Reviews (4)

Good adaptation of a cute novel
This is a pretty good adaptation of Cara Lockwood's novel of the same name, although as any book to movie transition, a lot of left on the cutting room floor. But what is captured is the chemistry of the leads, Lauren and Nick, as well as the deviousness of the psycho-bride, Darla.

Basically, it is the story of a harried wedding planner in the middle of a divorce who meets the fireman of her dreams, only to discover that he may be the groom in an upcoming wedding.

Really charming and romantic!

Theme song
I liked the movie very much it is very nice.

Would like to know who sings the song The way you look tonight in this movie.

Sincerely,

Mirella C. Zequeira

Read the book!
I saw this movie and it's OK, the plot it's a little different in the book but I think they did a good job with it. However, I HIGHLY recomend reading the book. The book it's great, very funny & entertaining, once you start reading it you dont want to put it down!

cheep take off
This movie is an open take off of Jlo's "The wedding planner". But it plays the story better then the latter. A happy, light movie. Nothing unpleasant goes on.You know how it will end, you just have to sit back and see what extra plot twists they can throw in before it finally winds down to the inevitable. (Girl gets guy, leaves mean boss lady. Nasty girl gets whats coming to her.)This movie never achieves greatness, but neither does it strive for it. There is something to be said for films such as this. They don't offend anyone, and if you like this sort of movie, it will make you happy. It is what it is: A happy chick flick. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Into The Mist
Play Misty For Me is Clint Eastwood's directorial debut and it is an entertaining thriller about obsession that is a precursor for films like Fatal Attraction. Mr. Eastwood plays against type as a DJ Dave Garver, who works at a jazz station in Carmel, CA (The town where Mr. Eastwood would become the real life mayor ). Mr. Eastwood is usually the strong, silent type who seeks revenge or is an enforcer. In this film, he is a sensitive ladies man, who reads poetry on the air and plays jazz music. He is also the victim. He has what he thinks is a one-night affair with Evelyn Draper played by Jessica Walter. Evelyn claims that there's no strings attached, but that turns out to be the farthest thing from the truth. She stalks Garver, showing up unannounced at his home, at a bar he frequents and in one instance tries to kill herself in his bathroom. In the meantime, Garver is trying to get back together with his former girlfriend Tobie played by a young Donna Mills. Evelyn trashes Garver's house and almost kills his housekeeper, Birdie (Clarice Taylor) and is taken away by the police and put into an asylum. Garver thinks it's over, but Evelyn gets out of the asylum and there is one last chilling scene involving scissors and a knife. Mr. Eastwood uses the natural beauty of the Monterey Peninsula to great effect in the film, with wide shots of the rolling surf and picturesque sunsets. There is one odd montage in the middle of the film which is like a music video set to Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", in which Tobie & Garver roam through the landscape and end up in a secluded pond. The use of the two year old song in the film actually propelled it to number one on the charts and made a star out of the relatively unknown Ms. Flack. There is also a scene from the Monterey Jazz Festival with actual performances by Johnny Otis and Cannonball Adderley. The actors all give credible performances. Even though Mr. Eastwood is playing the sensitive type, he still exudes his famous cool. Ms. Mills is luminous and she is just fragile enough to be a victim. Ms. Walter is perfect as Evelyn. She plays the part of a psychotic, unhinged, scornful woman just enough over the top to be scarily believable, but not too over the top to become cartoonish. The film is a strong debut for Mr. Eastwood as a director and despite some dated material, the film holds up as an effective thriller.

A One Night Stand Gone Wrong
"Play Misty for Me" was Clint Eastwood's debut film as a director. He shrewdly had old friend and colleague, veteran director Don Siegel, who directed him in his box office winner "Dirty Harry," along as a potential backup if needed, giving him a role as bartender of the haunt the actor frequents as male lead in the film. Eastwood's idea to film "Misty" in his hometown, scenic Carmel in Northern California's Monterey Peninsula, was an excellent choice. It gave cinematographer Bruce Surtees an opportunity to take advantage of the visual beauty of the area, which he does with abundance, making the film a scenic pleasure to watch. Eastwood, a noted jazz lover, also shrewdly takes advantage of filming opportunities at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Playing a disc jockey in the film, we see time frames based on the number of days to the upcoming festival, which Eastwood plugs frequently. Lots of excellent firsthand shots of the festival are seen, while certain artists are observed showcasing their musical talents.

