Amazon.com

With Sideways, Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Storytelling) has become an unlikely but engaging romantic lead. Struggling novelist and wine connoisseur Miles (Giamatti) takes his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church, Wings) on a wine-tasting tour of California vineyards for a kind of extended bachelor party. Almost immediately, Jack's insatiable need to sow some wild oats before his marriage leads them into double-dates with a rambunctious wine pourer (Sandra Oh, Under the Tuscan Sun) and a recently divorced waitress (Virginia Madsen, The Hot Spot)--and Miles discovers a little hope that he hasn't let himself feel in a long time. Sideways is a modest but finely tuned film; with gentle compassion, it explores the failures, struggles, and lowered expectations of mid-life. Giamatti makes regret and self-loathing sympathetic, almost sweet. From the director of Election and About Schmidt. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (304)

delicious little movie
The risk involved in describing "Sideways" as a road movie about obsessive wine tasting is that people who are not wine buffs/connoisseurs are likely to stay away from it, which would be a pity. So let me discuss it from a different perspective: Sideways is in fact a buddy movie, and not an overly comic one. Granted, there is a fair share of funny scenes but overall the tone of the movie veers clearly toward the dramatic.
Meet Miles and Jack. The former is a small-time english teacher (and aspiring novelist...too bad his aspirations are constantly frustrated), the latter is a washed-up tv actor with a career that after a promising start never really took off. Both are middle-aged guys who are coping with lowered expectations and shattered ambitions.
Jack is about to marry (although he feels uneasy about his marital future) and the two friends embark on a wine-tasting extended bachelor party that eventually feels much like a coming of age story.
There is a lot of wine talking going on throughout the movie but wine isn't the whole point. Wine is more like a metaphor for life and there is a brilliant dialogue between Miles and Maya (the girl he falls in love with) that clearly shows this point.
This is not a happy-ending movie. There's a lot of stark realism in it and although the finale leaves some hope for Miles, it's quite obvious that this is LIFE, not some fairy tale.
This is no educational movie either. There are scenes where "getting sideways", far from being frowned upon, is elevated to something very romantic or, at least, something that lets us understand Miles' deep suffering, forcing us to be sympathetic to his condition.
Anyway, enough with the social commentary, I greatly appreciated this movie and I think that anybody with a passing interest in non-mainstream stuff should see it.

Will This Film EVER End!
A slice of life? A road movie?To be a slice of life the lives should be interesting.To be a road movie interesting things should happen en route.Aside from a lengthy plug for the California Wine industry, the whole movie struck me as tedious.There are some amusing moments and dialogue tucked between a lot of mundane, unfunny and often depressing conversation and events.The lead character steals from his mother and despite his affection for wine in the abstract, drinks to deal with depression by getting sloppy drunk.Meanwhile his buddy shows such respect for the woman he's driving north to marry that he's willing to bed anything with a pulse between Los Angeles and the Napa Valley.And we're supposed to care about these people?Why the movie industry is so high on this film beats me.After watching it carefully twice, trying to find some overlooked redeeming quality, I just don't see it.Possibly I'm not sophisticated enough to enjoy it.Possibly it's not that great a movie.

It may have some appeal to the wine connoisseur or wanna'be who's always wanted to impress his friends by saying things like, "It's a sassy little pinot that perfectly complements ze flavour of ze Ritz Crackers and ze Cheeez Whiz." but I found myself wishing it was a much shorter movie.I certainly won't recommend it to anyone I like or remember it 6 months from now ... probably less.

A Cineaste's Dream
I won't rehash the plot, the characters, etc., as that's all so familiar by now.Why is this film a small wonder?Because it's what happens in the interstices, between the minimal action and the raucous laughs.Like the characters or not, they are painfully real, and we get so few real characters in movies today.We get so few honestly-motivated characters today.And the reason:one has only to peruse the one-star reviews on this site.Has anyone noticed that the one-star reviews are generally very short, as if the attention span of the denouncer couldn't sustain a paragraph, let alone a reasonably lengthy explanation of their disgust?It's usually "boring" -- it's not to any true cineaste, of course -- or the characters are morally bankrupt -- so, that's not a valid reason to loathe a movie; in fact, it's a completely biased and stupid reason to mount a criticism of a work of art on.Face it, "Sideways" was made for people who love film that challenges them, surprises them, moves them, forces them to see life in a different light.Most people don't want to be challenged -- you know who you are, you brain-dead video gamers, you Internet-addled, low-alpha brain-wave unguents -- so why bother to voice your complaints about this brilliant movie unless you really have something profound to say in defense of your criticism.Compared to the one-star reviews, the five-star reviews are very lengthy, usually articulate and thoughtful and understand what the filmmaker was trying to accomplish.An Alexander Payne should be celebrated, a studio that gives him money should be extolled.It's just too bad there aren't more of him.I did have one criticism of the DVD, though -- but it won't change my five-star rating -- and that's the voice-over commentary by Thomas Church and Giamatti.It's so puerile at times, so uninformative; too bad Payne didn't do it with his writing partner.Oh, well, fortunately one doesn't have to listen to their drivel, and even if one decides to suffer it, it in no way detracts from their courageous performances.

Interesting movie with excellent characters
I guess I could start with a short synopsis.Two college buddies are headed North to the wine country for a week long bachelor party.Miles is in a depressed state because of a divorce and Jack is looking to get some before he gets married.From this spouts some crazy situations in and out of vineyards.

What you do get from this movie is excellent characters.Even though Miles could be incredibly annoying you end up feeling for him.I think a lot of people have friends that are like Jack.They're a bit older but still act immature at times.Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh are both awesome too.While Sandra Oh's character could have been developed more I don't think the movie suffers because of it.

The dialogue is witty and sarcastic sometimes to the point of being outright hilarious.Granted it may take a special kind of humor to understand why some things are funny.There are some things that are just sophomoric but they lighten the film at times where you think Miles might drag you down.

There is definitely a reason why this movie was nominated for a bunch of awards.You can't go wrong with sharp/witty writing and excellent acting/direction.I would highly recommend at least going out and renting this movie.I know it will soon become a part of my collection.

Best Pinot Noir Film Ever!
Ok, it is a shame that people won't order Merlot from me anymore (Oregon state merlot, people), but there's no denying the fact that this is a masterful piece of work here.

This film has everything I love-- witty dialouge with an underlying sense of sarcasm and black humor, it's about a writer, wine, dispicable characters, social commentary on how shallow secular America has become in relationships with other people, and wine.

I loved seeing Giammatti's character-- a pansy New York Times reading whiner, get his midlife crisis in full, and the scenery was masterfully incorporated into the story, adding a whole other dimension to the poignancy.

The acting was top notch, and it is a brilliantly written character study. People who are dissing this film do it because they're reminded of their own pathetic lives. At least, that's my take on it.

Cheers! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Sideways, Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Storytelling) has become an unlikely but engaging romantic lead. Struggling novelist and wine connoisseur Miles (Giamatti) takes his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church, Wings) on a wine-tasting tour of California vineyards for a kind of extended bachelor party. Almost immediately, Jack's insatiable need to sow some wild oats before his marriage leads them into double-dates with a rambunctious wine pourer (Sandra Oh, Under the Tuscan Sun) and a recently divorced waitress (Virginia Madsen, The Hot Spot)--and Miles discovers a little hope that he hasn't let himself feel in a long time. Sideways is a modest but finely tuned film; with gentle compassion, it explores the failures, struggles, and lowered expectations of mid-life. Giamatti makes regret and self-loathing sympathetic, almost sweet. From the director of Election and About Schmidt. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (304)

delicious little movie
The risk involved in describing "Sideways" as a road movie about obsessive wine tasting is that people who are not wine buffs/connoisseurs are likely to stay away from it, which would be a pity. So let me discuss it from a different perspective: Sideways is in fact a buddy movie, and not an overly comic one. Granted, there is a fair share of funny scenes but overall the tone of the movie veers clearly toward the dramatic.
Meet Miles and Jack. The former is a small-time english teacher (and aspiring novelist...too bad his aspirations are constantly frustrated), the latter is a washed-up tv actor with a career that after a promising start never really took off. Both are middle-aged guys who are coping with lowered expectations and shattered ambitions.
Jack is about to marry (although he feels uneasy about his marital future) and the two friends embark on a wine-tasting extended bachelor party that eventually feels much like a coming of age story.
There is a lot of wine talking going on throughout the movie but wine isn't the whole point. Wine is more like a metaphor for life and there is a brilliant dialogue between Miles and Maya (the girl he falls in love with) that clearly shows this point.
This is not a happy-ending movie. There's a lot of stark realism in it and although the finale leaves some hope for Miles, it's quite obvious that this is LIFE, not some fairy tale.
This is no educational movie either. There are scenes where "getting sideways", far from being frowned upon, is elevated to something very romantic or, at least, something that lets us understand Miles' deep suffering, forcing us to be sympathetic to his condition.
Anyway, enough with the social commentary, I greatly appreciated this movie and I think that anybody with a passing interest in non-mainstream stuff should see it.

