Reviews (182)

Cameron Crowe's Masterpiece
I don't know if it's just me, but writer/director Cameron Crowe always seems to hit the mark. Whether it be his first effort at writing a Script (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), his second directorial effort (Singles), and the absolutely fabulous Jerry Maguire and this year's sure fire Best Picture, Almost Famous.

Unlike most films, which begin with a screenplay, producer, James L. Brooks asked Cameron Crowe to write the story in prose first. The result was a 90-page novella that became the outline for the film, and from which Crowe wrote the final screenplay.

This movie stars John Cusack (who must have been about 19) as Lloyd Dobler, an eternal optimist who seeks to capture the heart of Diane Court (Ione Skye). He surprises just about everyone-including himself-when she returns the sentiment. But Diane's over possessive, divorced Dad (John Mahoney) doesn't approve and it's going to take more than just the power of love to conquer all.

This is my favourite movie by Cameron Crowe. As with all his movies, the dialogue is true to life and flows. Every aspect of this film borders on unbelievable brilliance. John Cusack is terrific as Lloyd Dobler, the sweetest guy in the whole world. He's one of those guys that girls would love to have, but one of those guys that guys would love to be. The situations are true to life situations teens would absolutely be put in (I love watching Lloyd make his first phone call to Diane -- it reminded me of me) Ione Skye is also great as the object of Lloyd's affection torn between her love for her father and her love for Lloyd.

Besides being Cameron Crowe's best film, this movie also sports the greatest love scene of all time (I won't ruin it for those who haven't seen it), and can give inspiration to any guy who has ever wanted a girl as much as Lloyd. Guaranteed though, after seeing this particular scene, be prepared to fall in love with Peter Gabriel's Song "In Your Eyes".

If you haven't read through all of this (if you got bored, I don't blame you), just read this last paragraph. This is a terrific movie. One that you can watch over and over again without getting tired of it. If you haven't seen it, you are indeed missing out. Roger Ebert declared it one of the best films of the year in 1989.

- "We just don't want to see you get hurt" "I wanna get hurt"

John Cusack's 2nd Best Movie of All Time
There is no denying that "Say Anything" is quite simply one of the best films of all time!

HOWEVER...John Cusack's best role will always be that of Walter Gibson in "The Sure Thing".... which needs to be released on DVD IMMEDIATELY.

"Say Anything" is a different film than "The Sure Thing." It is in a class all by itself. It is quite simply marvelous, poignant and forever endearing. It deserves so much more than 5 starts! 10 stars for this beautiful film.

What can be said about this film that hasn't already been said? It is the perfect love story. Lloyd meets girl. Lloyd falls in love with girl. Girl's father objects to Lloyd. Lloyd loses girl. Lloyd wins her back. True love reigns.

This DVD is PACKED. Worth every cent you will pay should you wish to own a classic gem. There is commentary by director Cameron Crowe, John Cusack, & Ione Skye!! (Right there, worth the price!) There are so many behind the scenes stories and anecdotes to be listened to here. There are theatrical and television trailers, 10 deleted scenes, 13 extended scenes & 5 alternate scenes with commentary!! What more could you want?!

DO NOT miss out on owning this DVD. If you've by some chance never seen "Say Anything" do yourself a favor and do so right away! You're truly missing out.

SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT.... No matter how many times I have seen this masterpiece, I still get choked up when Lloyd tells Diane, "You've just described every success story." And then we wait for the "ding" along with them.

And then... the "ding." CUT TO BLACK. (Gets me every time.)

I love this movie. Absolutely love it.

SOMEWHAT SIMPLISTIC BUT CHARMING TEEN ROMANCE DRAMA..
Whether it is young John Cusack's skittering sense of comic timing, Yione Skye's riveting beauty (no idea why she hasn't been in other known films!), or the sweet but memorably amusing moments littered throughout this film, there is something very charming about this candypop romance from the 80s.

A dorky but confident guy falls head over heels in love with the school's super brainy girl. Things happen, ups and downs ensue, all leading to an ending that is so satisfying, so overwhelmingly right, that immediately we fall back into step.

My minor grouse with the story was how conveniently the solid parental characterization of the girl's father turns out to be such a snake. One wonders if teenagers may not pick up from this the tired and rather sad message that parents are not to be trusted, no matter how sincere.

But that doesn't detract Say Anything from being a hot recommendation from me, particularly if you have a thing for lovey-dovey light dramas. It generally maintains an intelligent and realistic contour, which is more than one can say for most romantic comedies being made today.

A Modern Romance Classic
It's so pertinent for our times. I think almost anyone can relate something similar in their lives to the scenes in this movie. That's why it's so appealing. In a world where not every guy gets the girl, this is the stuff of dreams...and for a little while, somebody out there who is watching it gets to live that dream.

Teen Charmer
A teen movie of the late 80's, I found this charmer, "Say Anything." John Cusak is the quirky misfit teen in love with the unattainable. The unattainable is the senior class brain, Ione Skye. Ione has a wonderful smile, which she uses to disarm. Her acting skills are limited however, so Cusak's antics move the story to the opposites-attract finale. John Mahoney, the dad in "Frazer" on TV, plays Ione's businessman, father in deep soup with the IRS. He wants her to go to England on a scholarship. She is wooed, charmed, and then makes it with shiftless Cusak. I must say that Mahoney is believable in a complicated character, both loving father and a secret embezzler. Ordinarily in these teen operas, parents are total dotes. There is the obligatory teen beer-bash, but this one is fairly realistic with kids that actually like each other, as opposed to bashes where kids are trying to be too cool. Nice little date flick for teens. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A live concert at Carnegie Hall filmed in September 1998, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies gathers a glittering lineup of Broadway's best, past and present. Some marquee names such as Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, and Betty Buckley are conspicuously missing, and Julie Andrews hosts but does not sing, but it still has Liza and stars aplenty from the '90s (Bebe Neuwirth, Faith Prince) as well as the '70s and '80s (Elaine Stritch, Jennifer Holliday, Nell Carter). The older stars sing songs from landmark original roles, while the '90s stars tend to sing either songs they've performed in revivals or songs from older shows--curiously, modern headliners such as Audra McDonald and Linda Eder sing older material rather than the contemporary shows (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde, respectively, among others) with which they are strongly associated.

A number of these performances might be slightly inferior to those on the original recordings, but there are a number of gems, and the star power of the whole lineup is undeniable. In addition, even though only a few numbers provide action to watch, video is a valuable format for this concert because it gives faces to stars who most viewers outside of New York might recognize only by name or still photographs, and also allows fans to catch up with yesterday's stars.(Those who were dazzled by Andrea McArdle's cameo in the 1999 TV remake of her original star-making vehicle, Annie, will love her sweet, understated performance here.) Furthermore, the 99-minute video program provides more footage than the PBS telecast (85 minutes) or theCD release (61 minutes). This is highly recommended for Broadway fans. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Brought Tears to My Eyes
These women have proven once again that they belong among Broadway's elite. Living in Kansas, I have never had the priviledge of seeing great Broadway performances. I have been resigned to collecting soundtracks of top-notch shows. This DVD provided me with the opportunity to see these performers. Julie Andrews looked exquisite and hosted graciously, despite her inability to sing. Some notable numbers: Bebe Neuwirth and Karen Ziemba; Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag (Chicago), Linda Eder absolutely rocked the audience with her performance of Man of La Mancha, Liza Minnelli had the crowd on their feet, Anna Kendricks and the (too-thin) Kit-Kat girls from Cabaret sweetly perform Life Upon the Wicked Stage and Kendricks is adorable. Karen Ziemba danced with The Rockettes in I Wanna Be A Rockette. And the Amazing Audra McDonald left even the most critical man I know absolutely speechless with her performance of Down With Love.
But far and beyond, and if for no other reason, the one you buy this DVD for, is the Andrew Lloyd Webber Love Trio. Audra McDonald, Marin Mazzie and Judy Kuhn perform 3 different songs from 3 different Webber musicals and come together in one of the most heart-stopping performances I have ever heard. If you are a fan of Broadway, this purchase is well worth it.