As for the plot, the story line is credible, sharply on point. Eastwood meets Jessica Walters one night at Siegel's bar after he has finished doing his show. He walks her home, learning she is the faithful fan who keeps requesting the Errol Garner classic, "Misty." When she makes herself available, he hesitates, revealing he is hung up on someone, namely Donna Mills, then away pursuing her art career in Sausalito. Walters responds that there is nothing wrong with them making love with no attachments, after which Eastwood agrees to what he wrongly believes is a one night stand.

Eastwood is ultimately smothered by the persistent and mentally disturbed Walters, who surprises him by showing up unannounced at his home shortly after their sexual escapade with a bag of groceries in her arms, declaring her intention of fixing him dinner. He tries repeatedly and vainly to shake her, his romance with Mills being jeopardized in the process. He even loses an opportunity to develop a musical program concept for an interested producer, Irene Hervey, after Walters, wrongly believing she has interrupted a date, launches a savage verbal assault on the other woman when she finds them lunching at a local restaurant. Eventually a frenzied Walters attacks and hospitalizes Eastwood's cleaning lady, Clarice Taylor, with a knife, after which both are hospitalized, in Walters' case being involuntarily confined for her mental problems.

Just when Eastwood believes he is rid of Walters for good he receives a call from her. She reveals she is at San Francisco Airport awaiting boarding of a flight that will take her to Honolulu, where a job awaits her following her release from the mental facility. Eastwood declares there are no hard feelings on his part, asks how she is feeling, and wishes her well.

As he goes back to playing records, agreeing to play Walter's last request, her favorite tune, "Misty," Eastwood begins reflecting on the lines from the poem Walters recited for him before ending their call. It was from Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee." Mills has told him that her new roommate is named Annabel. When he calls Mills the phone is answered by Walters, who has tied up Eastwood's girlfriend. She tells Eastwood she is waiting for him. Eastwood puts on an old tape and leaves the studio for Mills' Carmel Highlands residence and a fatal showdown with Walters, who intends to kill them both in her fitful rage.

This brutally realistic film paved the way for later movies displaying stark sexual realism such as Michael Douglas' two triumphs, "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct." My only qualm is that the violence could have been toned down in the case of the knife attack on Clarice Taylor without losing any drama or story impact. All in all, however, this is a gem combining a strong story that moves briskly with the dramatically beautiful scenery of one of the world's most captivating areas.

Good debut directorial!
Play Misty meant the forst movie of this talented folm maker. This one is a tense psychological thriller which opened the inspiration sixteen years later to Fatal atraction, Jessica Walter (Nominated as best dramatic actress in 1971 for the Golden Globe), gives a surprisingly role as never before , as the outrageous lover who literally remains obsessed with Dave Garver (Clint)a nigttime disc jockey who loves the jazz and receives all kind of calls by phone.
His affair is obviously unexpected , but it will lead to several bitter headaches and disturbing situation.
Well thriller , and stills keeps its expressive force.

What Clint Eastwood called,"The original 'Fatal Attraction'"
I first saw "Play Misty for Me" in the theatre way back in the early 1970's.Remember it well.It was a triple feature at the drive-in when tickets were around two bucks.That's something you don't see anymore,triple features,drive-ins and movie tickets for two bucks.Saw it recently on home video and the picture has held up rather well.Clint Eastwood plays Dave Garver, a late night DJ at a Jazz radio station in Carmel,California,(remember he was elected mayor there in 1986 in which he served a two year term in office). Jessica Walter gives a terrific performance as Evelyn Draper who is a big fan of Garver's radio program..Donna Mills is also very appealing as Garver's girlfriend Toby.It features fine cinematography by Bruce Surtees and a good score by the late Dee Barton.In an interview in 1988,Eastwood referred to "Play Misty for Me" as the original 'Fatal Attraction'".This was shortly after that picture came out and became a big hit.(Glenn Close was nominated for Best Actress for her role.She didn't win but she should have though.)"Misty" was made 16 years earlier and I thought it was just as good.The DVD edition has some interesting extra features too.

