Reviews (6)

I love River person
I love this movie, because River is in it, and I love him *Crys* I wish he would come back, I will always love him....*crys* God Bless River. I alsmot beat my tv, because we didn't get the channel with stand by me

Eternal River Fan
This movie is great, in my opinion any River Phoenix movie is great. And if you are a tru fan of River Phoenix than any movie with him is worth seeing and as for wasting his talents... he wasted his talent just being in this world with us no one could ever completely understand how deep his talents were. River will alwayz be loved and missed. Now if you are truly a River fan then I defintly recommend this movie to you.

Russian Spy
If you like spy movies, this is great. It has action, River Phoenix and Sydney Poitier are fabulous together. This is definitely one for the list. I totally enjoyed this and recommend it.

2 LEGENDARY STARS IN A SO-SO FILM
December 28 1989 I first saw this film and became an instant fan of RIVER PHOENIX. Teamed with great Sidney Poitier it is a cold-war thriller and at times - a good one. But in the end it goes over the top and it quickly lost its importance when the cold war vanished... soon after the films completion...
However, it is a treat for the fans of these stars and the supporting cast are great especially Caroline Kava.

Pretty Good
Don't listen to that screwed-up review above. This movie has plenty of suspense, tense moments, and fine performances, especially by River Phoenix and Sidney Portier. You'll love it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very sweet natured family film.
A loosely updated version of the classic Huckleberry Finn. A young boy flees abusive stepfather and goes in search of the adventurous grandfather that he's never met. Along the way he meets "Injun" Joe, a small time con. They team up and head for Vegas, while trying to stay ahead of the gangster who wants to kill Joe. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

BT
I saw this movie and it was horrible, but the spell of the plot kept you watching no matter how much you wanted to turn. they have picked a perfect title for this movie because one glimpse of this flick, you are hooked. The movie, itself is only two stars,but the way they keep you in the movie gives it a five.

So horrible it's funny
I saw this movie late at night at a friend's house.Imagine every single stereotype about drugs you've ever heard wrapped up into a low-budget flick.This is that movie.It's so bad it's hillarious.The lingo is great, too.This movie has great kitsch value, and would be a great thing to watch while you're sitting around with your friends, smoking a blunt or drinking.It's definitely entertaining, but only because it's so bad.

So bad I can't stop watching.
Have you ever seen a movie so sorry that you actually get a kick out of watching it over and over?Well that's what you get with this one.There was no real plot and many of the sequences were so stupid they were almostunreal.How can the police buy drugs from a crack house, letting them knowwhat's going on, yet they can't bust in until the exchange is made with thesupplier?Ahhhh Hollywood.Dialogue?Forget it.Take away the F wordand half the script is gone.Feminists would have a field day with themisogyny in this film, with scenes like Annie being raped, Melissa beingpushed into a scalding shower naked and when BT takes advantage of a drugdazed Melissa.In spite of it I find myself watching it again and againfor kicks, like video junk food. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the novel byMax Evans and directed by Stephen Frears, The Hi-LoCountry charted a long and circuitous route to the big screen, and the final resultproves that the material posed a major--and perhaps insurmountable--challenge forscreen adaptation. It's easy to see why this contemporary Western was once acoveted project of director Sam Peckinpah; its codes of honor, male bonding, andhardened morality would've played nicely into Peckinpah's artistic legacy. There areclear echoes of Peckinpah in the screenplay by Walon Green (who wrote TheWild Bunch), and while the movie is blessed by Woody Harrelson's vivid performance as a reckless latter-day cowboy, Frears fails to maintain a compellingtone and the rest of the cast nearly fades into the background.