Will This Film EVER End!
A slice of life? A road movie?To be a slice of life the lives should be interesting.To be a road movie interesting things should happen en route.Aside from a lengthy plug for the California Wine industry, the whole movie struck me as tedious.There are some amusing moments and dialogue tucked between a lot of mundane, unfunny and often depressing conversation and events.The lead character steals from his mother and despite his affection for wine in the abstract, drinks to deal with depression by getting sloppy drunk.Meanwhile his buddy shows such respect for the woman he's driving north to marry that he's willing to bed anything with a pulse between Los Angeles and the Napa Valley.And we're supposed to care about these people?Why the movie industry is so high on this film beats me.After watching it carefully twice, trying to find some overlooked redeeming quality, I just don't see it.Possibly I'm not sophisticated enough to enjoy it.Possibly it's not that great a movie.

It may have some appeal to the wine connoisseur or wanna'be who's always wanted to impress his friends by saying things like, "It's a sassy little pinot that perfectly complements ze flavour of ze Ritz Crackers and ze Cheeez Whiz." but I found myself wishing it was a much shorter movie.I certainly won't recommend it to anyone I like or remember it 6 months from now ... probably less.

A Cineaste's Dream
I won't rehash the plot, the characters, etc., as that's all so familiar by now.Why is this film a small wonder?Because it's what happens in the interstices, between the minimal action and the raucous laughs.Like the characters or not, they are painfully real, and we get so few real characters in movies today.We get so few honestly-motivated characters today.And the reason:one has only to peruse the one-star reviews on this site.Has anyone noticed that the one-star reviews are generally very short, as if the attention span of the denouncer couldn't sustain a paragraph, let alone a reasonably lengthy explanation of their disgust?It's usually "boring" -- it's not to any true cineaste, of course -- or the characters are morally bankrupt -- so, that's not a valid reason to loathe a movie; in fact, it's a completely biased and stupid reason to mount a criticism of a work of art on.Face it, "Sideways" was made for people who love film that challenges them, surprises them, moves them, forces them to see life in a different light.Most people don't want to be challenged -- you know who you are, you brain-dead video gamers, you Internet-addled, low-alpha brain-wave unguents -- so why bother to voice your complaints about this brilliant movie unless you really have something profound to say in defense of your criticism.Compared to the one-star reviews, the five-star reviews are very lengthy, usually articulate and thoughtful and understand what the filmmaker was trying to accomplish.An Alexander Payne should be celebrated, a studio that gives him money should be extolled.It's just too bad there aren't more of him.I did have one criticism of the DVD, though -- but it won't change my five-star rating -- and that's the voice-over commentary by Thomas Church and Giamatti.It's so puerile at times, so uninformative; too bad Payne didn't do it with his writing partner.Oh, well, fortunately one doesn't have to listen to their drivel, and even if one decides to suffer it, it in no way detracts from their courageous performances.

Interesting movie with excellent characters
I guess I could start with a short synopsis.Two college buddies are headed North to the wine country for a week long bachelor party.Miles is in a depressed state because of a divorce and Jack is looking to get some before he gets married.From this spouts some crazy situations in and out of vineyards.

What you do get from this movie is excellent characters.Even though Miles could be incredibly annoying you end up feeling for him.I think a lot of people have friends that are like Jack.They're a bit older but still act immature at times.Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh are both awesome too.While Sandra Oh's character could have been developed more I don't think the movie suffers because of it.

The dialogue is witty and sarcastic sometimes to the point of being outright hilarious.Granted it may take a special kind of humor to understand why some things are funny.There are some things that are just sophomoric but they lighten the film at times where you think Miles might drag you down.

There is definitely a reason why this movie was nominated for a bunch of awards.You can't go wrong with sharp/witty writing and excellent acting/direction.I would highly recommend at least going out and renting this movie.I know it will soon become a part of my collection.

Best Pinot Noir Film Ever!
Ok, it is a shame that people won't order Merlot from me anymore (Oregon state merlot, people), but there's no denying the fact that this is a masterful piece of work here.

This film has everything I love-- witty dialouge with an underlying sense of sarcasm and black humor, it's about a writer, wine, dispicable characters, social commentary on how shallow secular America has become in relationships with other people, and wine.

I loved seeing Giammatti's character-- a pansy New York Times reading whiner, get his midlife crisis in full, and the scenery was masterfully incorporated into the story, adding a whole other dimension to the poignancy.

The acting was top notch, and it is a brilliantly written character study. People who are dissing this film do it because they're reminded of their own pathetic lives. At least, that's my take on it.

Cheers! ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are unmistakable pleasures to an old-fashioned Western, and Crossfire Trail has 'em. Tom Selleck has a lean, weathered face that sits nicely atop a horse and beneath a broad-brimmed hat; he plays a canny cowboy who's come to make good on a promise to a dying man and ends up caught between a beautiful woman (Virginia Madsen) and a wicked man in black--a couple of them, actually. Crossfire Trail has just about every element you could ask for (a Sioux war party, a cruel hired gun, a shootout in the street, even a cattle stampede), but it spins them out with such clean efficiency that you can't help but enjoy it. Directed skillfully and with heart, Crossfire Trail will satisfy any Western fan. Based on the novel by Louis L'Amour; also featuring Wilford Brimley and Mark Harmon. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (22)

CROSSFIRE TRAIL HITS ITS MARK
COMBINE A LOUIS LAMOUR NOVEL AND VETERAN WESTERN ACTOR TOM SELLECK AND YOU GET A WINNER. THESE TWO GO TOGETHER LIKE BISCUITS
AND GRAVY.
SELLECK PLAYS RAFE COVINGTON A CODE COWBOY PLAYING TRUE TO HIS PROMISE TO A DYING FRIEND. HIS LOYALTY IS TESTED BUT HE CARRIES ON.
COVINGTON TRAVELS TO HIGH COUNTRY WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS. HE MAKES A FEW MORE FRIENDS BUT MANY MORE ENEMIES. AS HE ATTEMPTS TO RENOVATE HIS DEAD FRIENDS RANCH AND KEEP THE MAN'S WIDOW SAFE HE ENCOUNTERS TROUBLE FROM VARIOUS FOLKS INCLUDING THE RESENTFUL WIDOW.
MARK HARMON SHINES AS VILLIANS AND HE PLAYS THE BAD GUY IN THIS ONE WELL. HARMON IS A WHEELER DEALER OUT TO CLAIM THE WIDOW AND HER RANCH BY WHATEVER MEANS REQUIRED.
THE ONLY PERSON IN HIS WAY IS THE RUGGED COVINGTON WHO WORKS THE RANCH AND EVENTUALLY MAKES WAYS WITH THE WIDOW.
SELLECK IS WELL SUPPORTED BY VARIOUS ACTORS INCLUDING WILFORD BRIMLEY WHO PROVIDES THE HUMOR IN THIS PLAY.
THIS IS AS CLOSE TO A CLASSIC WESTERN AS ANYBODY HAS MADE IN AWHILE. SIMON WINCER WHO HAS GIVEN US 'LONESOME DOVE' AND 'QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER' DIRECTS AND DOES IT WELL.
THE DIALOGUE IS WITTY AND EFFECTIVELY DELIVERED.
MY FAVORITE SCENE IS WHEN SELLECK IS CALLED OUT BY A TOUGH WHO HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE. THE MISCREANT TELLS SELLECK'S COVINGTON THAT "IM GONNA BLOW YOU OUT OF THOSE FANCY BOOTS." BUT WHEN LEAD FLIES AND COVINGTON IS FORCED TO FIGHT A WELL PLACED ROUND FROM COVINGTON'S .45-60 ENDS THE DISPUTE. AND FITTINGLY SO THE BAD GUY LOOSES ONE OF HIS OWN BOOTS AS HE DIES IN THE DIRT.

