "Original Sin" is a skin flick of mild entertainment value.

-...

I Like them both...
I haven't seen it(yet) but I like them both, but I heard that Antonio has a few"eye popping moments" How much does he show exactly? Like everything? Or what? Just so I am not surprised when I do see it.. How much?

Mildly entertaining chick flick
WARNING: SOME VERY MILD SPOILERS*****

The first time I saw this, I was prepared to laugh at a sleazy, direct-to-video Harlequin novel-on-celluloid. What is it about Antonio Banderas? He's very handsome and not a bad actor, but he seems to choose a lot of really cheesy projects, "Femme Fatale" being a particularly awful one I recall watching.

But I thought this was a decently entertaining, if not brilliantly deep film. I was unaware at that time of it's provenance -- it's based on an excellent novel by Cornell Woolrich called "Waltz into Darkness". The book is well worth reading if you like this film. It was also made into a film in the mid-sixties by Francois Truffaut called (inexplicably ) "Mississippi Mermaid". Strange title, because the original novel is set in 1870s New Orleans and Julia travels to meet Louis on a steamer down the Mississipp BUT in the Truffaut film he reset the story in the 60s and the action of the film in colonial Africa and the French Riviera!

"Original Sin" is, interesting, vastly closer to the novel than the Truffaut version. The setting is changed to Cuba, presumably to accodomodate Bandera's accent, but the period is correct and the story doesn't work well in modern times, so overall, I find "Original Sin" to be the better of the two movies -- and that's saying a lot, as Truffaut is revered as a brilliant director. ("Mississippi Mermaid" is NOT by any means one of his better efforts, however.)

An early cautionary tale of "personals ads" and blind dating, the story seems even more relevant today than when it was written. Luis (Banderas) writes to a mail order bride, who is supposed to be plain, shy and religious. He is surprised when stunningly beautiful and sexy Julia (Angelina Jolie, of the collagen injected lips) shows up. Even though she betrays him and cheats on him and steals all his money...he still loves her. Both film versions clean up the ending -- I won't give the film ending away -- but in the book, Julia/Bonny actually kills Louis/Luis. A very bleak ending. Don't worry, the movie is a lot more fun.

The kind of film that falls under the heading of "guilty pleasure", "Original Sin" has lots of great costumes and sets and Banderas and Jolie are two of the sexiest people imaginable and we get to watch them getting hot and heavy. (BTW: the "unrated version" isn't really all that dirty...I don't get the rating thing. The sex isn't graphic or bizarre in any way -- it's two people who are MARRIED and making love. In the age of "Sex in the City", what the heck is the big deal?)

Anyways, call over your best girlfriends, microwave some popcorn and have a good time....

Some Memorable Lines From An Otherwise Forgettable Movie
Overall, I would rate this film a passable 3-plus stars, just above ok, but I just had to add the comment for anyone thinking of buying (or renting) this movie that I thought it had some unexpectedly apt and quoteable dialogue and astute observations on the nature of love. It has interested me in seeking out the book on which this film is based.

Being Sinful Can Be Good
Antonio Banderas plays a wealthy Cuban who is to be married to an American woman he doesn't know. He marries an actress, played by Angelina Jolie. But she isn't the woman he thinks she is. This movie had twists and turns wondering where it would lead the viewer. It was a seductive and captivating movie. Angelina Jolie plays the role of a seductress very well. Antonio Banderas is gorgeous as a dashing, yet naive man. ... Read more

Description

Stephen and Danny are a hip Manhattan gay couple who have it all,until a surprise visit from Stephen's parents threatens to blow the boys' big secret.Thesecret?Not that they're gay - but that they are hit men for the mafia!Since Stephen's dadis an FBI agent, the boys are frantic to keep him in the dark.They enlist their fellowmobsters to pose as gay waiters at the faux catering company Stephen "owns" so they canhost a party for Dad - with hilarious complications! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Light Amusing Comedy
Friends and Family is the story of two gay men who work for the mafia. When one man's father (an FBI agent), comes to town, the guys must pretend to be caterers in order to prevent trouble. But all is not what it seems, and this film culminates in an elaborate feast with several different groups trying to trick eachother.

While I enjoyed Friends and Family, I found the main couple lacked chemistry. If possible, they were just TOO good looking. The pair looked like they belonged in an advertisement for GQ rather than in the mafia. (I'd much prefer a more homely pair with stronger acting talents), I did think the actor who portrayed the mafia boss, did an excellent job, and the cooking scene and the scenes with the drag queens were amusing.