Some trivia for you,Steve McQueen considered the role of Dave but changed his mind.Eastwood made a long distance phone call to Roberta Flack to ask her permission to use her song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in the film.Shortly afterward the tune became one of the biggest selling hits of the 1970's.In the top fifty best selling songs of the entire decade according to "Casey Casem's American Top Forty Countdown".Unfortunately "Misty" was not a hit at the box-office.It was a hit with many critics though.The screenplay was written by the late Jo Heims.She was a secretary at Eastwood's production company Malpaso.It was co-written by the late Dean Riesner who co-wrote the screenplay for "Dirty Harry".Eastwood's friend and mentor and frequent Director Don Siegel has a cameo as Murphy the bartender.A few months later the two went on to make "Dirty Harry".And,"Play Misty For Me" was Clint Eastwood's directorial debut.And,a very impressive one indeed.A preview of things to come.

Buy "Misty for" Yourself
Not only was this a SCARY, disturbing thriller, it was beautifully crafted and very well cast. Even the musical score played a part in the film (hence part of the title - "Misty") and Roberta Flack's romantic ballad "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". But with music aside, this movie did not have an ounce of predictability the way many thrillers have. Instead it presented originality, suspense, drama, and wonderful acting and directing all in one complete package. This movie even took at artistic view at the backdrop and scenery (set along the beautiful Monterey/Carmel, California coast). By incorparting all these elements made this film a true complete work of art. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Intensely funny and tastefully tasteless
"Slums of Beverly Hills" is one of those rare movies that exceed the boundaries of good taste yet causes all of us to laugh secretly at the "I've-been-there-before" scenarios. The cast is headed by Natasha Lyonne, a great newcomeer with cherubically large eyes that can look right through you. No one else would have been better for this part. She plays the daughter of a Nomadic father (wonderfully acted by Alan Arkin) and sandwiched between two equally-eccentric brothers. The oldest boy is a mildly obnoxious aspiring singer-actor; the youngest boy has a crush on the older. There are other good performances by Marrisa Tomei as the "dazed and confused" cousin who escapes from her own dysfunctional family, bringing new delimmas to our main character; and Carl Riener her successful yet heartless father. There are some hilariously offenseive scenes involving vibrators, bongs, dining room furniture (my lips are sealed) and hormonal neighbors. This film is not for everyone but for those of us living on the edge it's a gem.

A COMEDY THAT'S NOT THAT FUNNY
...or maybe it isn't meant to be funny? At any rate, if there's a reason to applaud this critically acclaimed indie, it's the performance of Natasha Lyonne in the focal role of Vivian.
Lyonne captures to a tee the ultimately frightening world of being a teenager on the verge of becoming a woman. Lyonne hits all the right notes, whether it's in lamenting her enormous boobs (a gag that gets old after a while) or exploring her cousin's vibrator (a remarkable scene with no dialogue that conveys the innocence of youth and shows what a fine actress Lyonne is). Alan Arkin lends good support as her father, but his performance is too one note to show us the real anguish he is feeling. His scene with Oscar winner Marisa Tomei in which he tells her how lonely he is is handled very well. Jessica Walter is around briefly as the new love interest in Arkin's life, and she does a beautiful job too. Tomei is adequate, but not entirely believable. Carl Reiner and Rita Moreno make a brief but memorable appearance as Tomei's parents.
All in all, this is a tender slice of life dramedy, but I wish it had been a little funnier.

Why did the director want an "R" rating for this?
"Slums" is a thoroughly enjoyable movie and I take nothing away from this wonderful independent film. Alan Arkin's performance is a treasure and all the acting is on-target.

One quibble, though. One reason, I submit, that this movie languished in obscurity for years is the "R" rating. Why did'nt Ms. Jenkins shoot for a more box-office friendly PG-13 and get the teen audience who might have supported this movie more. Did we really need all those (...) shots from stunt doubles??? Not that I'm complaining but after a point they distract from the movie.

More people should have seen "Slums" but the "R" rating killed it.

Not that good ...
Well it was actually a totally weird movie and ... uhm ... yea in a way it's like in the same style of The Big Lebowski for example ... either you love it or hate it ... I hated it ... BUT the last half an hour or so was actually quite entertaining! Wait to buy it untill it only cost 5-10 $

Arkin, Tomei, Lyonne, Reiner... you can't go wrong.
I liked the fact that this movie, although laced with sexual themes and R-rated humor, is ultimately about a father who loves his kids and kids who love their father. And even the scenes of ribald humor and sexuality are mostly character-driven and kind of sweet. Well acted, funny, and quirky, "Slums of Beverly Hills" is a great little movie to discover on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