LATER WHEN ONE OF SELLECKS COHORTS CONCLUDES "THAT WHAT SOME SHOOTIN." COVINGTON COUNTERS SOLEMNLY "THAT WASNT SHOOTIN..............THAT WAS KILLIN."

UNLESS I AM MISTAKEN, THIS FILM STANDS AS THE HIGHEST RATED SINGLE EVENT IN CABLE T.V. HISTORY. IT IS WORTH A WATCH. AND THEN ANOTHER. IT WILL BE AN ESTEEMED ASSET TO ANY VIDEO COLLECTION AND A STAND OUT TO FANS OF THE WESTERN.

CAN'T MISS WITH CROSSFIRE TRAIL
Based on a great story by Louis L'Amour, Crossfire Trail pits Tom Selleck's Rafe Covington, a cowboy who has promised a dying friend to protect his land and his wife, Ann Rodney, portrayed by Virginia Madsen, against a gang of Wyoming ruffians portrayed very capably by Mark Harmon as crooked businessman Bruce Barkow, Marshall Teague as general bad guy Snake Corvill and Brad Johnson as gun-for-hire Bo Dorn.

Wilford Brimley as Joe Gill, David O'Hara as Irish immigrant Brendan "Rock" Mullaney and Christian Kane as John Thomas Langston support Selleck in his classic good against evil quest. Add to the cast and setting the unparalleled direction of Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove) and you just can't miss with Crossfire Trail.

Crossfire Trail is the classic western tale: The evil land grabber, the hapless heroine and the avenging hero who, taking on all comers, overcomes evil, restores justice and gets the girl.

Tom Selleck has emerged as the leading actor in the modern western genre. With stellar performances in Quigley Down Under, The Shadow Riders, Monte Walsh and Crossfire Trail, he is well on the way to achieving the same western star status and appeal as Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall and Clint Eastwood. Crossfire Trail is a fitting showcase.

Douglas McAllister

an ok cowboy tale
this is an ok cowboy tale. I dont want to summarize it because im tired and I cant. saw this on cable tv on channel 42 over the weekend. wasnt that bad though Tom Selleck(An Innocent Man, In and Out) and Virginia Madsen(The Candyman, The Florentine) share a bunch of screentime and they have a nice relationship on screen. the only reason I watched it was because Christian Kane(Tv's Angel, Life Or Something Like It, Just Married) starred in it as one of Selleck's cowboy buddies. wasnt the greatest but it is a time waster

Almost as good as Monte Walsh
It was hard to follow in the beginning but once you caught
on it was GREAT!!! I love Selleck, he makes a good kick-ass
cowboy. I recomend this movie to anyone who loves a good
kick-ass western!!

crossfire trail
Based on reveiws I thought it would have been a better movie.It was ok. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Hot Spot is best known to lecherous film buffs for Jennifer Connelly's topless scene, but this sultry southern noir deserves more than prurient interest. It's arguably Dennis Hopper's best directorial effort (OK, so that's not saying much), and Charles Williams's source novel Hell Hath No Fury finds Hopper in a comfortable B-movie milieu, riffing on Double Indemnity with an overripe tale of sex, greed, and blackmail in an unnamed Texan town. Fresh from the final season of Miami Vice, Don Johnson stars as a shifty drifter, conning his way into a salesman job on a used-car lot, where the boss's insatiable wife (Virginia Madsen) offers him sexual favors and a lovely secretary's (Connelly) innocence is threatened by a percolating scandal. Nobody's really innocent, of course, and Hopper spices this languid web of secrets with enough trashy misbehavior to qualify The Hot Spot as a bona fide guilty pleasure. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A 'Slice of Americana' Film Brilliantly Directed by Hopper!
If a list of top 100 most unappreciated films was ever composed, this movie would make the top ten easily. Siskel & Ebert raved about this movie, and if you give it a try, you'll see why! Well written, expertly cast and almost flawlessly directed by Dennis Hopper, this movie brings small town America to life like few others in recent memory. A steamy tale indeed, put the kiddies to bed before starting this one. Don Johnson and Virginia Madsen are perfect in their parts, and I defy any male to watch this movie and NOT fall in love with the character (Gloria Harper) played by stunning Jennifer Connelly. I could write a 1000 words alone on how good each actor was in their part, main actors AND "small-part" actors, and perhaps that was the genius of this movie; chemistry among the characters that WORKED! Combine that with a plausible and well written story line, set in a uniquely small town America setting, and just plain solid movie making compliments of director Dennis Hopper, and you have "The Hot Spot", a movie that any movie connoisseur can't watch just once! Excellent!

My favourite film..!
Well, my first review and my favourite film to boot. Having read the book by Charles Williams- a gift from a friend who is big into literature and the classics, therefore I felt it might be good - I thoroughly enjoyed conjouring up the images of dusty hot Texas whilst trying to keep cool with the steamy sultry shenanigans between the two diverse female leads and Harry Madox, the main character. Watching the movie for the first time a year or so later, it struck me how rarely when one reads a book does the film match up to the imagined filmscape. In this instance it exceeded my expectations like no other film had done or has done since. With the wonderful music, evoking the atmoshpere in spades and the masterful performance by Don Johnson - hitherto remebered by most for his role in Miami vice and its lack of real depth - the movie comes alive to me as a romantic representation of what I imagine a small Texan town and its bizarre characters may be like. Jennifer Connely is indeed one of the most beatiful women on screen, a shame that many seem to have just focused on her nudity as a reason to watch (or fast forward) the movie, I guess it must tell you a thing or two about them..

You will either love or hate this movie for many reasons. I make no apologies for liking this and if you want a slick, stylish movie with great music, a hot steamy atmosphere and the opportunity to watch Don Johnson perform in the movie of his career (if only for posterity) then you will do worse than spend a couple of hours watching this.

"I found my level and I'm living it."
Drifter Harry Maddux (Don Johnson) arrives in town and takes a job as a salesman at a used car lot. The boss, Mr. Hawshaw, isn't sure quite what to make of Harry. Harry aggressively tells another salesman: "in this life, you've got to take what you want," but he privately admits that his past is "a series of jams over floozies." Hawshaw has a nubile, seductive young wife, Dolly (Virginia Madsen), who quickly targets Harry as her next prey. Harry lacks the willpower to resist her rather obvious charms, but at the same time, he is also attracted to Gloria (Jennifer Connelly), Hawshaw's young female employee.

"The Hot Spot" --a Neo Noir film--is directed by Dennis Hopper, and it's an excellent entry in the genre--complete with a sleazy blackmailer, crimes, and a wicked femme fatale. I am not a Don Johnson fan, but he did a credible job in this film. He was suitably sweaty and stressed at the appropriate moments. But the film really belonged to Virginia Madsen. She drives a vintage, pink Cadillac, and her tackily decorated mansion resembles a bordello--complete with a stuffed Polar bear. Madsen writhes, coils and slithers her way from scene to scene, and she holds Maddux in a state of horrified fascination--what a performance. There are several scenes with strippers swinging around poles, etc, and one topless scene with Connelly. Obviously not for the kiddies--displacedhuman

The Hot Spot is scorching HOT
I am a big Jennifer Connelly fan so this film is very close it my heart and I recomend it because not only do we get to see Jennifer topless on a beach but the film is pretty good.