Overall, this movie reminds me of a combination of "Wedding Banquet and the Bird Cage." Fun, light comedy, but nothing too original.

A jewel of an old-fashioned comedy.
I loved this movie when I saw it at a comedy film festival a couple of years ago, and I love it even more on DVD, looking pristine and with an excellent set of "extras". I hope this wonderful film manages to find the audience that missed it in its apparently brief theatrical run.

Inexplicably dismissed by many - though I should add not all - critics that I read, this personal favorite of mine is finally being given a second chance on DVD. It's about a gay couple who are hit men for the Mafia, but that doesn't begin to convey the stylishness of the comedy and the tight structure of the story line(s). It's a genuine throwback to the old-fashioned farces of the golden age of Hollywood, with its giddy, improbable starting point, hilarious cast of stock characters and the overlapping stories. It's truly one of the few American film comedies in memory that gives you a laugh every minute or so, and that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as "Trouble in Paradise".

As a gay man, I was glad at last to see a movie in which the gay characters are in a long-term relationship, and aren't closeted, ambivalent about their sexualities, or drug addicts. Instead, despite the fantastic story line, they're actually presented in a fashion that is in some ways truer to life than most depictions of gay men in movies - as happy, confident and successful (and did I mention attractive?)

The cast is fully up to the level of the material. I especially liked Rebecca Creskoff - a delightful, lovely presence as the mob boss's daughter - and Beth Fowler, who in some ways is the motor that gets the plot going: perfection as the gay hero's unstoppable mother. And catch Anna Maria Alberghetti, of the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" knock-knock joke, hilarious as Creskoff's mother.

Pounce on this one.

Bad
The movie never finds its tone. It's supossed to be funny but it isn't, mainly due to its unbelievavility. The director treats some scenes as if it were high-comedy, and others as pure caricature, and it doesn't work. The first ones end up as ridiculous and the second ones as tiresome.
Also this is one of those movies where the 2 main characters are a gay couple and they almost don't touch each other during the whole movie. And I think they don't kiss once.
The dvd has a full-screen transfer.

A BIG PUFFY SOUFFLE
"Friends and Family" a film homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930's is a big puffy soufflé. The opening credits are clever and beautifully photographed. They set up a perfect tone for a sparkling comedy of screwball manners. After the credits fade, something goes wrong and all the air in this concoction slowly escapes like a whoopee cushion being sat upon by a large mobster.
The premise of the film is clever and with a talented cast of fine New York actors there are moments in the movie that are indeed funny. But you have to wait for them. This film is not the rollercoaster ride it wants to be, it is the line waiting to get onto it.
In possession of one of the truly handsome faces on the screen today, Greg Lauren is coolly menacing as the straight acting Steven Torcelli gay mob hit man with his partner/lover Danny Russo. His comic timing is well placed and contrasts well with the zany characters he is surrounded by. As Steven's boyfriend and fellow killer, Christopher Gartin does well in the bland role of Danny. Yet with most of the comedy chores going to Lauren he becomes not much more than comedic wallpaper. Tony Lo Bianco is well cast as the Don of the mob family and brings well-timed humor to his role especially in his phone conversation with the Senator. Anna Maria Alberghetti turns the role of wife to the Don into something other than the expected creating a comic black widow eager to have her sons assume the roles of killers for the family.
Tovah Feldshuh and Brian Lane Green catapult themselves over the top as midwestern parents of the boy who is to marry into the mob family. They have fun in their roles but somehow their comedy is too strident and clashes with the rest of the ensembles more polished performances. Beth Fowler gives the best performance in the film and has just the right edge to her character as the mother of Steven. She steals the spotlight every time she appears on screen.
The look of the film is marvelous. The cinematography by John Leuba is so rich and atmospheric that it gives "Friends and Family" the look of a studio film from the era it means to honor. But a film such as this needs to have much more going for it than just a pretty face, it needs energy.
The major problem with "Friends and Family" lies in two camps. First there is the screenplay by Joseph Triebwasser. There are a few good scenes, but where it strives to be a light and fast-paced comedy in the manner of Hawks or Capra is fails. It is not much more than a plodding pilot for a WB sitcom. It needs tightening and several more re-writes and a good injection of smart dialog. Smart fast paced dialog is essential for screwball to succeed. The second problem is in the direction and editing. This was Kristen Coury's first time at bat as a director and it is a valiant and ambitious effort. So the problem of pace is not hers alone but must fall partiality in the laps of her editors, Tom Swartwout and Hector Venegas. A good director and editor can work together to tighten timing and pace where it is needed. That does not happen here. Nowhere is it more evident than in the third act at the banquet. Where the action should be frenetic and zany it grinds on and punctures the comic intent of the scene. It is evident that that the lack of time and money available to the production added to the problems in this scene and we are left with some odd jumps in cutting and loss in some vital connecting information. The whole film is building to this final madcap ending yet we are left sitting on the floor twiddling our fingers while the action stops for all the characters to reflect and yawn. I agree with the screenwriter, maybe it would have been funnier to have Anna Maria Alberghetti save the day.