Prince, Eder, Kuhn, Mazzie, Holliday, Stritch and much more
"My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies" certainly gives you ample opportunity to choose from Column A and Column B throughout the evening. In this live concert performed at Carnegie Hall in September of 1998, Column A is hearing performers doing the songs with which they are most associated. From the evening's selections this would be Karen Ziemba & Bebe Neuwirth doing "Nowadays" from "Chicago," Priscilla Lopez singing "Nothing" from "A Chorus Line," and Nell Carter's "Mean To Me" "Ain't Misbehavin.'" True, they essentially sing these songs the way we heard them on the original Broadway cast albums, but when you are talking Faith Prince's rendition of "Adelie's Lament" from "Guys and Dolls," Jennifer Holliday singing "And I'm Telling You" from "Dreamgirls" or Elaine Stritch standing on stage and once again nailing "The Ladies Who Lunch," there is only reason to be happy. The performance that straddles the two categories would be Andrea McArdle, who starts off singing "Look for the Silver Lining" before moving to "Tomorrow" from "Annie." True, her voice is not what it was when she was a kid, but there is a certain poignancy in hearing the adult McArdle try to do the song for which she will always be remembered differently.

Column B is where you have singers doing songs they never performed on Broadway. After all, Liza Minelli is never going to play Mama Rose in "Gypsy," so this is here only chance to do "Some People," and since she refuses to slow down during the performance you can understand why. But then Linda Eder comes out and sings "Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)" and we forget about Liza. In this column I would also put the show's Andrew Lloyd Webber medley, where Marin Mazzie & Judy Kuhn do "Love Changes Everything" ("Aspects of Love"), "Unexpected Song" ("Song and Dance") and "I Don't Know How to Love Him" ("Jesus Christ Superstar"). Finally, I have to put in the song that proves I do not know everything about Broadway musicals, because I do not know if Dorothy Loudon did "Ballroom" on Broadway, but from the way the crowd reacts when she comes out during the opening piano notes of "Fifty Percent," by guess would be that she did. It does not really matter because in a show like this there should be a song you have never heard before that you want to hear again, although it is really Loudon's performance that impresses here. Yes, it is rather sad that Julie Andrews introduces and closes "The Leading Ladies" without ever singing a single note, but that is a minor disappointment in a night of performances that certainly comes out ahead when you balance the scales at the end of the evening.

Jennifer Holliday reigns supreme
Like a previous reviewer I bought this DVD simply for Jennifer Holliday's rendition of her signature song from Dreamgirls.
Ever since I first heard 'And I am telling you'I have been captivated by the awesome emotion she manages to emanate through her voice and since then it has remained my favourite record/song of all time.
I must say I was not dissapointed on playing this DVD.In my opinion she wiped the floor with the rest of the Leading Ladies.
It seems the live audience agreed with this as she was the only singer to receive a standing ovation for her singing abilities as opposed to receiving one for simply being who she was.
Having said that the Lloyd Webber Love Trio was very good and well put together but for singing naturally from the heart Jennifer takes the prize and she is why I rate this with 5 stars.

THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT
Funny how people who have nothing nice to say hide behind anonymous titles like "a viewer". That just tells me that you don't have the conviction to stand behind what you say. Anyway, I was there for the filming and this DVD is even more spectacular with the close ups and excellent dolby sound. I really thought that I had seen it all sitting there in my balcony seat watching such greats as Liza Minelli, Jennifer Holliday, and Nell Carter perform, but this DVD is as intimate as it gets. How can you get better than front and center at Carnegie Hall? This DVD, that's how.
Ignore the ignorant. If you enjoy Broadway, then you will treasure this forever. I promise.

LINDA! LINDA!! LINDA!!! LINDA!!!!
All I can say is W.O.W! I had purchased this dvd because of Liza Minnelli whom I adore. But the star of the evening was LINDA EDER. She lifted the whole show to another height! Her voice was superb,I am a vocal teacher and she was FLAWLESS even to my ears. lol~ Her power and drive and passion towards performing really shows in this stellar performance! Way to go Linda! You have a fan for LIFE!!!

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MusicFan04 ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Welcome to the Jungle
Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst face bigger-than-life jungle dangers in the engaging family adventure "Jumanji". Young Alan Parrish finds a mysterious board game and is vanished to an imaginable jungle realm. 26 years later, two unsuspected children (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce) freed the now adult Alan (Robin Williams) and unleash the jungle world of Jumanji upon their quiet town. Based on the best-selling children's book, "Jumanji" is an exciting fast-paced fantasy adventure. Director Joe Johnston combines elements of adventure, fantasy and humor to create an enchanting family spectacle. The clever storyline and characters are certainly amusing. The film contains some great special effects and thrilling scenes but a few effects weren't quite polished. The cast also includes Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde and David Alan Grier.

"Jumanji" Collector Edition is a vast improvement over the previous bare-bones edition. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains an impressive video transfer and a clear 5.1 Dolby Digital sound with dynamic surround effects. Among special features, this Collector Series DVD includes multiple behind-the-scenes and FX featurettes, audio commentary with FX supervisor Ken Ralston, theatrical trailers and some great animated menus. Overall, "Jumanji" Collector's Series DVD earns a "B+".

Greaat Movie
This is a great movie!
Its 1969. Alan Parish has troubles with his father. He finds a game named Jumanji at a construction site. He plays with his former friend Sarah Whiddle. They play, and until the game reads 5 or 8, in the jungle he must wait. The game isn't played until 26 years later by a young girl and boy that will be living in the Parish home. Peter, the young boy, rolls a 5, or 8, and he is unleashed. This wild movie is all in one day! It turns out they can not play until Sarah Whiddle joins. They find her and the whole town, including her try to believe it was the father that killed him. I hate to say it, but the ending is sad. Once they finish the game, it should all dissappear. Robin Williams isn't the only one relased from the game. Who else? Go buy it now!

Sorry Robin
Jumanji has its moments, but you might as well tape it off cable. Robin Williams is probably embarrassed about this film, although it's not entirely his fault. The film drags, the characters are stick figures. Almost dreadful.

BUTTOCKS IN THE JUNGLE
DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MACHINE WICH TAKES PANTAS WHICH HAVE BEEN POOPED INTO AND TURNS IT INTO A FILM
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM TO BE PRODUCED IN THIS WAY
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SO NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE (SEE MARIO, SPACE JAM, POPEYE).
THIS HAD ROBIN WILLIAMS FACE SQUASHED INTO THE POO TO GIVE IT A CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR, BUT IT IS STILL A POOP IN YOUR PANTAS.

WATCH OUT, THIS ONE MAY SEEP ONTO YOUR FLOOR AND CAUSE YOU TO SLIP AND BREAK YOUR NECK

exellent family film
This film is wonderful, who ever written this must have an amazing imagination, its got all genres, frightning, funny, romantic,weird. This is a beautifully made family film.as good for mum and dad as it is for the kids.Alan Parish life is turned upside down when he discovers the mysterious board game jumanji,in his attic, he plays it with friend sarah until he is sucked into the game to a jungle full of animals,20 years on he escapes and returns to his home to find his parents have died and finds two kids living in his house.peterand judy. they play the game,resulting in a flood, a stampede.....this film is so magical,i havent heard one bad word for it.the acting is exeptional, robin williams best film ever made.i recommend you to try this film out. gather by the television,eat popcorn and put your feet up.one for all the family even grandma and grandpa will like it! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

CAPTIVATING
The slim premise of Green Card -- a French slob wants to be a US citizen; a left-wing socialite wants a fabulous apartment with a greenhouse; they get married -- creeps up on you, and expands in ways that will surprise you. Yes, this is a love story, but it is somehow much more than that. Peter Weir, who directed Witness (a wonderful, evocative romance), has a way of weaving a spell on you with his movies. Here, he is aided by the galvanic performance of Gerard Depardieu, who is life itself. Andie MacDowell, who is his inferior in the acting department, is suited to her uptight role in a way that favors her: you can actually believe she could be this person, which is usually not the case with this lovely but inept actress. Bebe Neuwirth is her usual dead-on self, in a great, if small, supporting role. The New York locations, particularly that spectacular greenhouse apartment, are winning, and shot with affection. On top of everything, the movie features, in key moments of tension and emotion, the music of Enya, which of course elevates and punctuates scenes in inventive ways. The final moment is a well-earned emotional one, and I think you, like me, will find it hard to resist Green Card, after all is said and done.