Don Johnson does an admiral job in the film and I was impressed with the director Dennis Hopper a very nice film that wasn't expected to do anything when it was released in 1991.

A worthy addition to your DVD collection or the guilty pleasure that is my collection

Oh, Jennifer!!!!
It's true Jennifer's topless scene is very nice for us guys
but,that is not all this movie offers.The acting in this film is
good all way round. (At least in my eyes) Hopper is exellent at
bringing the southern heat to the screen and telling an offbeat
story that's fun to watch and that's what it's all about! I think
this movie is an overlooked gem and i watch it at least once a year!

Oh, Yeah!.... Did i mention Jennifer Connelly??? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Exuding the charm and grace for which he seems to hold the patent, Peter O'Toole plays Doctor Harry Wolper, a renowned research biologist whose pet project is to clone his sorely missed wife, dead now for 30 years. Assisting him in fine fashion are Meli (Mariel Hemingway), a self-proclaimed 19-year-old nymphomaniac bent on capturing the affections of Dr. Wolper, and a research assistant (Vincent Spano), whose love interest is fellow student Virgina Madsen. This sweet and enjoyable romantic comedy is brought to a head when the Madsen character drops suddenly into a coma. Then Wolper's nemesis, played almost lovably by David Ogden Stiers, thwarts his cloning attempts by reclaiming the stolen equipment he's using to do so. While Dr. Wolper preaches the beauty of The Big Picture as a way of apprehending life, this one is decidedly a small picture, but in the sense of being attuned to small details, probably owing to the foreign sensibilities of Czech director Ivan Passer (Cutter's Way). The many disparate plot threads are eventually brought into harmony, though the sheer number of them may seem a jumble to many viewers. Better to let the big picture take care of itself, and content oneself with the many smaller pleasures this delightful film affords. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Get the "Big Picture" and Enjoy
A very captivating movie. Peter O'Toole is as charming as ever and the love story, in the end, will leave you crying for joy that all is right with the world. Though probably not suitable for kids, it is still a good, clean, funny movie. When the movies over, you feel like you finally get "the big picture". This movie is definitely for the hopeless romantic!

An all-time classic! Must watch!
A beautifully written and produced movie with something for everyone with a tender-heart. The music score gently swept me off my feet and into the movie. It carefully propelled me into the life of the characters. You will laugh with them, and you will cry with them. You will be forced to re-define the meaning of love. You will wonder: how far am I willing to go to bring back a loved one? You will be challenged to ask yourself: would I stand by someone I loved even if he/she was on the verge of death? This movie is worth watching. No kidding. On the side of the characters, I admire Boris (played beautifully and delicately by Vincent Spano) the most. His innocent boy-like nature will charm you. His desire to find true love and his passion to understand "the big picture" will challenge you to think in the same vein.

Eric, you are a genius!
I'm a world-class cynic, but this movie reminds me to keep my mind and heart open.

epalfreyman
This will be short. The movie is one of my favorites, ever. The romance is moving and both realistic and idealistic at the same time. Hemingway and O'Toole take a relationship that should be a joke and make it touching and believable. O'Toole is excellent as the eccentric professor. The theme of love is what holds the movie elements together and it deals with love in many manifestations. I'm not Catholic, but it was one of the few films that didn't turn Catholics into jerks, and I really enjoyed that here was a young couple trying to find love without having to disparage their faith to do it. The movie is charming, witty and touching. If you're a cynic, it won't be for you; but if you believe in love, believe in the big picture, and believe in redemption; this is a film for you.

Creative genius
I must first start out saying that this is one of the few movies that has actually brought me to tears.
Boris and Barbara's relationship struck me as the most sincere and heart wrenching love affair that I have ever witnessed. Peter O'Toole is captivating as the eccentric scientist and David Ogden-Stiers has perpetuated his typecasting with his role as the arrogant intellectual.
This is the first major movie role for Ms Hemmingway and she shows flashes of the talent that made her so famous on TV a few years later.
This is a love story with a cast of suporting characters that make it shine. It also asks some very serious questions about the medical establishment and how terminally ill patients are treated. Your hopes will be raised and your heart be broken by this movie. It is well worth the cost. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it" affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and convoluted in the epic tradition; it has something to do with political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts (and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting, Kenneth McMillan, Patrick Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt. The DVD contains the original release version; a shorter version cut for television has been disowned by Lynch, who insisted his name be replaced by that famous Hollywood pseudonym "Alan Smithee." --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (435)

Dune: the sleeper has awaken.
David Lynch's (Eraserhead, Twin Peaks) adaptation of Frank Herbert's defining saga 'DUNE' may very well be, if truth be told, the most epic enterprise, and in many ways the most rewarding, of Lynch's work thus far.

Dune is a difficult movie to review, if only because there is no easy (or maybe I should say simple) way to look at it. At its core though DUNE tells the story of Paul Atreides, a young man whose destiny as a Messiah of worlds echoes that of such classics like Brazil or Spartacus, where seemingly ordinary men become extraordinary beings. This however is an over-simplification, DUNE is built from a collection of stories and legends that form a unique whole -perfectly captured by Lynch.

Make no mistake, this movies begs to be seen in its original 2,35:1 widescreen format. Freddie Francis' photography of the barren Dune world is simply amazing, and even though some of the special effects may seem old when compared to today's standards, the amazing designs by Anthony Masters will simply take your breath away. The DVD edition, while not anamorphic, is very well presented, sporting a very high quality video transfer and excellent sound. A brief, if yet interesting, collection of production notes are also included, as well as cast and crew bios and the original theatrical trailer in widescreen format.

DUNE seems slow at times and it may not be for everyone -but then that's always been the trademark of Lynch's work, I think. Still, DUNE is an excellent example of how a complex story can make a Sci-Fi movie be truly epic. Couple that with the amazing designs and the beautiful photography and you got a winner here. Highly recommended.

Lynch's Dune leaves lasting impressions
Oil planets, rubber suits, flying Buicks and lots of industrial images and soot...
Who else could come up with a vision like this for the Frank Herbert novel other than David Lynch?
This so-called box office disaster has to be one of the most controversial sci-fi films to ever grace the silver screen, and though it has been repeatedly bashed by sci-fi buffs and Dune purists, the two-hour-plus feature always manages to surface either on television (in a hastily- and carelessly-edited extended cut), in conversations among admirers of sci-fi or cinema, as well as in personal movie collections worldwide.
So why was it scorned during its initial release?
Expectations of the film adaptation were high. The film hardly captured every facet of the novel. But how could it?
Also, many theatergoers and sci-fi fans were expecting, well, more of a futuristic approach to Dune as opposed to Lynch's industrial vision. A spaceship with plush leather interior lacking any flashy computers just didn't do it for the Star Trek/Star Wars crowd.
However, Lynch's script remains faithful to the story and its characters. The first-rate casting, combined with (undeniably) Lynch direction, pack enough flair to make the film more than worthwhile viewing and certainly worthy to own on DVD.
The entire cast give first-rate performances, most notably Kenneth McMillan, Jose Ferrer, Sian Phillips, Francessca Annis and, of course, Patrick Stewart.
Toto, the 80s rock band that proved to everyone that musicianship isn't everything, contribute a worthy score, though it steers toward a Flash Gordon-esque style in the film's finale.
In sum, Lynch - like a true visionary - leaves us with more fantastic impressions of the enigmatic Dune world than he does comprehensive storytelling. The impressions, however, are lasting. They are the key to why this sci-fi flop survived the relentless criticism and has proved, repeatedly, to be in demand among consumers.
Note: Lynch withdrew his screenwriting and director's credit from the extended TV version of the film, and for good reason.