A delightful comedy!
Friends and Family is a delightful and clever comedy. The plot, and many subplots actually, are a bit far-fetched, but they provides pure escapism, which we all need sometimes. The characters, as unbelievable as they are, come out as totally outrageous, much needed in a comedy of this nature. The story becomes so over the top, it borders on ridiculous, but manages to entertain, while being totally hilarious.

I really enjoyed this film and smiled throughout at the pure absurdity of it all. The cast was good, the acting okay, but the characters were terrific in my mind. Yes, some people might consider these people stereotypes, but the stereotype came about for a reason....these people actually EXIST! The only real problem I had, and for a movie like this it's a big one, is the displays of affection between the two leads. I don't need to see full on gay sex, but it would have been nice to have seen the couple at least share a light kiss or two. The end did have them hold hands, with beautiful dialogue expressing their love for each other, and I would have liked to see more of that throughout, just a couple more times at least. It showed a human side to these killers that we just needed to see more of.

This is a cross between La Cage Aux Follies (The Birdcage), The Sopranos, and Mambo Italiano, but is too Disneyfied for it's own good. Actually, it's one 'gay film' the whole family can enjoy-- no sex, no profanity, and only very mild violence. I'd definitely rate it a PG. This isn't a perfect film, but it's a perfectly enjoyable one. Grade: A- ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's something we don't see enough of: a grown-up film aboutdating, commitment, and the niggling little fears that chip away at ourbest efforts. Christopher Meloni (TV's Law and Order: SVU) stars asBarry, a thirtysomething standup comic with a bitter, sexist act thatinflames as many people as it amuses. When a leather clad biker gives hiscritique with fists, Thea (Janel Moloney of TV's The West Wing), astable, sensible college student 10 years his junior, picks him upliterally and figuratively. They're hardly a perfect match: agedifferences, lifestyle clashes, and sheer philosophical outlook seem todoom them from the outset. But hope lies in the words of a palm reader whodeclares them "souler opposites," in other words, made for each other.Meloni is excellent as an overgrown adolescent who struggles against hisbetter nature and devolves into a glib teenager whenever he hangs out withhis equally arrested high school buddy (Timothy Busfield), who fuels hisact with more sexist, testosterone-powered rants on sex and women. Moloneygives dignity to her Thea's activism and never plays her new-age mellowness for laughs. She's playful, witty, smart, and just a bit impulsive. Director Bill Kalmenson manages to bring new life to the clichés such romanticcomedies are built from by taking a look with a fresh eye. It's a sweetlymodest, undeservingly overlooked film that still holds out hope forgrown-up love. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (2)

you'll appreciate a mature look at romance
I bought this, interested in seeing some of actor Christopher Meloni's indie work. He fit the character, Barry, quite well.

The story line is a romance between 2 adults whom you might not normally envision together. They have their faults, and they make the romance work nonetheless. Not being a big romance movie fan, I think I appreciated this story, as it was more realistic than sappy. Not everything goes perfect, and the characters aren't perfect, but neither is life.

this movie was pitifuly overlooked...
I bought this DVD after reading excellent reviews over at imdb.com, and because it was the only way to see it (because it's only available in this format). THis was a wonderfully refreshing look at the realistic side of love and commitment. Janel Moloney gives a wonderful performance that is erily similar to the role she plays on The West Wing, despite the fact that this was made before she got the job on West Wing. Her performance on WW is what prompted me to get this, and it was well worth it. Christopher Meloni and Timothy Busfield (also from TWW) are wonderful as the love interest and his best friend, both of whom have their share of trouble with women. SO, see this movie, but be warned that it is rated R (as far as I could tell) because it goes a little farther with some aspects of relationships than other movies might. It's an independant film so it could get away with more. The DVD contains a full directors Commentary which is very entertaining. To recap: this is a great movie! If you like offbeat romances with a great deal of humor then this is your kind of movie. ... Read more