'THE FLAMINGO KID'
MATT DILLON OFFICIALLY BECAME A SUPERSTAR AS HE SHINES IN THIS SURPRISINGLY EFFECTIVE 1984 COMEDY. DILLON STARS AS A COLLEGE AGED BROOKLYN YOUTH WHO AGAINST HIS FATHERS (HECTOR ELIZONDO) WISHES LANDS A SUMMER JOB AT AN UPPER CLASS LONG ISLAND BEACH CLUB. THERE DILLON MEETS A SUAVE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER (RICHARD CRENNA) WHO IS ALSO THE FAT CAT GIN RUMMY KING OF THE FLAMINGO BEACH CLUB. THERE ARE PLENTY OF LAUGHS AS WELL AS TOP NOTCH ACTING AND GREAT DIRECTING BY GARRY MARSHALL. LOOK FOR NICE SUPPORTING ROLES GIVEN BY JESSICA WALTER AND JANET JONES WHO WE DISAPPOINTINGLY NEVER REALLY SAW MUCH OF AFTER THIS SOLID PERFORMANCE.

Sweet Ginger Brown
Good coming of age movie set in 1963 about a guy, his Dad, and the bi wig aouto dealer and card shark. Plus you get to see one of the great butts in film history when Janet Jones in her film debut gets out of the pool.

"Dad, how many potatoes do you think you'll eat b4 u die?"
I fell on the floor with above line by Matt Dillon, to his father, perfectly played by Hector Elizando. And many other lines as well.

Dillon is a young impressionable kid from working-class Brooklyn who is in awe of the part played by Richard Crenna, a charming charlton. Dillon's character is swept up by wealth and the beautiful people and Crenna's character undoubtedly likes the attention. So Jeffrey hangs on to every word and goes home at night and repeats them. It doesnt take long for his true-to-his word father to catch on and call him on it.

The differences in class and values come to a head when Elizando and Crenna meet.

Funny and very entertaining.

Summer the way it used to be...
Whoa! Trip to yester year.... Matt Dillon is outstanding in one of his earlier and most memorable flicks. A great story well told, we learn that father really does "know best", and that the old-fashioned values are the only substantial anchor. Fisher Stevens as Hawk is awesome in his first "named" role. Also good is Janet Jones (better-known now as Wayne Gretzky's wife)--heaven only knows why she never received another significant role. Too bad the film was marred by a couple of iterations of the PG-13 word and a nude sex scene (sensitive body parts hidden...)--I would like to have shown this one to my kids.

Richard Crenna steals the show
Yes, Matt Dillon may "come of age" in this film, but Richard Crenna steals the show as a fat-cat owner of a car dealership who lies and cheats at gin and thereby teaches young Jeffrey Willis that all that glitters is not gold. A lovely bikini-clad Jessica Walter as Crenna's wife not only brings her impressive acting talent to this film, but also holds her own (at the age of 43) against the younger bathing beauties that populate the Flamingo Club. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Oscar®-winner Adrien Brody has a nifty role in Dummy as a shy loser whose life is transformed by... ventriloquism. Living with his parents and his caustic sister (Illeana Douglas in good form), tongue-tied Steven can't hold a conversation to save his life--until he sits a wooden dummy on his knee. Others find this kind of creepy, but Steven parlays his newfound voice into a date with his pretty lady at the unemployment office (she's played by Vera Farmiga, from 15 Minutes, a soulful actress destined for big things). Writer-director Greg Pritikin doesn't oversell this modest premise, instead nicely filling in the corners with sly comedy and character bits. Milla Jovovich plays Steven's punk-rock buddy, and Jessica Walter and Ron Leibman are his parents--it's a surprisingly strong cast for an indie effort. Dummy won a release when Brody got the Oscar for The Pianist, but this is a worthy and entertaining picture all on its own. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (15)

an unanticipated delight
Is there anything in this world creepier than a ventriloquist's dummy? Rod Serling apparently didn't think so when he turned one into a raving psychopath in a memorable episode of "The Twilight Zone." In "Dummy," the delightfully quirky comedy by writer/director Greg Pritikin, the dummy turns out to be just about the least creepy character in the film - and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Adrien Brody, in a film made prior to (but released after) his Oscar-winning triumph in "The Pianist," stars as Steven Schoichet, a mild-mannered, socially backward man in his late 20's who still lives at home with his parents and his equally dysfunctional sister. One day, Steven decides to purchase a ventriloquist's dummy, a move that finally gives him the courage to break out of his shell and pursue the woman of his dreams.