One of the most romantic and funny movies, Gerard is so swee
Gerard performs as a sloppy frenchman in search of his legal residency in the U.S. by marring a prissy Macdowell who is perfect for the part. Moving story of a poor composer searching for a new life and falling in love for a young girl that despises him with her heart, only to fall overwheels in love with him after sharing her apartment with "Georges" for a weekend to benefit the Inmigration interview as a "bonafide" married couple. Georges wins his lady's heart with his abrupt sweetness and kind heart that wins over arrogancy and "vegeterianism". One of the most romantic and sweet scenes is when they are studying and temptation is flowing on both sides, but Georges knows how to respect the girl. And of course the kisses at the end of the movie with all that combination of music is terrific. Even if this is an old movie, I am buying the soundtrack and I am head overwheels in love with Depardieu myself! Worth watching, deserves all kind of statuetes. Even the rest of the cast is terrific, Mom, Dad (so cute), Loren and her parents. good!

Bravo Gerard!!
Gerard is fabulous in this one. It's a heart warming picture about two characters with very different personalities, forced together in human circumstance. Five stars!!

Well done but no surprise
It's not a holywoodian love story. It's a simple story of 2 people meeting "randomly" - with some fun, some sadness, some laughs and some love.
Good picture, good film, but not that more.

Charming little film
For those unfamiliar with Gérard Depardieu, GREEN CARD is a charming introduction. Good performances from both Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, and Bebe Neuwirth is delightful in a supporting role. When things get "unfair", the reminders that the central marriage of convenience is illegal are refreshing.

The DVD is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with both English and French Dolby 5.1 audio tracks. No extras, but even so an excellent bargain. ... Read more

Description

Whoopi Goldberg (SISTER ACT I & II, EDDIE) handles business her own way in this outrageous comedy hit! Whoopi plays a fast-track executive who starts her own company after a back-stabbing co-worker (Tim Daly, TV's WINGS) nabs her promotion. But when she's locked out of the stuffy corporate world, she invents a dazzling male business partner to sell her ideas! Her wacky plan soon spins wildly out of control, however, when her bogus "associate" becomes Wall Street's hottest financial whiz -- and Whoopi herself must impersonate him! With Dianne Wiest (THE BIRDCAGE) in a hilarious supporting cast, THE ASSOCIATE is a comedy treat you're sure to love! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Movie
Whoopi Goldberg stars in THE ASSOCIATE, a humorous movie about the stock market and a woman finding her way. She plays Laurel Ayers, a stock broker who is promised a promotion. When her co worker takes her promotion right from under her, she is determined to make it on her own. She quits and starts her own company. To her dismay she finds out that it's not easy making it in the world as a woman, doors are constantly slammed in her face because of her gender, so she sets out to take the world over by storm, by creating a fictional person, Robert Cutty. Yes she creates a man and even dresses up as one. Cutty takes the world by storm, but Laurel has to keep up with her charade. Eventually she realizes that Cutty has been nothing but trouble for her, no one cares about what SHE has been doing, and a man is still getting all the credit for her ideas. So she sets out to kill a fictional man that doesn't exist! She realizes she is no better than she was, because Cutty is getting credit for all her work and ideas. ...Overall a really humorous and well acted film, worth seeing many times.

Very Entertaining!
I truly love this movie! I have been trying to get it on DVD eversince I first watched it in March 1997 on my way to the UK. Whoopi Goldberg's acting is convincing but I liked Dianne Wiest's supporting role. A very entertainingly funny plot will keep you laughing most of the time through the whole movie.

He Look-a-Like-A-Man!
I must have seen this movie about twenty times or more! Each time I viewed it, I discovered something new in the movie!I loved
when Whoopi finally got a break-through and was given an account to prove her worth as a business woman! Women are still looked down in 2002 in many fields!The White Male is still given every thing over the Black woman and the white woman! Opray was the frist African American woman given close to a billion in revenue, we're cousins by the way Opray and I! No, really!!

viewing the movie helped me to make many successful deals without feeling like a helpless female!

Anyway Whoopi plays a guy as well as she does a girl! Five stars for you Whoopi!

Not a Great Comedy but Sometimes genuine humor film.
Wall street analyst (Oscar-Winner:Whoopi Goldberg) cannot survived in the World Business Men. So, she sets up with a Phony Fictitious business male partner and she decide to dress herself as a Man!

This Comedy is a Remake from a French 1982 film. Goldberg is Quite Good in the lead. Great suppoting cast:Including-Two Time Oscar Winner:Dianne Wiest, Eli Wallach, Timothy Daly, Bebe Neuworth, Austin Pendleton and Lainie kazan. Directed by Donald Pertie (Grumpier old men) has made a good comedy but he has made funnier films that this one. Grade:B.

Badly acted; not very entertaining
Any one who has the faintest inkling of how Wall St works will find this movie a joke. I can't believe the other reviews giving four or five stars. I was very disappointed with the whole thing. Whoopi seems very uninvolved in her acting. The movie just drags and drags. Many of the so called comic scenes are very contrived. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Okay, you knew everyone in high school was just a little different: everyone looked at you strangely, the teachers were freaky, and you never could find the right groove to fit into. What if it turned out that it was all because your school was inhabited by creepy aliens from outer space? That's the enjoyably cheesy B-premise for this fun and scary flick from the pen of Scream's Kevin Williamson, the master of the post-modern teen horror film. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), it's The Breakfast Club meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as six disparate students from Herrington High School band together when they discover that an alien life form is invading both the student and faculty bodies, with plans to take over the world.

Each of the heroes represents a different high school type: popular babe (Jordana Brewster), picked-on geek (Elijah Wood), goth girl (Clea DuVall), sensitive jock (Shawn Hatosy), new kid in town (Laura Harris), and bad-boy rebel (Josh Hartnett). The plot isn't much--a basic kill-or-be-killed premise spiked with a healthy shot of paranoia--but Willliamson and Rodriguez do a great job of building the tension slowly but surely. The suspense set pieces are genuinely frightening, and the film pokes fun at itself without deflating its scares; Williamson is a master at shifting gears from comedy to horror quickly and adroitly. The young cast doesn't have a weak link among them (with special kudos to Wood, DuVall and heartthrob-in-the-making Hartnett), and Rodriguez gets maximum mileage from the titular faculty, which includes Jon Stewart, Piper Laurie, Salma Hayek, Bebe Neuwirth, and Robert Patrick of Terminator 2. Go to the head of the class, Mr. Williamson. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (246)

"The Faculty" Review
Similiar in premise to Mark L. Lester's CLASS OF 1999 with an obvious ode to INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, screenwriter Kevin Williamson joins forces with director Robert Rodriguez for a fast-moving "aliens take over our school" popcorn flick. With a director known best for Mexican gun battle movies and a writer known for wise-cracking parodies of slasher flicks, a movie about aliens taking over high school classrooms would not seem like an obvious choice.

A group of high school students led by super-senior Hartnett (in his debut role) are shocked to discover that their teachers are actually alien invaders. It's up to dweeby Elijah Wood, snobby Jordana Brewster, and a handful of jocks and outcasts to stop them. As it turns out, the beings that live inside their hosts have a fatal reaction to the ingredients in the class drug dealer's stash. Using the contraband as their weapon, the group heads to the high school where the teachers are ready and waiting.