Duned
Woh! I didn't know what to expect when I first sat down to watch 'Dune'. Not having read the novel, the first hour of the movie made me think I had Attention Deficit Disorder, I didn't know what was going on. After that first hour, I gradually left my efforts at understanding behind and just revelled in its sheer spectacle.

Poor David Lynch was driven to the brink of suicide while making this picture. The success of 'The Elephant Man' must have made him believe that adapting other people's work would be a much more successful venture than trying to develop anything on his own at this stage of his career. 'Dune' is full of Lynchian touches even if his commanding vision is sadly missing. The Emperor's court looks like something out of pre-industrial Europe in contrast to the Harkonnen culture of brutal industry and festering disease (Lynch would have been in his element here). Indeed the Baron Harkonnen's face bears some resemblance to John Merrick's in 'The Elephant Man', biological explosions bursting through the skin.

'Dune' would have made a pretty good T.V. series if it had been directed by Lynch, there certainly would have been wider scope for plot and character development. As it was left in it's 137 minute version Lynch had to cut entire scenes and have them explained in one line of voice-over dialogue instead. This makes much more of the profound elements of the film seem like excerpts from a daytime soap opera, the slow zoom into the static face as the voice-over speaks the thoughts of the actor.

Locked into producer Dino De Laurentiis's and writer Frank Herbert's vision, it's not surprising that Lynch returned to small-time film making as a way of retaining artistic control.

Generally, I liked it
Yes, the movie is weird; yes, they changed a lot from the book, like another movie which shall remain nameless (*cough*"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"*coughcough*), and yes, it borders on the incomprehensible at times. Still, IMHO, it beats the hell out of the later remake, which is twice as long and half as interesting. The actors in this movie have great charisma, and besides, who can beat Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck? I ask you!

The main flaw (again, IMHO) is that the "long version" has yet to be released on video or DVD, although it can be seen about once a year on the Sci-Fi Channel. The shorter version is just not enough; write your congressman and DEMAND the full-length extended cut of "Dune". 'Nuff said.

Oh Lordy
Well. Time to write a review of this on Amazon. So many things to say. A beginning is a delicate time. Well, lets state the obvious first and foremost.

This movie was a flop. A bomb. A disaster. It cost a great deal of money to make and it made almost nothing at the box office. This was due to a number of reasons. One, in the early eighties, science fiction was considered very uncool. So that any young dude in the early eighties worth his salt wouldn't be caught dead going to this movie. The other matter is that any of those young dudes who DID happen to wander into this movie probably had to wonder just what the hell was going on.

Dune is very challenging science fiction that almost might be considered the work of a genius. It is far more complex and interweaving than the plot for something like "Star Wars" for example. By that, I'm not saying that Star Wars was a bad movie, indeed, it was a very profitable one (unlike Dune). It is just that from my viewpoint, it is incredible that this movie was even created at all, considering the usual attitude of movie studios toward complex plots of any kind whatsoever. In fact, I would go so far as to venture the guess that this movie being a flop set a standard for one dimensional movie plot lines for years to come. A movie must make a profit, the dumber the movie, the bigger the profit.

Anyway, the point is this movie somehow, against all odds, WAS made. And the director, to add to the weirdness, was that master of weirdness (the weirding way?) himself, David Lynch. Lordy, this movie is a miracle against all odds.

The thing to keep in mind is that this movie didn't have an immediate impact when it was first released. However, slowly, over the years, it gained a massive cult following. It has become known as that "other" sci fi movie, alongside Star Wars and Star Trek. And indeed, I believe Frank Herbert wouldn't have had it any other way. On the video shelf, Dune has become the "underground" sci fi epic loved by a select few - who rent it very often.

The movie has had a sweeping impact upon culture, regardless of who hates it or loves it. If you have seen it, you will never forget it. Some scenes remain breathtakingly modern with incredible special effects, others are rough edged with some editing that could use something to be desired. Yet despite it all, it remains powerful today (especially when compared to the awful tv miniseries version). ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Walken from Heaven with a taste of Hell
I am a die-hard Christopher Walken fan and this is by far the best movie of his career (the 2nd best being Prophecy 2). Sure this movie is about the battle between Heaven and Hell for the destiny of the entire human race, but who cares? It's Walken that matters. As the holy-turned-evil angel Gabriel he is extremely creepy and powerfully scary, but the awesome twist is that he is hilarious as well. Some actors have good scenes and some actors can steal certain scenes, but Walken is so twistedly diabolical and shockingly funny that he steals the entire movie. So much that you find yourself dying for the next scene to happen just so you can see more of him. I was very surprised at how Biblical the film is without being Biblical at all. It's very smart that way. Very spiritually exciting in an epic Biblical possibility kind of way. And the action sequences and effects are charged with power. This is truly a masterpiece and the best "Biblical-esque" science fiction action/horror film I have ever seen. GOD and the Devil and the End of the world. But who cares? It's all about Christopher Walken!

Very interesting and thought provoking film
Throughout this decade I've watched some pretty horrible horror films. The only good films I could find were Candyman and Event Horizon. But then I came across The Prophecy, which is one of the best horror films of this decade. It's not frightening in your usual horror film sense, but has more of an intellectual feel to it. It's not an insult to your mind as most slasher films are. This film is full of intriguing thoughts and ideas, especially with writer-director Gregory Widen's version of how an angel's physical form on Earth would be like. The film starts off a bit confusing but becomes more easy to understand as the film goes along. There's the soon to become priest named Thomas Dagget, played very well by Elias Koteas who now has a high-profile due to his role in The Thin Red Line. You can also catch Koteas' role as a demon in Fallen in which he is even better at it than Christopher Walken! Anyway, Thomas sees visions of angels being killed, he loses his faith and becomes a cop. This might sound kind of funny on paper but watching it is pretty serious. A good angel named Simon (portrayed perfectly by Eric Stoltz) murders another angel, Usiel who is one of Gabriel's men, in self-defense. Autopsy reports show Usiel has the physical attributes of an aborted fetus, has no eyes and never did, and is a hermaphrodite. Thomas investigates on this case and discovers a bible on Usiel that has a 23 chapter of Revelations that states of the Second Coming, another war between angels. It states the war occurs because angels are jealous of the fact God loves humans more than angels because humans have souls. In order for this war to begin, the bad angels, led by Gabriel in an unforgettable performance by Christopher Walken, need the soul of a recently deceased Colonel Hawthorne, who is supposed to be the most evil person on Earth. Simon manages to steal Hawthorne's soul before Gabriel and places it in the body of a young girl named Mary. Thomas and Mary's teacher, Katherine (in a fine performance by Virginia Madsen) get caught up in this storm of events and must find a way to prevent the apocalypse from occuring.

What I've just typed down about The Prophecy must be very confusing. It's actually a lot easier to understand then it seems. The acting in this film was very good. The lead performances by Koteas, Madsen, Walken, and Stoltz were excellent. I liked Stoltz's character the most but he left the movie too early. The overall plot idea was great and had an epic feeling. There was one particular scene where we see a vision of hundreds of angels impaled that I found very disturbing. It's one of the more haunting images on film these days. This film is also very humorous with most of the comedy supplied from Walken.

There were a couple of things I didn't like too much about this movie. Why did Simon visit Thomas? That seemed more of an excuse to get Thomas even more involved in the war. The fact that this movie is very short. It left some interesting ideas or scenes that could have easily fit in. The ending, but it's a very minor problem, isn't as great as the rest of the movie. Without giving too much away I feel a downbeat ending like in The Exorcist and The Omen would have worked better in The Prophecy. After all, a prophecy is something you can't prevent. But the ending's somewhat made up for with Koteas' thought-provoking final words and the musical score. Some people may not like the fact that Gabriel is portrayed as a jealous celestial being. All in all, The Prophecy is a supernatural thriller that should not be missed if you enjoy movies like the Exorcist or if you're a fan of the cast. There is a sequel to The Prophecy and another one in the works, but I don't plan on watching them simply because I am mostly content with the way the first film ended.