Pritikin has come up with an extraordinary ensemble cast that includes, in addition to Brody, Illeana Douglas, as Steven's lovelorn, perpetually frustrated sister; Milla Jovovich, as Steven's foulmouthed wannabe punk rock star friend and companion; Jessica Walter as Steven's off-the-wall mother who figures she can keep her son happy if she perpetually feeds him sandwiches; and Ron Leibman as Steven's father who just wants to spend his time putting together model ships and who can't understand how he's ended up with two children so obviously devoid of purpose and direction in life. Vera Farmiga is charming and winning as the unemployment counselor - perhaps the one "uncertifiable" character in the film - who opens her heart to both Steven and his dummy companion.

Pritikin has taken some very simple material and woven it into a many-splendored tapestry, hitting just the right tone all the way through. The film is wickedly funny one moment and touchingly romantic the next. Yet, Pritikin never violates the uniquely quirky spirit of the premise he's established. It is particularly fun watching Steven engage in long-running conversations with himself, using the dummy as a sounding board for working out his own insecurities and fears.

Beautifully written, directed and acted, "Dummy" is one of the genuine, certified sleepers of the past several years.

Don't be a Dummy...this is very funny!
I saw this film at the Independent Film Festival in Boston.
I was so psyched because the director Greg Pritikin and Illeana Douglas were there...
but when the film ended, my sides were hurting and I was smiling.
It's so nice when a fresh film like Dummy can come out of nowhere and totally steal your heart.
Brody is really good as Steven, the offbeat quiet loner,
whos best friend Fangora, played with spunk and inspired hilarity by Milla Jovovich.
They're not in college...they don't have jobs.
So Steven decides to persue the act of being a Ventriloquist.
And upon getting work, he falls for his Unemployment counselour, played by Vira Farmiga.
Fangora wants Steven to get with her, so she schemes to woo her for him.

Milla Jovovich steals the entire show.
She is never offstep with her delivery and antics.

Steven's family is especially disfunctional....
his father is recently retired and sits around making model boats, while his mother...cooks.

His sister played by Illeana Douglas has a stalker ex-boyfriend, which doesn't help because she's a wedding planner under lots of pressure.
---
Even if you don't like this film (which I doubt you will), you cannot deny the extremely well played performance by Jovovich.

Likable film with lovable cast
Adrien Brody was amazing in this film, which was funny and insane. Some of the characters were a little unnecessary, and even annoying (Milla Jovovich), but the plot was great and the comedy was generous. I'd recommend it to anyone but small children.

Are you a retard?
A quote from this movie. It's very funny and along the same lines as punch drunk love and Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind. The format of Widescreen is larger than most Tv's support if they are older, I am not sure why this choice was made, but most HDTV's support the format. (True widescreen)

Either way, I strongly reccomend this movie. It's a must own.

Beautiful
Like American Splendor and Ghost World, this is one of those films that I can really relate to. Adrien Brody is wonderful in his portrayal of the Jewish loner who still lives with his parents and the only way he can easily communicate to the world is through his ventriloquist dummy. Artisan did a wonderful job in their casting. Ron Liebman and Jessica Walter are the perfect real couple to play the parents of Adrien and his sister played to perfection by Illeana Douglas. Vera Farmiga plays Brody's love interest in such a way that you get the sense that she too has led a somewhat disoriented life. Milla Jovovich, wow. This is the first role I've seen her in where she actually speaks a lot and gets to sing. She is remarkable as Brody's best friend Fanny...I'm sorry Fangora! I had my mother watch this film with me and being Jewish, she loved it when Milla sang punk versions of Klezmer songs!

The DVD is packed with wonderful features such as lessons on how to be a good ventriloquist with the help of Jeff Dunham, a cute mock featurette that shows Jeff teaching a class on Ventriloquism, commentary from Jeff and two of his own dummies, a Widescreen presentation of the film, and deleted scenes. There's even a mini DVD game called "What Kind Of Dummy Are You?".

Powered by a lovely acoustic soundtrack and good direction from Greg Pritkin, Dummy is a lovely tale of dreams and ambitions and comedic drama that can tap into the artist in all of us.