While it does provide some tense moments, this movie seems to play it safe a little too often. Rather than sacrifice its more popular characters, it always seems to stick them in escapable situations and pander to what the audience would like to see happen with them. The kids, who are on a "Breakfast Club" tip very rarely seem to be in any authentic danger. This seems more like a kiddie-version of Heinlan's "Puppet Masters" than a real serious sci-fi thriller. For all its faults, at the very least, this film has fun with its cast which includes Robert Patrick, Jon Stewart, Famke Jannsen, Usher Raymond, Duane Martin, and a dressed-down Salma Hayek. Hartnett, in particular, has very rarely been as good. Williamson's always-overwritten characters aren't quite as obnoxious as they were in his "Scream" scripts though subsquently, Rodriguez's style feels just a little toned down. What many had assumed to be his trademark Mexican stand-off style mentality of directing is not quite the case here. He's moving in a different direction and while I am a fan of his other style, it is good to see him try something different. The collaborative efforts of both seem to combine for an entertaining if somewhat predictable and harmless new take on an old story.

Fun enough
I don't watch teen flicks in particular (don't like them) or many movies in general (can't afford it). But I found myself sort-of-enjoying this particular movie (borrowed it from the library) despite the gaping plot holes, weird special effects, and occasional unintentionally deadpan actor. It's nice if you wish to flip off your brain function before you hit "play."

Herrington High is the ordinary high school, in all its grubby, cruel, clique-ridden glory. We are introduced (via little name scribbles during freeze-frame, just in case we forget who they are) to several characters: We have Casey (Elijah Wood), a picked-on geek with a heart of gold, who has a unspoken crush on Delilah (Jordana Brewster), an acid-tongued cheerleader who is dating Stan (Shawn Hatosy) who plans to quit the football team and focus on his grades, and who is secretly longed-after by the black-clad antisocial loner Stokely (Clea DuVall), whom perky blonde new girl Marybeth (Laura Harris) is trying to befriend. Then, rounding out the cast is Zeke (Josh Harnett) as a drug-and-porn-dealing bad boy with a brilliant streak. (Confused? Don't worry, not so befuddling when you actually watch it)

The actual plot kicks into gear when Casey finds a strange insectlike creature on the football field -- it becomes a vaguely fishlike creature that reproduces asexually in a tank of water -- and has nasty little teeth. Suddenly strange things begin to happen: one of the teachers becomes bizarrely ill. Students begin behaving angelically. The coach becomes less of a jerk. There are huge amounts of bottled water being brought to the faculty lounge, and the teachers are drinking enormous amounts of it. And then Casey and Delilah catch a glimpse of the coach forcibly infecting the nurse with a strange alien creature. As they scrabble to find out what is happening and how they can stop it, this group of geeks, popular kids, and loners must band together.

I didn't come in expecting much, and I was not disappointed. The best words to describe "Faculty" are "fun enough." Pretty much everything is done in moderation. There are streaks of brilliance and streaks of cheeze, with okay acting and okay writing. The exception to that last is the conclusion about the alien "queen" -- the teens come to this conclusion with nothing but SF movies to back them up. My eyes were rolling so far, I thought they were going to stick.

Much ado is made about Josh Harnett, but he hardly registers here. He doesn't possess the pizazz to play a convincing bad boy, and comes across as a person pretending to be a bad boy. Jordana Brewster does a pretty good job, especially when called upon to be sinister, as did Laura Harris, who seamlessly shifts from one kind of acting to another. Clea DuVall did what she could with what she was given, which wasn't much. Shawn Hatosy is okay, nothing more.

Elijah Wood is the sole really outstanding performance in this film. Fans of his performance in "Lord of the Rings" may want to check this out, as there are some similarities between his performance in that film and the physically unimpressive, smart, pleasant, scared witless, unlikely hero Casey. (Though admittedly, Frodo Baggins never got slammed crotch-first into a flagpole) He manages to pull off some real groaner lines like "Maybe they're simply preparing us for what's to come" and "I don't think a person should run unless he's being chased" that a lesser actor could not have. He projects his emotions more vividly than any of the other actors; when we see Casey huddled on the ground with a look of misery on his face, the heart bleeds. Yet he's also the most driven and enthusiastic. He's the little geek who could.

Special effects depend. Some of it is cheese incarnate, especially when some of the teachers are stabbed or sprinkled with scat. Their physical responses are unabashedly dumb. The morphing thing is well done, as are the alien "goldfish" and the scene in the swimming pool.

Directing is actually pretty good. With the exception of some later scenes, where all subtlety is abandoned, the first eighty percent of the movie is quite suspenseful. Among the good ones: The football players enthusiastically playing their game -- and infecting the opposing team as they go. Casey being approached by an infected character on one side and a horde of ravening football players on the other. The tense, suspicion-laden scene where they have to take Zeke's stash of drugs to determine who is an alien; the part where Casey starts giggling uncontrollably, with a gun pointed at his head, is too funny to miss.

This is not a kids' movie, and some older teens can probably handle it. There's loads of profanity, very little of it necessary to the script; it seems like the f-word was used an average of once per sentence. There is also a lot of violence, but very little of it is realistic. Neither are the beasties, which are very well-done, CGI-wise, especially the shots in the swimming pool, and of the alien creatures in the tank. The deteriorating teacher was the scariest thing I saw. There is no dirty content, though there are many references, and one of the characters goes wandering around in the nude near the end, but you can't see any details.

I don't particularly care that it rips off "Bodysnatchers" or "The Thing." It's a nice piece of fluff entertainment, and a pleasant enough way to pass an afternoon.

Good Alien Fun
This movie may not be the most original thing to come out of teen flicks ( then again, name one teen flick that is original, especially when it concerns horror/thriller movies.) The point is, this movie is a fun way to spend a couple of hours. But, it can only be fun if you don't over analyse it. It does have a few story line flaws, but overal it is a really enjoyable experience. Kudos especially to Clea DuVall. She is probablly the only hot girl who you'd buy as a Trekkie. While some of the characters seemed a little too cliche (Jordana Brewsters character, for example) overall it was a bunch who you could safely get invested in. (ALthough Elijah would seemed to play the nerd with alot of personal experience. ALso, fantasticly fun performance by Jon Stewart. ALl the performances were good, and the movie is definatley a fun ride if you just go with it.

TEACHERS PETS?
If you're gonna rip off a classic like INVASION OF BODY SNATCHERS or PUPPET MASTERS, at least do it right...Robert Rodriguez did it right with this stylish and visceral thriller. Blessed with a very talented young cast and some venerable artists, THE FACULTY is fun, furious and frightening. There are some unexpected plot twists, and the terror of being "changed" ever prominent.
The best performances: Piper Laurie, fiercely understated; Shawn Hotosy (an intelligent and sensitive jock); Clea DuVall (Gothicly gorgeous); Robert Patrick (what a manly coach!); and Elijah Wood (destined to become the lord of the rings).
The good performances: Bebe Neuwirth as the red-taped principal; Josh Hartnett as the dropout back to save the day; and Famke Janssen as the sex-deprived teacher who does a remarkable makeover once possessed. Laura Harris (The Calling) is okay, but not great, in her role as newcomer Mary Beth.
The movie moves well and has some high moments of comedy, to boot. Credit to screenwriter Kevin Williamson for this delightfully different, if derivative, horror.