Billy Crudup (Without Limits) plays Harrelson's best pal, just returned toNew Mexico from service in World War II with hopes of starting a cattle ranch freefrom the greedy clutches of a local rancher (Sam Elliott) who dominates the town ofHi-Lo like a bootclad kingpin. Harrelson joins in the effort, but tensions rise when heconnects with the sultry seductress (Patricia Arquette) with whom Crudup has falleninexplicably in love. Harrelson has provoked others as well, and he seems primed fora fall, but The Hi-Lo Country is a film out of balance. Memorable momentsare found in abundance, and the film's period detail is impeccable, but Crudup'scharacter is so underwritten and underplayed that his role as narrator and ostensiblehero has minimal dramatic impact. By the time fate deals its inevitable blow, it's toolate to care. Frears has suffered from similar missteps before (remember MaryReilly?), and The Hi-Lo Country leaves you wondering what Peckinpahmight have done with the novel he so dearly admired. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Barbed-Wire Love Triangle in the New West
Returning to the Hi-Lo country of New Mexico after World War II, two cowboys (played by Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup) resume their friendship. That friendship is compromised when both fall hard for the lusty young wife (Patricia Arquette) of a competing ranch's foreman. Crudup is forced to suck it in as Arquette appears to prefer Harrelson; and it poisons the possibility of a relationship with the lovely Penelope Cruz, who detects that his love for her is divided.

This is the New West, where small ranches are being gobbled up by larger ones such as that run by Sam Elliott, whom the other cowboys hate and fear. The work is hard and dangerous and the rewards few. But the Old West lurks not far beneath the surface, and bullets still fly.

Director Stephen Frears did a magnificent job with this film. It made we wish that more Westerns were made, even if by "furriners" like Frears. Billy Crudup is a young actor whose career I will follow with interest: His restrained role of a man who cannot do what he most wants sticks in the memory. It was good also to see Katy Jurado of HIGH NOON fame in a small scene-stealing walk-on as a Mexican witch, or bruja, who tells fortunes.

Harrelson's Best Performance
This character study, set in New Mexico in the early '40s, begins with an enigmatic narrative that infuses "The Hi-Lo Country," directed by Stephen Frears, with a tension that ultimately runs high throughout the entire film. The story focuses on the friendship between a couple of cowboys, Pete Calder (Billy Crudup) and Big Boy Matson (Woody Harrelson), who upon returning from the war are trying to make a go of the cattle business, while bucking some stiff competition from the local cattle baron, Jim Ed Love (Sam Elliott). At the same time, Pete becomes aware that he is not alone in his obsession with a married woman, Mona (Patricia Arquette); Big Boy has it bad for her, too, and she just happens to be the wife of Jim Ed's foreman, Les Birk (John Diehl). And, as usually happens with a situation involving obsession, things quickly begin to get sticky for all concerned. Big Boy, it seems, is the one headed for trouble; he's hot-tempered, stubborn, and fearless to a point bordering on stupidity. Pete, on the other hand, has a good head on his shoulders and has a couple of things going for him: One is a woman named Josepha (Penelope Cruz), who cares deeply for him, and the other is his unwavering loyalty to Big Boy. The tension continues to mount, and the situation is complicated further by the fact that Big Boy isn't exactly discreet about his feelings for Mona, nor of his disdain for Jim Ed Love, for whom his younger brother, Little Boy (Cole Hauser) now works. Inevitably, things come to a head; but when it happens, the arena in which it transpires is something of a surprise, though not entirely unexpected.

Frears does a good job of capturing the essence of another time and place that seems so near and yet so far away. The world was changing around them, but in the Hi-Lo country there were still cowboys who punched cattle and drove the herd to market on horseback. Theirs is a fairly self-contained world, far removed from anything that is happening elsewhere; if a butterfly flaps it's wings in New York, it isn't going to affect Pete or Big Boy. Frears takes a look at the difference between the two men, Big Boy, who lives primarily for the moment (or so it would seem), and Pete, who is more apt to consider the consequences of his decisions, except, that is, when it comes to Mona. But even in that respect, it's Pete who ultimately shows some restraint. And Frears maintains the tension by keeping the situation between the men and Mona precariously balanced on the fence. You know that someone is bound to fall, but you don't know who it will be, where or when.