Not worth it
As I watched the movie I couldn't help but feel that the director was just stabbing out at a few concepts, rather than character development and story line. 2 bad angels and 1 good, what kind of a war is going on here? Seems pretty week to me. How is one human soul going to help them in their great battle anyway? Is this war going to somehow change God's mind? Can these evil angels who are obviously acting against the the will of God, aka sinning really expecting to have things return back to the way they once were? What is the purpose of an angel, and even more important, What is the purpose and meaning of life for humans in this movie. What motive is there to be a good angel? There has to be some kind of reward. Why do we only get the perspective from the devil and evil angels? Where is the word of God during the movie, and what of his worshipers? Not worth your time or waste of thought.

Yup :-)
I'm speaking of the 3 movies I've seen in this series of movies, Christopher Walken is one of the best actors I have seen and this roll is his apex in my mind, totally funny + he gets weirder as the movies go along, the writers know what they are doing + christopher playes it perfectly + adds his amazing performance in a perfect roll for him. Top Rate!

excellent and thrilling.
Excellent, intelligent movie. Christopher Walken was superb in this apocolyptic thriller. His charecter Gabriel chills the bones. Liked the way it showed Angels as things to be feared rather than fat babies or woman. Judgement is coming people! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

When viewed from a cranky perspective, this by-the-book David vs. Goliath story doesn't offer any surprises, and it's a bit sad to watch director Francis Coppola (who also adapted John Grisham's bestseller) squandering his once-glorious talent on such conventional Hollywood fare. In a more charitable light, however, there's great pleasure to be found in Coppola's intelligent, no-nonsense handling of a plot that's every bit as involving as it is formulaic. Coppola also knows how to bring out the best in a stellar cast, and this is the movie (released in November 1997, just a few weeks beforeGood Will Hunting) that signaled Matt Damon's arrival as a major-league star. Damon plays Rudy Baylor, a young rookie lawyer in Memphis (location of many Grisham stories) who takes on a powerful insurance company (led by a sharklike lawyer played by Jon Voight) by representing the family of a boy who was denied potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia. Rudy also comes to the rescue of an abused wife (Claire Danes) and learns the tricks of the legal trade from a seasoned paralegal (Danny DeVito), who sees Rudy as his ticket out of the sleazeball practice run by a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke). There's no mystery about where this plot is going, but Coppola takes us there in high style with a sharp script, and Damon strikes just the right note of naivete and strategic intelligence. When Goliath inevitably falls, this courtroom David wins fair and square. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Great Movie, Fair Disc
The Rainmaker 2.35:1/Dolby Digital 5.1 Paramount Pictures

The first adaptation of a John Grisham tale that I've really enjoyed, "The Rainmaker", directed by Francis Ford Coppola, looks at the life of a poor young Southern lawer, Rudy Baylor(Matt Damon, in a great performance) as he battles against an insurance company and it's staff of lawers(led by Jon Voight).

Baylor is battling for Donny Ray Black, a young man who's insurance claims have been turned down time and time again; Kelly Riker(Claire Danes), who lives in continuing fear of her abusive husband and Miss Birdie, an older woman who simply wants to keep her money from her greedy offspring.

This is really the best of the Grisham adaptations and I'm fairly positive it's the hand of director Coppola that has it rising above the rest; the film is crowd-pleasing sure, but it's also very smart and very well acted, with a lot of rich dialogue and some very interesting and entertaining characters. Danny Devito, as Damon's aid, has a lot of fun in a great performance; like in "LA Confidential", we're seeing Devito as his absolute peak lately. He's been picking bigger and especially, much better roles lately. Matt Damon's first major performance in this film is also very well done, yet another in his line of subtle, wonderful performances along with "Courage Under Fire" and "Good Will Hunting." Much like Damon's last film "Rounders", I also thought his narration in this film was well done and well written(by Michael Herr)

Overall, it's an excellent film, well directed, acted and written. It's a well-told tale by Ford Coppola and it's highly entertaining. "The Rainmaker" was one of my picks for the top 10 films of 1997.

The DVD: Picture: Well, where there's good, there's also bad. It's unfortunate that Paramount did an unsatisfactory job with this disc. Colors are not terribly well defined or vibrant; contrast is only fair; the whole disc looks, to my eyes, like an "okay" laserdisc would. There is definitely a noticeable amount of pixelization and some shimmering. It makes a point I was talking about with another person a couple of weeks ago all the more apparent to me. I said, "the best DVD material will absolutely blow your mind; at worst, it'll make you shrug your shoulders and say, 'well, that's sort of okay' ". "The Rainmaker" simply made me shrug my shoulders in dissapointment. It's probably the least impressive picture transfer in my collection of discs, and that's too bad since this is really a great film that deserves a great disc. In a time where Tristar is making discs that look as good as "Godzilla", there's no excuse for a film that's not terribly old like "The Rainmaker" to look like this. It looked this way on my Panasonic A110. Hopefully, although I highly doubt it, people will have better luck on other players.

Audio:Pretty good. It's definitely a dialogue film, backed by a nice, subtle score. Both are well recorded and pleasant to listen to. Nothing terribly mind-blowing. Again, the annoying problem is still there; you can not switch the audio during the film, only from the menu. Try during the film and you're out of luck.

Menus: Very weak. The picture on the front of the box with some simplistic bordering and big, dull buttons.

Extras:Nothing. No 16x9, No Trailer, Not A Thing. Absolutely zero.

Overall: It's a great film and if you liked the film as much as I did, it's worth a purchase at some of the very low prices found on the internet, but after watching this disc, I would *definitely* not pay full price for it. If you're considering it, I'd highly suggest a rental first, unless you like the movie itself as much as I did.

Film:**** Picture:* 1/2 Audio:** 1/2 Extras:Zero Menus:Zero

Overall Disc Quality:**

This is Damon's show.
Matt Damon was a relative unknown when he was tapped to play the hero of "The Rainmaker", based on a novel by John Grisham & directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was a twist of fate that launched Damon's career and definitely lifted this movie. (Ironically, Matthew McConaughey got his start the same way- being an unknown cast in a movie based on a Grisham novel.)

The plot is a classic David-vs-Goliath story- fresh out of law school Matt Damon sues an insurance company for denying treatment to a family with cancer. Ultimately Damon triumphs- the righteous cause succees and the system works. Damon is a major talent, as evidenced by his performance in this film. He's shy, unsure of himself, but basically a good person committed to doing what's right.

I wasn't too impressed by the rest of the cast- Claire Danes is a talented actress but fails to shine here. Danny DeVito is okay as Damon's law partner, and Jon Voight comes across as a none-too-interesting arrogant villain. The rest of the cast? Nobody stands out- this is Damon's show.

What impressed me about "The Rainmaker" was its hard, unflinching portrayal of the legal profession. A lawyer's life is not glamorous and does not necessarily guarantee a huge paycheck. Those quick to criticize lawyers ought to take some law courses before they open their mouths- the road to becoming a lawyer is rough and a considerable commitment of both your time and financial resources. Despite his law degree, Damon's financial picture at the beginning of the film is decidedly precarious.

Watch "The Rainmaker" along with "A Civil Action" and "Erin Brockovich" to get a pretty good idea about the way the law works & how courts give the little people an avenue to even up with big shots like corporations and insurance companies. Watch this movie in particular to see a terrific performance from Matt Damon.