oh my god!!! aliens are in the school!!!
Robert Rodriquez(Director of The 3 Spy Kids movies, Desperado, El Mariachi, Once Upon A Time In Mexico and From Dusk Till Dawn) brings us into the lives of some high school students who find out that their teachers are from another planet, I mean literally. there's geeky Eljah Wood(Ash Wednesday, North), the bad boy Josh Hartnett(Hollywood Homicide, Blow Dry and The Faculty is his second motion ficture he stars in folks, for all you ladyfans out there), rebel girl Clea DuVall(Identity, 13 Conversations About The Same Thing), swimboy Shawn Hatosy(Outside Providence and Down To You), popular girl Jordana Brewster(the 60's), football player Usher Raymond(She's All That and Light IT Up) and the new girl(forgot her name but didnt forget that nude scene though). the teachers include Jon Stewart(Jay and Silent bob Strike Back), Bebe Neuwirth(Tv's Cheers and Fraiser), DAniel Von Bergen(Tv's Malcolm In The Middle), Robert Patrick(Tv's The X-Files, Eye See You), Famke Janssen(MAde and X-Men) and Salma Hayek(Desperado, Once Upon A Time In Mexico and From Dusk Till Dawn, I mean you name a Rodriquez movie she hasnt been in). some good performances, especially by Hartnett, Hatosy and Wood. good writing, but did we have to do that big alien thing at the end. I mean, jeez, but anyway it was a good ride and let me tell you Rodriquez knows how to give you a wild ride with his movies ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Bugsy represents an almost miraculous combination of director, writer, and star on a project that represents a career highlight for everyone involved. It's one of the best American gangster movies ever made--as good in its own way as any of the Godfather films--and it's impossible to imagine anyone better than Beatty in the movie's flashy title role. As notorious mobster and Las Vegas visionary "Bugsy" Siegel, Beatty is perfectly cast as a man whose dreams are greater than his ability to realize them--or at least, greater than his ability to stay alive while making those dreams come true. With a glamorous Hollywood mistress (Annette Bening) who shares Bugsy's dream while pursuing her own upwardly mobile agenda, Bugsy seems oblivious to threats when he begins to spend too much of the mob's money on the creation of the Flamingo casino. Meyer Lansky (Ben Kingsley) and Mickey Cohen (Harvey Keitel) will support Bugsy's wild ambition to a point, after which all bets are off, and Bugsy's life hangs in the balance. From the obvious chemistry of Beatty and Bening (who met and later married off-screen) to the sumptuous reproduction of 1940s Hollywood, every detail in this movie feels impeccably right. Beatty is simply mesmerizing as the man who invented Las Vegas but never saw it thrive, moving from infectious idealism to brutal violence in the blink of an eye. Director Barry Levinson is also in peak form here, guiding the stylish story with a subtle balance of admiration and horror; we can catch Bugsy's Vegas fever and root for the gangster's success, but we know he'll get what he deserves. We might wish that Bugsy had lived to see his dream turn into a booming oasis, but the movie doesn't suggest that we should shed any tears. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (20)

See It Once For The Story, And Again For The Acting
MALICE is one of those movies that you simply MUST see more than once to believe. The first time through, MALICE is a great psychological thriller, with twists and turns through a plot that contains rape, murder, life-and-death trauma, and a fight to the death...all within the first 45 minutes. The second time through, though, provides a look at all the things you might have missed the first time around...and a chance to savor an outstanding performance from perhaps the most underrated actor in Hollywood, Alec Baldwin.

Bill Pullman plays Andy Safian, an associate dean at a small New England college outside of Boston that's currently under siege by a serial rapist who claims his latest victim as the film opens. Nicole Kidman plays his wife Tracy, a volunteer in the pediatrics ward of St. Agnes Hospital. They're renovating a Victorian house and need $14,000 for the plumbing. Enter Alec Baldwin as Dr. Jed Hill, a former high school classmate of Andy's, who's brand new in town and needs a place to stay. Andy needs the money, Jed needs a room, so the two hook up and soon Jed is sleeping upstairs in the Safiens' home...usually not alone, and his sexual escapades are grating on Tracy's nerves. The rapes continue, Andy is fingered as a suspect, and in the midst of it all, Tracy collapses with a ruptured ovarian cyst. Jed operates to save her life (after a night of drinking and wild partying), but renders her unable to bear children...leading to a malpractice suit from Tracy and an incredible soliloquy on surgeons with a God complex from Jed during the deposition.

But once the first half of the film is over, things really start to roll. Without revealing the rest of the plot, suffice it to say that as Andy, Tracy, and Jed all try to start their lives over again, their fates become inextricably entangled.

The movie is worth seeing once as a thriller. But the second time around, Baldwin's mesmerizing performance is what stands out. Jed is charismatic, seductive, and as charming as a cobra as he weaves his spell over the Safiens. Baldwin's ability to jump from utterly charming to incredibly chilling in the blink of an eye is on full display here; it is truly the performance of a lifetime.

See it once for the suspense, and again for the acting.

More twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction
It starts out with the appearance of one type of movie, but before long the true plot begins to take shape. There are so many twists that it can get a little confusing, and may take a second viewing just to clear up those loose ends. On the whole, an excellent movie, with some great acting from Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman and Bill Pullman. To go into too much detail about the film runs the risk of spoiling the ending, but if you enjoy Hitchcock thrillers, then you would do well to watch this. Stephen Buxton

Twisting and Entertaining
Proper enjoyment of this diverting little feature requires not knowing the plot twists, so I'll try to not spoil that enjoyment in praising this film.

I join Roger Ebert in not being able to think of another film that throws in a serial killer as just atmosphere - I watched this movie when it first came out a decade ago, then again on DVD yesterday, and I had completely forgotten the part about the serial killer.

Aside from the fact that George C. Scott has left us, it would be difficult to assemble a cast like this wouldn't it? Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman, Anne Bancroft, Gwyneth Paltrow, George C. Scott, Bebe Newirth, Peter Gallagher all contribute to this film.

I love to watch films of any genre and any country and the sensation I like to have at the end of the viewing experience is "satisfied" - in the same way that I'd like my palate and belly "satisfied" by a good meal. This screenplay twists and turns, but rather than in a Charlie Kaufman "hey-look-at-how-many-unexpected-twists-and-turns-I-can-put-in" kind of way this story moves in a way that wraps up loose ends in a "satisfied" kind of way.

Especially used, this DVD can be had for a song also. It's a satisfactory way to pass a couple of hours.

Key Point Missed on Serial Rapist Subplot
The serial rapist subplot is not unneccessary....it involved Andy (Pullman) being a suspect and the police taking a sperm sample to prove his innocence. Turns out he's sterile....which sets the storyline for Kidman's preganancy and the whole story line with Jed (Baldwin)....this movie was excellently done and some of the quotes (even beyond "I am God")are super memorable

Great All star Cast!
Star studded cast includes Bill Pullman, Nicole Kidman, Alec Baldwin, Anne Bancroft, and Gwyneth Paltrow all gave a Great performance. Excellent Storyline and beautiful scenery. A must-see on your next available weekend! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's important to note that Spike Lee's drama is not titled Son ofSam. Summer of Sam doesn't chronicle the killer as much as the times: the blistering hot summer of 1977 when the Big Apple's psyche was taken hostage by the lone gunman. We spot the killer (Michael Badalucco) in his mad ramblings, but the film centers on two friends from the Bronx: Vinny and Ritchie (John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody). Vinny and his wife, Dionna (Mira Sorvino), bury a bad marriage (he cheats at a drop of a hat) in the disco halls of the area. Ritchie returns to the neighborhood sporting punk hair, punk clothes, and a British accent that immediately infuriates the neighborhood boys oozing far too much testosterone. Cops, local mob leaders, and the guys on the street all have ideas who the killer is; neighborhood loners to Reggie Jackson (in the midst of World Series heroism) are on their misguided lists of suspects. When the film looks at how the citizens faced the fearful times, Lee scores with his energetic camerawork and pop soundtrack. Yet the film is banal in its domestic dramatics. The film takes large detours into Vinny's home sex life (stagnant) and Ritchie's extracurricular activities. One of the marriage arguments--though real and well acted--is so long and cliché-ridden you wonder if someone fell asleep in the editing booth. Add the point-blank killings and nonstop vulgarity and you have Lee's most unpleasant film.--Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Loud, Flashy Excrement
A film designed simply to appall and disgust the audience, SUMMER OF SAM is the only film I've seen in a theatre in recent years which caused a sizable portion of the audience to leave before the film was over. Supposedly a film about emotional hysteria during the Son of Sam killings during the summer of 1977, SUMMER OF SAM is really just Spike Lee's exercise in thoroughly trashing and dehumanizing the Italian-American community.