Crudup is convincing as Pete, bringing him to life with a reserved, understated performance. He brings an intelligent and introspective quality to the character that leads you to believe that Pete is always cognizant of what is going on around him, and where it's all heading. With Big boy, on the other hand, you never know if he's ever really aware of his situation, or if he just doesn't care. As Big Boy, Harrelson gives what may be his best performance ever. His portrayal is that of a true, rugged individual who keeps his deepest feelings to himself, but just may be a bit more savvy than he lets on. Initially, it appears that Big Boy and Pete are opposite sides of the same coin, but in the end you realize that they are not so different from one another after all.

As Mona, Arquette gives a somewhat subdued performance. Though attractive, she doesn't exactly exude the kind of sensuality that would seemingly elicit the obsessiveness of the men that is called for by the story, especially in Pete's case. Knowing what you know about the characters involved, it is hard to believe that Pete would look past the lovely and more alluring Josepha for even a second glance at Mona.

The supporting cast includes James Gammon (Hoover), Darren E. Burrows (Billy), Lane Smith (Steve) and Jacob Vargas (Delfino). A good, solid drama, "The Hi-Lo Country" may not be entirely original, but Frears has a nice touch and gives it a sense of realism that will get you emotionally involved with the characters and their story. And, upon reflection, it's a glimpse of a world that not that long ago was so much bigger than it is today.

How typical!!!!....
Without the perfect cast, this movie could easily be a flop.
But Patricia Arquette is here so beautiful and Woody Harrelson had never played better. Buy Buy Buy!!!!!
Finish... (:

A tribute to Sam Pekinpah and Walon Green...
This movie is basically for affectionados of Sam Pekinpah and Walon Green. The message of this film is that the nature of western life is underscored by the propensity of its people to live with recklessness and violence in generational terms. Think of it as sort of like, "The Wild Bunch" aftermath, about forty years beyond.

While the "Wild Bunch" was about the west during the period of industrialization around the turn of the century, "The Hi Lo Country" deals with the period of superindustrialization following World War II.

Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup play two cowboys who fall for the same woman, Patricia Arquette. Harrelson as the violent "Big Boy" shows no sense of morality or humilty as the film's main protagonist, while Crudup as "Pete" is almost the exact opposite. Sam Elliot portrays a villanous rancher/industrialist, while the desirable Penelope Cruz is the overlooked, unrequitted love in Pete's life.

All of the actors turn in solid performances, but what makes this film special is the story itself, the direction, and Jerry Goldsmith's subtle, forceful soundtrack.

A Blank Spot on the Map
The plot may creak a bit, but the film itself remains a superbly done period piece. It is Northeastern New Mexico, circa 1945, and the prairie vistas are wide open with an unbounded sense of freedom, but one that stretches out to monotonously barren horizons. Homesteading cows is no easy task in the hard-bitten Hi-Lo country, and certainly no place for the Hollywood glamor factory. Except for a few questionable touches (Sam Elliott's leering villian, for one), the viewer gets a real sense of time and place, and of what goes on with the hardpan folks living there. The movie's core, however, remains Woody Harrelson's Big Boy whose boisterously callous behavior develops so slyly, you may not notice your own shifting responses. The jut-jawed Harrelson is near perfect, as are the cow town atmospherics with their smoky Saturday night honky-tonk. Seldom has anyone gotten a cowboy so right, and seldom has any film blended landscape of place with landscape of character more successfully than this one. Both demonstrate how sheer surface expanse can overwhelm frail emotional depth. Martin Scorese ( a most unlikely source for a Western theme) was a background producer, and I suspect it is he we have to thank for getting this very non-commercial story onto the video screen. Stephen Frears directs at a leisurely but revealing pace, allowing the occasional quiet but necessary moment to creep in. This minor gem should satisfy anyone curious about those obscure backwaters of the American West that appear mysteriously as blank spots on the road map. Despite undeniable concessions, Hi-Lo Country remains truer to its prosaic sources than the mock heroics and contrived mayhem of the traditional western, and is thus well worth a look see. Give it a try. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Friday
Friday is the rarest specimen of African American cinema: a 'hood movierefreshingly free of the semiseriousness and moralism of shoot 'em up soaps suchas Boyz N the Hood, yet still true to the inner-city experience. Scriptedby rapper Ice Cube, Friday is a no-frills tale of a day in the life of apair of young blacks in South Central. Cube plays Craig, a frustrated teen whoendures the ultimate humiliation: getting fired on his day off. Then unknownChris Tucker plays Smokey, a marijuana-worshipping homeboy whose love for thegreen stuff lands him in predicament after predicament. Sitting on the stoop ofCraig's rundown home, the two hilariously confront a kaleidoscopic array ofgangbangers, weed dealers, crack heads, prostitutes, scheming girlfriends, andneighborhood bullies--all of whom, it should be noted, come off as sympatheticeven as they are being caricatured, a true achievement in the crass, "bootycall" environment of '90s African American comedy. --Ethan Brown