GRISHAM'S LAW
THE RAINMAKER is a by the numbers adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller. Director Francis Ford Coppola explores no new grounds in this film, but elicits competent and professional performances from a stellar cast. Matt Damon who plays Rudy burst onto the scene in this movie, released just before his Oscar winning screenplay and starring role in GOOD WILL HUNTING. Damon captures the youthful impetuosity and naivete of a just bar-approved lawyer who finds himself involved in a case against a big insurance company. His assistant is played by a restrained Danny DeVito. Their boss is played by an unusually understated Mickey Rourke, who shows up on screen looking halfway decent for a change. His clients are wonderfully played by Mary Kay Place and Johnny Whitworth. Jon Voight delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Damon's devilishly cold opponent; Roy Scheider has a brief scene as the CEO of the insurance company; Randy Travis has a thirty second scene as an irate juror; Virginia Madsen is wonderful in a small role as the claims adjustor who was fired; Claire Danes is appropriately cast as the abused wife who turns to Damon for help. Oscar winner Teresa Wright turns up in a lovely role as an elderly lady who wants to leave her money to a tv evangelist.
THE RAINMAKER is perhaps a little too long (it clocks in well over two hours), and offers little in the way of suspense. It is competent, involving and ultimately satisfying, however. Matt Damon proved the hoopla about to come was deserved.

The Rainmaker- Worthwhile for All
Adapted from a novel by John Grisham, The Rainmaker details the life of a young and poor lawyer, Rudy Baylor. Based in the South, Baylor takes on several cases: a young man battling leukemia (and the Great Benefits healthcare provider), an elderly wealthy woman revising her will, and a married woman suffering domestic violence. Donny Ray Black's case serves as the central storyline for The Rainmaker, though the movie follows Baylor and his interactions with all his clients and legal staff. Rudy Baylor serves as an exception to the legal system as a whole, and is portrayed as a man who is genuinely concerned for the well being of his clients.

The Rainmaker is a well directed and acted film. Its characters, plot, and situations make the video both educational and entertaining to watch. Matt Damon, who plays Rudy Baylor, is at his best. The supporting roles played by Danny Devito (Deck Schifflet) and Claire Danes (Kelly Riker) add to the moving storylines. The most fascinating aspect of the movie, however, is its exploration of the legal ethics. The audience is encouraged to form their own opinions of the principles within the legal system from The Rainmaker's plot.

Though Rudy Baylor becomes too involved with his cases, he teaches the viewers an important lesson about legal careers and life in general: that people respond to those who care. Baylor experiences both criticism and praise in his cases, and ultimately, he accomplishes several important tasks- overcoming the fraudulent Great Benefits health insurance company, freeing Riker from abuse within her marriage, and developing a trusting relationship with the older woman. The Rainmaker is both a worthwhile and thought-provoking film that explores the legal system and ethics while absorbing the interest of the film's audience.

Best of old and new
The story line of John Grisham's Rainmaker comes to screen life through the creative genius of Coppola, and unlike some of his films which are far from where I live, such as The Godfather (although very truistic), this film is one I can relate to and which could touch the life of many of us.

Matt Damon's character, Rudy Baylor, is believable and represents the heart of many young men and women who start their law practice with high ideals, moral values and integrity. His quiet wisdom holds up well when pitted with the arrogance of a Leo Drummond-type lawyer, a man whose moral and ethical values were leeched from him long ago.

Although there is light foul language, it is refreshing to see a film where one does not have to wince constantly from the onslaught of gutter language and unclothed people!

Danny Glover walked the high moral ground in this film as well and gave a stunning performance as always.

I was delighted to see the incomparable Teresa Wright as Miss Birdie, (catch her in "Mrs Miniver" starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon from the B&W WWII movie years, what a treasure!) She played the part to perfection, "cut, cut, cut."

Claire Danes, an excellent actress for one so young, played the part of an abused young woman to a "T" with the low-key type personality so prevalent in one who has been cowed into submission way too many times. With an abusive childhood himself, Rudy had to save her. (Loved Danes in Les Miserables and Little Women!)

Mary Kay Place always shines, but her portrayal of a mom whose son is dying needlessly touches my mother's heart.

Funny Danny Devito, funny...

I give the Rainmaker high marks! If you like real life movies, watch this or you could be Great Benefit's next victim.

(Interesting that in the video tape version, there is no mention of Danny Glover in any of the credits!) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Fact of Racism
Growing up in a very sheltered and loving community I never really saw the effects of racism. When it was taught in school it always seemed like something from the distant past. This film really brought home the fact that racism is not as distant as I once believed. It is a scary thing to see adults who harvest so much hatred towards other human beings. This film was a real eye opener.

five stars because it is so underrated
'Ghosts of Mississippi' is a much, MUCH better film than a similar movie relaesed earlier in the same year called 'A Time to Kill'. Why the latter film did better at the box office is beyond me. First of all, Alec Baldwin has more acting talent in his pinky finger than the overhyped wooden plank we like to call Mathew Mcaughnahy has in his whole body. Second, Rob Reiner is a better director than Joel Schumacher. Third, but most important, this was a true story where the attorney was really white, rendering the movie less racially offensive than author John Grisham's ('A Time To Kill') vision of a world with only white male heroes.

Great Movie
This is a great movie, I was so impressed. If you saw "A Time to Kill" and liked it, you'll like this one (which was, coincidentally, even made in the same year, set in the same state, set in the same time, with almost the same story)- maybe even better since it isn't ruined with the little "romance" of the movie as "A Time to Kill" was with Sandra Bullock. And it is realistic. Alec Baldwin does a great job acting in this movie. If you don't know anything about "Ghosts of Mississippi," "A Time to Kill," or are familiar with any of John Grisham's books, here's a little summary: 26 years prior, a white man killed Edgar Evans and got away with it. Now, Edgar Evans widowed wife comes to a (white) Mississippi lawyer for help in finally putting her husband's murderer in his place. He tries to uncover 26-year old evidence, dig up witnesses which most turn out to be dead or closed up, and encounters the racist murderer. He also deals with the other racists in Jackson, Mississippi. I enjoy this movie every time I see it.

An excellent movie dealing with Civil Rights issues.
This is a movie that needs to be seen, much like "Saving Private Ryan" needed to be seen. It would open eyes to the harshness of the time and the idea that good can prevail.

I don't understand racism
well, yes i's true maybe the movie is not that great; but the theme is interesting.

i'm puertorican. it's very hard for me to deal with racism, not because i'm a victim, just because i believe it's not right. just in case, they call me white which i'm not. we are all mixed, having of course genetical attributes expressed, but in the end we are mixed, which it's beatiful. and it doesn't make a difference in the respect we deserve.

James Woods was running for the Oscars. i don't know who won over him. his performance along it's worth the movie. i hate him to death, him and his arrogance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tennessee Williams once wrote, "Marion Davies makes up for the rest of Hollywood," and this superb documentary demonstrates why the gifted actress was so beloved in high society. Executive produced by Hugh Hefner and narrated by Charlize Theron, Captured on Film corrects the fallacy that obscured Davies's achievements since the release of Citizen Kane in 1941. Orson Welles intended no harm with his masterpiece, but the film's portrayal of a publishing tycoon--loosely based on William Randolph Hearst and his lengthy affair with Davies--painted an unflattering portrait of a talentless, drunken mistress, and Davies was quite the opposite. Among many expert interviewees, film historian Kevin Brownlow observes that Davies was truly the first screwball comedian, and vintage film clips bear him out: watch Davies impersonate such film greats as Lillian Gish and Pola Negri, and you can see her comedic gift in full bloom, undiminished by time. Her 32-year devotion to Hearst (whose wife refused to divorce him) is accurately chronicled as sincere and meaningful, and the 1927 feature Quality Street offers a worthy showcase for Davies's versatile talents. (It was remade in 1937 with Katharine Hepburn; this silent version is arguably superior.) --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Amazon.com

As rites-of-passage films featuring a young man's sexual initiation inthe arms of a beautiful woman go, Class (1983) has plenty going for it,not least its attractive cast: Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan, Rob Lowe asGatsbyish best friend Skip, and Jacqueline Bisset as the beautiful woman who'sold enough to know better and just happens to be Skip's mother.