It really is a sight to behold the utter contempt that Lee has for his characters. They are simply crude stereotypes, seemingly with little or no redeeming qualities, or even humanity. It is on parallel with watching the portrayal of African-Americans in D.W. Griffith's THE BIRTH OF A NATION. The script is awful, and the acting by an excellent cast is uninspired at best. The only sincere performance is that of Adrien Brody. His performance and SUMMER OF SAM's beautiful cinematography are the only virtues to this film crud, which seems to go on forever, despite plenty of gratuitous sex, drug use, and violence.

Fans of self-exalted trash epics that laughably take themselves seriously, such as CALIGULA, MANDINGO, and SHOWGIRLS, should definitely add this to their collection. All other non-masochists should steer clear of this one.

Great movie
I was hesitant to watch this movie, having read such mixed reviews. When I finally saw it the other night, I wished I had watched it sooner. Spike Lee does a great job of creating a story and characters that are totally absorbing. The film was intense and had me interested from beginning to end.

As other reviewers have stated, this is not about Son of Sam, but about the Summer of Sam. Even though this serial killer's character was kept in the background, he took center stage because of how he affected so many others. The story was just as suspenseful as any good thriller, and on many different levels.

What I found particularly interesting was how they portrayed the marriage of characters John Leguizamo and Miro Sorvino, and showed how Leguizamo's deeply ingrained religious/cultural beliefs impacted their relationship and kept him from having with his wife what he sought out with other women.

The acting was great and -- Wow! -- what a cast. It was a veritable feast of familiar faces -- Bebe Neuwirth, John Savage, Mira Sorvino, Ben Gazzarra, Patti LuPone, etc. etc. A real surprise was seeing actor Michael Imperioli and then reading in the credits that he was one of the writers of the film. It would seem that the story line for his character "Christopher" on the Sopranos (where he has writing aspirations) mirrors his real-life abilities. This is one talented guy.

All in all, this is a great film that keeps you thinking -- and one of those rare movies that, if you watch it again, will show you things you hadn't seen before.

Spike Lee's brilliant direction
Spike lee is a brilliant director and it show's with this movie. his direction and placement of camera positions and angels is just plain remarkable! this movie is a masterpiece of film makeing, good job Mr. Spike Lee!!! I only hope you continue to make more film's with this style.

interesting film on one neighborhood in 1977
In 1977, David Berkowitz aka "Son of Sam" was a serial killer in New York, targeting young brunette women. Spike Lee centers this film on one New York neighborhood as they react to the news and decide for themselves who is guilty, choosing their punk friend Richie (Adrien Brody) as their suspect.

Meanwhile, David Berkowitz lies in a squalid apartment in his own madness, sure that his big black dog Harvey is speaking to him (in John Turturro's voice, no less) and insrtucting him to go out and kill.

New York in 1977 was also struck with a heat wave, and the oppressive heat seems an appropriate metaphor for all the events that reach a boiling point and culminate into a tragic violent explosion.

Fair Effort on Spike's Part
I respect Spike Lee though I sometimes find his movies confusing and misguided, then again that's just his way. Summer of Sam is full of Spike's usual wit and charm brought to the surface by some colorful and very talented actors. John Leguizamo proves his range from comedy to drama in the role of Vinnie, a coke-sniffing womanizer who's married to ( Dionna )Mira Sorvino. I felt Mira wasn't needed. She just didn't have enough to do and her role wasn't sufficient. Dionna and Vinnie have no chemistry. You never really found out what Vinnie's sex-on-the side life had to do with the movie...I'm realizing nothing. Adrian Brody was wonderful as always. There were a lot of good supporting actors but somehow the script fell short. After the first thirty minutes of the film the movie turned into another " Crooklyn " or " School Daze " showing the old Spike Lee flavor. There is nothing wrong with the old flavor but with such A-list actors and such an intense story to follow up on, Summer of Sam falls short. It's full of exciting scenes but these are the same scenes that are not needed. The story drifted off the subject too often it lost its impact. I didn't appreciate the baffling camera movements, they only took away from the story. And by the way...was Spike Lee trying to prove how many times he could use the F word? If so I think Summer of Sam wins hands down with the most usage.

I would recommend this as something to see once because it's a different film experience. I can't say I was impressed or disappointed. I was just very...confused. ... Read more

Description

Julie Andrews returns to host the second installment of the "My Favorite Broadway" series. "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs" is a magical one-night-only concert extravaganza featuring Broadway's brightest stars.Celebrated performances from many of the most beloved musicals ever including "Guys and Dolls," "Drat, the Cat," "Camelot," "Sweet Charity," "My Fair Lady" and more. Songs: Love Is Sweeping the Country/ Till There Was You/ Lover/ So in Love (Adam Pascal, Brent Spiner, Rebecca Luker, Peter Gallagher & Marin Mazzie), Lullaby of Broadway (Tom Wopat & Dancers), Sue Me (Nathan Lane & Doo Wop Trio), He Touched Me (Heather Headley), Operatic Intro/ Standing on the Corner/ Let the Good Times Roll (Three Mo' Tenors), Gigi (Ron Raines), Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Jeffrey Denman & Joan Hess), When I Fall in Love (Marin Mazzie), English Teacher/ Rosie (Chita Rivera & Brent Spiner), If Ever I Would Leave You (Robert Goulet), Come Rain or Come Shine/ I Don't Know How to Love Him/ What Kind of Fool Am I? (Linda Eder), Music of the Night (Michael Crawford), Seasons of Love (Adam Pascal & Broadway Inspirational Voices), Elaborate Lives (Adam Pascal & Heather Headley), Every Single Day (Barry Manilow), Not a Day Goes By/ Too Late Now/ Sometimes a Day Goes By (Rebecca Luker, Peter Gallagher & Marin Mazzie), I'm a Brass Band (Bebe Neuwirth), This Nearly Was Mine (Robert Goulet), Brush Up Your Shakespeare (Michael McCormick & Michael Mulheren), How Lucky Can You Get (Chita Rivera), I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face/ The Rain in Spain (Michael Crawford & Julie Andrews). ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Worth the dull stuff for the SPECTACULAR!
Sure The Leading Ladies Broadway was pure delight, but! what great moments there are on this DVD; Heather Headley singing "He Touched Me" was so powerful(my husband and I usually replay this song several times before going forward); then the amazing tenors are so intouch with each other and then to beak into the upbeat stuff was a treat; plus, there is the overwhelming duet of Headley and Pascal (how much would we pay for that moment?); Marin Mazzie and Linda Eder are great to hear again; Pascal's joining with the choir was also an unexpected pleasure; and then there is the awesome Nathan Lane, Robert Goulet, and Michael Crawford are part of this musical soul food; even Barry Manilow singing from his musical was completely stirring--besides, I'm glad to know that someone cares enough to still be writing musicals (could anyone have delivered this moving song any better?); and lastly, the most spectacular event was Michael Crawford with Julie Andrews as she is finally, finally heard again! Judging from the crowd's reaction in the theater, my husband and I were and are not alone in basking in the sound of her voice; it was a moment.

Perhaps I have caused you to get sick to your stomach from too much cotton candy, perhaps you may think this review is too sweet or to upholding and praising for the singers and the wonderful Amercan Orchestra, but what if? Can't we use some more beauty in this world? Wouldn't we be better off if we applauded those who seek to share the overwhelming gifts of their voices and talent? Obviously, I loved it, and if I may speak for my husband, so did he. We have watched this DVD over and over, and we have shared it with many of our friends who have been delighted in this performance. Five stars? You bet!

Love songs from Broadway...
Personal taste tends play a role in whether you highly recommend or merely endorse a particular DVD, concert, etc. I might have selected different songs, preferred other or additional performers, but I'm wasn't consulted.

I do have my favorites on this DVD, ranking Linda Eder's medley "I'm Gonna Love You," "I Don't Know How To Love Him," and "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" at the top. Robert Goulet makes two separate appearances, both adding to the program. I must also mention "Lullaby Of Broadway," performed by Tom Wopat and dancers. "I'm A Brass Band" was new to me, and I especially liked Bebe Neuwirth as the "brass band." "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," performed with class by Michael McCormick and Michael Mulheren is followed by an equally impressive "How Lucky Can You Get," by Chita Rivera.