Next Friday
Ice Cube wrote and stars as Craig in this sequel to Friday, which he alsowrote. His nemesis from that film, neighborhood bully Debo (Tommy "Tiny" ListerJr.), has just escaped from county jail and is out to get revenge. To protectCraig, Craig's father (John Witherspoon) sends his son to stay with his UncleElroy (Don "D.C." Curry), who won the lottery and bought a house in RanchoCucamonga. Craig expects the suburbs to be dull, but no sooner has he arrivedthan conflicts arise: The neighbors are hostile hoods, his cousin's girlfriendis out for blood and child support, and the house is about to be seized becauseof unpaid taxes. It's up to Craig and his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) to solvethese problems before the day is over. It's a rambling, loose movie, but agenuinely entertaining one. Ice Cube doesn't write punch lines--though funnylines abound. He writes richly comic characters that speak in virtual arias ofbragging, complaining, and scamming. Sure, some of the characters arestereotypes and many of the jokes are about drugs and scatology--but that's beenthe basis of humor since Plautus and Molière. The rhythmic energy of Ice Cube'sdialogue and the easy charisma of his performance make Next Fridaythoroughly enjoyable. --Bret Fetzer

... Read more

Reviews (4)

IT WAS A MUST HAVE
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE ALL THE MOVIES IN A BOX SET. THEY ARE ALL CLASSIC DVD'S.

A Real Moral Problem Here
I will keep this simple, for those who don't seem to get it. This movie was not near as good as the first one. Without Tucker this movie was destined to fail. Second, this movie seems to be saying, if your strapped for cash, go steal it from your neighbor, bad move. Some parts were funny, but all in all it was a waste.

FUNNY AS HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These movies are 2 of the most funniest movies i have ever seen. These are a must buy!!!!!! I can't wait for the third one sometime next year.

Friday Fresh Pack
very funny combo!!! a must have for a good comedy collection ... Read more

Description

Drive By:This film is based on a true story about gang life on the streets of Chicago.Caesar O'Campo, a young teen, seeks acceptance and membership into The Brotherhood, a gang lead by his older brother, Kiko.Set on breaking the family gang cycle, Kiko fights to keep Caesar away from a life of crime and violence while others set out to destroy an entire family and the Brotherhood. Road Dogz:Once upon a time in the hood… "Boyz N the Hood" meets "Blood In, Blood Out" in this gritty tale of life on the streets of East L.A.Danny (Jacob Vargas), Alfonso (Greg Serano) and Raymo (Clifton Collins, Jr.) are lifelong friends who have spent their days hanging out and playing basketball.But everything is about to change...when one of them gets involved with a dangerous drug dealer, all their lives are at risk and they must make some life and death decisions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Gang Movie's
Well when i rented these movies i didn't know what to expect.
At first I thought they were going to be no good.
But once i saw them they turned out to be really good movies.
"Drive By",Was a movie about betrayal and of course drugs and blood,and guns.But i gave this movie 4 stars .
The moral of this movie is be careful who you trust.
On "Road Dogz",I Have no words for that LOL.
That movie just blew me away.The guys were cute and the concept was very interesting to watch.
I'M Surely going to buy this 2 pack DVD and i recommend it to anyone who like's Gnagster Movies. ... Read more