Lewis John Carlino's film has moments of insight, taking a few well-aimed shotsat the vaguely sinister network of private-school life. In the first reel itneatly subverts the bullying scenario that threatens when the geeky Jonathanarrives at the school, while offering the briefly intriguing sight of Lowe inscarlet bra and pants. And there's a subplot of deceit and complicity that bothstrengthens and threatens the friendship that rapidly forms between Skip andJonathan. In many ways, though, the most interesting element of thepicture--Skip's relationship with his dysfunctional family--is left unexplored.Jonathan's deflowering and subsequent interludes are merely titillating. AndBisset's Ellen, a desperately sad character, becomes superfluous once therevelation that she's the "teacher" sets the boys' friendship on the path tofraternal solidarity. --Piers Ford ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Brat Pack Movie
I must admit that this movie was one of the typical 'Brat Pack' movies. Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy are wonderful as two teenagers who are completely different. Skip (Lowe) comes from a very wealthy family and is expected to go to Harvard after finishing up at his prep school, Vernon Acadamy. Jonathan (McCarthy) on the other hand, comes from the city and is in the Middle-Class. He is not as 'smoothe' as Skip and learns the hard way how to get a woman.

The climax of the story is when Jonathan meets Skip's family. He has no idea that the woman with whom he has been sleeping with is Skip's mother! The reaction of the two is great.

This movie is filled with comedy, light drama, and minimal violence. It's fun to watch, even though it is a bit dated. For me though, seeing a young Rob Lowe was the thrill!

First exposure to the physical acts of love and enjoyed it!!
I remember when, at the age of 12, my babysitter(who strikingly resembled Catherine Mary Stewart)let me watch this film with her about a young college student who had an affair with his roommate's beautiful mother. Having been exposed to the act of lovemaking, ... physical love, or however people describe the emotional and physical act, I was impressed with how the film turned out. It may have an '80's version of the 1967 film The Graduate, but it was a joy to watch. British actress Jacqueline Bisset not only radiates her beauty, but she also radiates someone who is sad, if not depressed. Andrew McCarthy (in his first role) does an excellent job of playing a young man who changes from a nerd type to a suave and debonair ladies man. This film was, in many ways, one of the brat pack films, and starred many actors from that era who were just getting started in the industry. Not only are the ... love scenes between Andrew and Jacqueline convincing, they are beautiful and moving. The rest of the film is also enjoyable to watch. If you enjoyed the era of the 1980's and older, beautiful, and sophisticated women characters, then you'll enjoy this hilarious, if not moving film.

*Andrew McCarthy stated in an interview that he must have been doing something right when he was offered the role. This was after he had filmed his love scenes with Jacqueline Bisset.

*As always, rumors of the love scenes between the two indicated that they were real and not just acting.

Excellent
I was a bit apprehensive about this movie when I bought the DVD. Already there were so many movies dealing with Oedipus complex. But this movie is a great one and class apart from many others dealing with on this subject.

The plot looked natural and the acting was good. Not only Bisset (from whom good acting is a natural expectation) but the others too. Even the sex scenes were not graphic, leaving a lot to imagination...that distinguished the movie from a mere sex flick.

Its worth buying this moview

Not Bad But Not Great
This film is basically a teen comedy about life in a prep school, with a little drama thrown in related to the pressure put on the kids by the school and by their parents. Its main focus is the romantic and sexual fantasies of the students, mainly playboy Rob Lowe and nice-guy Andrew McCarthy. There's a little of "The Graduate" in here and a little "Dead Poets Society" as well, but those are both superior films. I enjoyed watching "Class" and do not dislike it; I just am less impressed with it than others seem to be. It's nice, generally shallow, teen fluff. If you're looking for a light way to pass a dreary afternoon, this might be just the ticket.

Lots of fun.
Class is really class. A bit of comedy, a bit of sexual fantasy and the fun & pressure of studying in a high class prep school are beautifully interwoven. I like the ending when the guys laugh off thier stupidity. Jackie Bisset is gorgeous as usual. I've liked this movie ever since the first time I saw it. ... Read more

Reviews (100)

Refreshing, different, and most importantly, original.
Forget the sequels, the Scream movies, and the 'I Know Who You Killed After Sleeping With Them Last Independance Day'-type movies. 'Candyman', the original urban-legend-based horror movie is definitely one of the absolute best horror movies of the 90's, and even today, with a decent body of work being produced in this genre, stands the test of time as a truly scary and original picture.

Attractive, intelligent and wry university researcher Helen Lyle (an excellent, hitherto overlooked Virginia Madsen) stumbles onto the horrifying legacy of The Candyman, while compiling a research paper on Urban Legend. She and her friend Bernadette (Kasi Lemmons) investigate further, and what ensues is a genuinely disturbing movie, choc-full of decent performances, excellent direction and an exquisite score by Phillip Glass.

The premise is simple: Urban Legend comes to life, starts rampage, must be stopped. It's the actors that make 'Candyman' a treat, and Madsen and Lemmons give great performances, believable as disaster-plagued Women-Of-The-Ninties. Madsen, in particular, does a brilliant job in the role of the hapless Helen, being by turns businesslike and frail. Tony Todd as the titular Candyman is one of the most memorable villains of modern Horror, and gives a sensual, menacing performance as the Villain. His voice and screen presence make the flesh crawl, while simultaneously exuding charisma.

Bernard Rose's direction (he also wrote the screenplay, from an old Clive Barker story) is standard-setting. The grim, gritty vistas of Cabrini Green and the sepia-toned flashback sequences are memorable and chilling, and spiralling arial shots coupled with choppy cut-sequences make for a visual feast. The score, too, helps the picture enormously, and Glass' solo piano is the stuff of horror classics.

An original and excellent horror, 'Candyman' deserves its place as a true classic of the Genre. Neither pretentious nor ironic, it's a brilliantly realised vision of a modern nightmare. Get it.

The REAL Urban Legend film
Candyman is yet another fantastic adaptation of one of Clive Barker's stories into a film. It has a very different feeling to it compared to Hellraiser, Nightbreed, or Lord of Illusion. The world in "Candyman" feels more real, which makes it more frightening. The story is about a graduate student working on a thesis about urban legends and modern folklore that people use to deal with the baser human fears in modern life. Once the legends get spread they eventually take on a life of their own. In the case of Candyman, a legend taking on it's own life gets on an entirely new meaning.

That's enough to get you started without giving away too much.

In the right atmosphere, this movie can be down right frightening. The use of sound in the film is phenomenal. The constant switch between silence and Philip Glass' creepy score is wonderful. On top of that, Tony Todd's resonating deep voice will send chills down your spine when he calls out Helen's name.

The movie is starts very slow paced in order to keep the suspense up, and then explodes.
This is an intense, highly psychological, and gory film.

Been waiting to see this one but...
I love horror movies and this was one of the few that I haven't seen. The acting was okay, but the pacing was slow and it really didn't live up to the hype at all. Rent it first as I did.

Best Horror Movie
This by far has to be the scariest horror movie of all times. As a child i have to say the Friday the 13th movies were scary, along wit Mike Myers, Chucky, Freddy, and the rest but this movie goes beyond all that. I think if u want to see a good horror movie on a Friday night then this is the one. You will definitely be scared. The only thing is that you shouldnt watch it alot of times, the more u watch, the less scarier it becomes.. a must movie to own.

An overlooked psychological thriller
Candyman starts out pedestrian enough. Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is a graduate student attempting to wow her instructor while dealing with her cheating professor husband. Helen chooses the local urban legend Candyman to blow her teacher away. Being the detailed and dedicated researcher, she investigates the area where most of Candyman's victims are found; the Cabrini Green housing project. Helen and her fellow student interview residents of the rundown apartment complex, explore an abandoned apartment that has been transformed into a shrine to the title character, and form an unusual bond with a young, struggling mother (Vanessa Williams).

All proceeds as one would expect until a murderer using the Candyman legend as a cover is caught by the police. Helen comforts a boy by telling him that the Candyman is not the boogeyman, just a bad man trying to scare and cause harm. This