Julie Andrews sings a couple of lines from "The Rain In Spain," with Michael Crawford and they dance across the stage bringing the program to a close.

Watching these performances so beauifully reproduced with DVD technology makes me a little sad. What a shame, being reminded that we can't experience Julie's performances in "My Fair Lady," and "Camelot" on DVD -- among other performances.

Best DVD I've ever purchased!
I am a big Julie Andrews fan, and this is a nice addition to any of you guys who collects julie andrews stuff. It is true that she teases the audience the whole time, and towards the end of the show, finally, she did it. It was a great moment, most especially by knowing her voice is damaged. she only sang 10 words, but it will not make the program as spectacular without it. Well worth your money, enjoy!

LOVE SONGS
The woman cannot sing, she is trying to sound like striesand and there is only one person that even comes close and that is Barbara herself. Stop trying to be something your NOT !

Splendid and simply wonderful!
I truly truly loved this video. It showcases so many talnted men and woman, who all have a true gift and talent from God on for performing. Julie Andrew's makes a delightful comeback and sings, it's beautiful! Rebecca Luker really sang like an angel. She has an amazing voice. Michael Crawford was heavenly, and as always sings with such tenderness and emotion His dancing with Julie is delightful and so sweet. I'd give this video ten stars if I could. It's well worth the price, and I never tire of watching it. Buy it and you wont regret it, if you enjoy good and talented performers and beautifuol music. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Funny, strange, poignant, and an interest perspective.
Barry Levinson's semi-autobiographical look at life in the mid '50's, from a Jewish perspective, is funny, interesting, and poignant, and fairly strange. It ironically stars Joe Montegna as a Jewish business man, with many troubles, Bebe Neuwirth, as his wife and some other interesting characters. One funny, but not funny, moment (if your Jewish) is when his son tries to go to a Halloween party dressed as Adolf Hitler, much to the horror of his mother and grandmother (which is understandable). An interesting side story is the relationship between one son and a highly attractive (black) girl. Prejudice runs several ways in this movie; a definite reflection of the times, but does not detract from it. [An aside-the only thing that marred the viewing of this disc was a slight bit of debris; which I cleared off and then the disc played fine-a bit of advice to all dvd users to check and clean edge to edge; never, ever, in a circular fashion.] Otherwise a fine film. Well acted, good story, which does a credit to Mr. Levinson. Recommended.

Levinson Brings Back the Past
Liberty Heights, a new movie written and directed by Barry Levinson, shows gives a complex portrait of what it was like to be a teenager during the mid-Fifties in Baltimore, MD. In many of his movies, Levinson uses a character as a cinematic equal to himself. If Elijah Wood was the young, wide-eyed representative of Levinson in Avalon, Ben Foster plays the curious, more mature teenage version in Liberty Heights. The change in the age of Levinson's cinematic emissary is reflected strongly in the film. Taking place in 1954, the film covers such topics as racism, segregation, and anti-Semitism with a more cynical and much less reverential eye than the beatific Avalon. Foster's character, Ben Kurtzman, is a high school senior with one African-American girl in his class as a result of the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. Partially as a result of a friendship with her, he begins to see the world for what it really is, exiting the sheltered world of his youth where everyone was Jewish and no one had a problem with that. It is apparent that this movie will not sugar-coat this era from the very beginning when Ben's mother, Ava (Bebe Neuwirth), refers to anyone not Jewish as "the other kind" moments into the film. Ava is certainly a kind and sympathetic character, but like everyone else, she is real. To wit, Ben's father (Joe Mantegna) is the proprietor of a burlesque theater and runs a numbers game on the side for real income. The film revolves around the three men of the Kurztman household: Ben, his father and his older brother, Van (Adrien Brody). While Ben is literally discovering African-Americans for the first time, Van, a student at the University of Baltimore, is confronted with anti-Semitism and the barriers that exist for him because he is Jewish. One of the most interesting aspects of this film is the comparison of anti-Semitism with racism against Blacks. It becomes evident that though the civil rights movement was beginning to make headlines during those times, Jews faced a similar, yet subtler brand of discrimination. The performances in Liberty Heights are excellent across the board. Foster quite ably carries the film, aptly conveying a cynical yet curious outlook on the events that unfold. Also good is Rebekah Johnson, who plays Sylvia, the Black girl in Ben's class whom he befriends. Though the same was true of all the performances, Johnson's was particularly free of any of the conventions of acting, coming across as simple and genuine. With Liberty Heights, Barry Levinson has managed to paint a compellingly complex and accurate picture of what the mid-Fifties were like. This multi-faceted story shows it to have been an era where discrimination knew no color or religion, but where change happened rapidly and, in many cases, for the better.

An Eye Opening Film For All Generations To Enjoy
The first time I watched this movie was on a whim and I didn't know what to expect from it. I quickly found myself becoming infatuated with the story line. Barry Levinson has created a masterpiece with this film that stars Joe Mategna, Ben Foster, Adrien Brody and Bebe Neuwirth who are theKurtzman family living in suburbian Baltimore, Maryland in a place called Liberty Heights in the year 1954. Along the way their experiences are chronicled as integration has just begun. I could go on and on, but you have got to see this movie for yourself. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Absolutely Entertaining.
This movie is about a Jewish family and how each goes through some kind of prejudice or problem. Surprisingly they take it with a comic view. I happen to own it, and I just love watching it.

A very well made movie
"Liberty Heights" is a simple coming-of-age story told beautifully. I have seen this story told many times in a variety of ways; at times I find it mundane and uninteresting. In this case, the subtext -- 1950's Baltimore community and the three world represented (Jewish, WASP and African American) made the story more engaging.

Frankly I could watch this film over and over again and not get tired of it. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (183)

(3.5) A movie with flaws, but it improves toward the end.
I'm not quite sure where to start with this one. I didn't have high expectations, after seeing the trailer, but I thought it was an interesting premise, so finally I rented it. My initial skepticism was promptly validated. Until about 2/3 of the way through the movie I was going to write a rather scathing review and certainly not give it more than a 3.0 rating. The basic plotline is this: Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) writes a "How to" column for a rather flaky looking magazine that usually covers topics like clothes, diets, dating, etc. Her current topic is "How to lose a guy in 10 days," and she's made a bargain with her boss that if she can successfully drive a man away in that amount of time, she'll finally be able to write about issues that really matter - politics, religion, etc.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) works in advertising, and is desperate to be the one appointed to handle a contract with a huge diamond company. While trying to persuade his boss that he's the right man for the job, the topic of selling diamonds is somehow made synonymous with Ben's ability to sell himself to any woman alive. His boss agrees that he can have the job if he can make a woman (picked by two of his co-workers) fall madly in love with him in the next ten days. He agrees. The co-workers pick a woman out of the crowd and, big surprise, it's Andie. The two begin to date, with Andie doing everything she possibly can to drive him mad, and Ben doing everything he can think of to win her heart. Predictably, they end up falling for each other, and much professional and internal conflict ensues.

As I said earlier, the first 2/3 of the film did little to win me over. Most of the characters seemed just too incredibly fake to care about, particularly Andie. The makers of the film took a big gamble, whether they know it or not. The power of romantic comedies comes from having the audience truly wanting the two protagonists to get together in the end. Here, Andie comes across as a cold, calculating snob for much of the first part of the movie, while Ben is a cocky, arrogant playboy. I just didn't feel like rooting for either of them.

It's not until the sequence where Ben takes Andie to Staten Island to meet his family that the two really begin to seem like caring, feeling beings. At that point the characters' emotions were much more genuine, and the story began to pick up. From there on I really liked the film, even though the very end was perhaps a little too contrived ... But the chemistry really does come through in the latter part of the film, and thus I raised my rating to a generous four stars.

The acting is fairly good all around, despite the fact that most of Andie's co-workers are rather stereotypical scatterbrains who live on emotional roller coasters and think the world is made better by a cup of coffee and new clothes. I'm not sure whether their characters were supposed to be genuine or satire, but either way it adds some comic value to the film. I particularly liked the scenes with Ben's family, as the interactions there seemed the most genuine, and the people there the most real (they're a bit odd at times, granted, but don't most families have their quirks?).

DVD features include director commentary, a "Mapping Out the Perfect Movie" sequence with cast and crew interviews that provide extra insight into the film, deleted scenes (most of which I'm glad were not included in the actual film), a "Mapping Out the Perfect Location" featurette, and a music video of the song "Somebody Like You." My parting advice: If you don't like romantic comedies to begin with, don't see this movie. It's [probably] not the one that will win you over to the genre. If you do like romantic comedies (or even if you just have a thing for Matthew McConaughey), it's worth seeing, though it isn't the best. I'd advise renting it first to decide if you really like it or not.

Saved by the actors
Would have given it three and a half stars, if the option was available.

Kate Hudson plays an aspiring journalist who assigned a job at her less-than-serious-journalism-beauty-magazine called "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Her assignment: Find a poor, unexpecting schmuck, make him fall in love overnight, and then do all the annoying little stereotypical quirks that girls do to push guys away - she must get rid of him in 10 days. Matthew M. plays an egotistical womanizing guy who makes a bet with his friends that he can make some poor unexpecting girl fall in love with him in 10 days. What a coincedence -shocker!- these two meet!!! Yeah, I know! I couldn't believe it, either! The rest of the movie is Kate Hudson doing everything she can to be annoying (she succeeds with flying colors!) and Matthew doing everything in his power to be a sweet, sensitive, and understanding boyfriend to try to make her fall for him. There are funny parts, and there are also extremely predictable and dull parts. But, the movie is saved by the acting of both Kate Hudson (who is too cute for words) and Matthew M. (um, hello? sexy as hell) I liked it. Not the best comedy of the year, but definitely worth watching. I think it makes a pretty good date movie, since there is the romance and girl humor for the girls, and guy humor for the guys.

Wow, the realism of this movie....
Damn, they said that life imitates art but as we discover after watching this movie, it's the other way round. This movie is just so realistic. You know, the things that took place in that movie happened to me just last week. And the names! Andie Anderson, Benjamin Barry! Highly imaginative, hugely inovative. And movies like this are rare in todays world. Such an incredible script. I'm blown away.

P.S: I'm a compulsive lier. My shrink told me I should warn you that everything I just said was a HUGE PILE OF CRAP, much like this movie. Let's all hope together that it takes less than ten days to stop having nightmares about this movie.

GREAT MOVIE!!!
Last year, I kind of had 2 B-Day parties, one with like, 28 people (my actual party), and one with 3 freinds (which was on my real B-day). On my real B-day, my parents usually let me have a sleepover where we go to dinner and a movie, and that year, they did. We went to Hops, and then went to see this movie. Just pictue four 12 year olds, an 8 year old, and the B-Day girl's parents going to see this movie. We all loved it! It was such a funny, fun movie! As the movie ended, all I could say was definate buyer!!!

This movie was charming...
I really liked this film. Kate hudsons character is a writer for a fashion magazine. She ends up writing an article on how to loose a guy. Matthew McConaughey is a sports writer, that wants to write a advertisment for diamonds. These two come together in a fun way. They go back and fourth playing some crazy games. she does things to get rid of him and he does things to try to keep her. well all that push and pull made this movie fun. It was romantic. And matthew is just too cute. ... Read more

Reviews (183)

(3.5) A movie with flaws, but it improves toward the end.
I'm not quite sure where to start with this one. I didn't have high expectations, after seeing the trailer, but I thought it was an interesting premise, so finally I rented it. My initial skepticism was promptly validated. Until about 2/3 of the way through the movie I was going to write a rather scathing review and certainly not give it more than a 3.0 rating. The basic plotline is this: Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) writes a "How to" column for a rather flaky looking magazine that usually covers topics like clothes, diets, dating, etc. Her current topic is "How to lose a guy in 10 days," and she's made a bargain with her boss that if she can successfully drive a man away in that amount of time, she'll finally be able to write about issues that really matter - politics, religion, etc.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) works in advertising, and is desperate to be the one appointed to handle a contract with a huge diamond company. While trying to persuade his boss that he's the right man for the job, the topic of selling diamonds is somehow made synonymous with Ben's ability to sell himself to any woman alive. His boss agrees that he can have the job if he can make a woman (picked by two of his co-workers) fall madly in love with him in the next ten days. He agrees. The co-workers pick a woman out of the crowd and, big surprise, it's Andie. The two begin to date, with Andie doing everything she possibly can to drive him mad, and Ben doing everything he can think of to win her heart. Predictably, they end up falling for each other, and much professional and internal conflict ensues.

As I said earlier, the first 2/3 of the film did little to win me over. Most of the characters seemed just too incredibly fake to care about, particularly Andie. The makers of the film took a big gamble, whether they know it or not. The power of romantic comedies comes from having the audience truly wanting the two protagonists to get together in the end. Here, Andie comes across as a cold, calculating snob for much of the first part of the movie, while Ben is a cocky, arrogant playboy. I just didn't feel like rooting for either of them.

It's not until the sequence where Ben takes Andie to Staten Island to meet his family that the two really begin to seem like caring, feeling beings. At that point the characters' emotions were much more genuine, and the story began to pick up. From there on I really liked the film, even though the very end was perhaps a little too contrived ... But the chemistry really does come through in the latter part of the film, and thus I raised my rating to a generous four stars.

The acting is fairly good all around, despite the fact that most of Andie's co-workers are rather stereotypical scatterbrains who live on emotional roller coasters and think the world is made better by a cup of coffee and new clothes. I'm not sure whether their characters were supposed to be genuine or satire, but either way it adds some comic value to the film. I particularly liked the scenes with Ben's family, as the interactions there seemed the most genuine, and the people there the most real (they're a bit odd at times, granted, but don't most families have their quirks?).

DVD features include director commentary, a "Mapping Out the Perfect Movie" sequence with cast and crew interviews that provide extra insight into the film, deleted scenes (most of which I'm glad were not included in the actual film), a "Mapping Out the Perfect Location" featurette, and a music video of the song "Somebody Like You." My parting advice: If you don't like romantic comedies to begin with, don't see this movie. It's [probably] not the one that will win you over to the genre. If you do like romantic comedies (or even if you just have a thing for Matthew McConaughey), it's worth seeing, though it isn't the best. I'd advise renting it first to decide if you really like it or not.

Saved by the actors
Would have given it three and a half stars, if the option was available.

Kate Hudson plays an aspiring journalist who assigned a job at her less-than-serious-journalism-beauty-magazine called "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Her assignment: Find a poor, unexpecting schmuck, make him fall in love overnight, and then do all the annoying little stereotypical quirks that girls do to push guys away - she must get rid of him in 10 days. Matthew M. plays an egotistical womanizing guy who makes a bet with his friends that he can make some poor unexpecting girl fall in love with him in 10 days. What a coincedence -shocker!- these two meet!!! Yeah, I know! I couldn't believe it, either! The rest of the movie is Kate Hudson doing everything she can to be annoying (she succeeds with flying colors!) and Matthew doing everything in his power to be a sweet, sensitive, and understanding boyfriend to try to make her fall for him. There are funny parts, and there are also extremely predictable and dull parts. But, the movie is saved by the acting of both Kate Hudson (who is too cute for words) and Matthew M. (um, hello? sexy as hell) I liked it. Not the best comedy of the year, but definitely worth watching. I think it makes a pretty good date movie, since there is the romance and girl humor for the girls, and guy humor for the guys.

Wow, the realism of this movie....
Damn, they said that life imitates art but as we discover after watching this movie, it's the other way round. This movie is just so realistic. You know, the things that took place in that movie happened to me just last week. And the names! Andie Anderson, Benjamin Barry! Highly imaginative, hugely inovative. And movies like this are rare in todays world. Such an incredible scri