Be sure to listen for Fangora's references to Borders! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Truly Different Comedy That Dares To Take Chances
Tapeheads tells the story of two guys looking to make it big in music videos who inadvertantly, and unwittingly get mixed up a greater scandal involving a pornographic video starring a presidential canidate. As another review pointed out, the humor is in no way subtle or clever in the truest sense of the word, but then again it's not sophomoric or dirty either. The fact of the matter is that this movie is really unlike many other comedies I have ever seen. Miniscule comparrisons to films like Better Off Dead are possible I suppose (though maybe its simply John Cusacks appearance in both films which brings the movie to mind) but all in all, you're really not likely to see anything like this again for a very long while.

The performances are of course terrific, as Cusack and Robbins really let loose and go wild on screen, sacrificing almost anything for a joke. Sometimes the jokes work, sometimes they dont, but it doesn't matter because you will be so enamoured with the strangeness of film to complain about those few moments that don't quite turn out right. And the ones that do - well I cant say you'll be rolling on the floor, because again, its bizzare enough so that you'll probably simply be struck with some unsure smile for the duration of the movie, but then you'll watch it again... and again... and again.

Why? Because, it's a film thats genuinely different. And honestly, how many movies can you really say that about? Not many.

A parody for the ages
This movie showcases the talents of Michael Nesmith mirroring the same quirky humor that made the "Monkees" television show so hilarious. The central focus of this movie is the growing music video industry during the eighties. This movie is a parody of the what the industry was like and how to two guys could make it big. John Cusak and Tim Robbins play two buddies that have dreams of making it big in the video business. They each contribute their own brand of humor. John is the slick entrepenuer and Tim is the naive but talented producer. After getting fired they decide to go into the video business. They find the business to be challenging but never allow themselves to give up. They are motivated by their love for the "Swanky Modes" (Sam Moore and Junior Walker). Nesmith uses so many funny little quirks throughout this movie that you will need to watch it at least two more times to catch everything. Each time you watch it, it gets funnier and funnier. The film is strengthened by a cast of cameos by artists such as Ted Nugent and Don Cornelius as "Moe Fuzz, President of Fuzzball Records". The film also boasts a great soundtrack. This movie is a must for anyone's collection if you are a fun of quirky humor like "Airplane" and even the "Marx Brothers".

AMAZINGLY INEPT MOVIE
Based on these reviews I thought to try a genre I'd not explored.
Ohmy, never again. Suggestion: Critically read reviews; going back
after viewing TAPEHEADS I saw clues to the inept, shallow, silly,
awkward, amateurish nature of this faulty flick.

"Any ordinary man wouldn't think twice..."
First off, I adore this movie. Both Tim Robbins and John Cusack are, to quote Rik from "The Young Ones", BWILLIANT!!! The cast, the music, the dialogue and everything else about this film is totally turbular (... yes, even though I am from New York AND the 80s are over, I still talk like a Valley Boy...)! Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are how Josh and Ivan's music videos are taken directly from videos that we have all seen on MTV (when there was still "M" in MTV). My personal favourite was their tribute to Duran Duran's video "Is There Something I Should Know?" The whole video is in black and white and then a small child throws a ball that is in colour (orange). I gave a happy sigh when I saw that scene. Anyway, that's all Pat has to say in this review. Right now, I am jonesing for some Vanilla Quik so, I must away. Ciaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaao!

Brilliant multilayered deadpan satire, that not all will get
A wildly uneven, early Cusack and Robbins comedy that you will either love or hate. As a cohesive whole it's not that much of a movie, but the deadpan satire, the quotable lines, the cameos, the skits, and the layer after layer of pop culture in-references make this movie a trivia buff's dream. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Few actresses are adored by the camera as much as Jean Seberg is in the brooding, 1964 psychodrama Lilith. The legendary American and European star (Godard's Breathless), playing Lilith Arthur, fixes one's attention on her every nuance in Robert Rossen's tale of a beautiful, sexual omnivore and psychotic patient at a New England mental hospital. Withdrawn into her small world of dolls and fantasies, Lilith responds to the attention of a laconic, Korean War veteran, Vincent Bruce (Warren Beatty), who is trying to find himself by working as an occupational therapist. Burdened by a murky, guilt-ridden past (involving his mentally ill mother), Vincent gradually falls into an unnervingly passionate affair with Lilith--much less a romance than a shared journey toward mutual implosion. Rossen's severe, sincere, stark black-and-white drama is sometimes lost in a muddle of undefined character motivations, but it's quite a ride toward the film's last-minute epiphany. Watch for Gene Hackman in a small role. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Description

3 Great Movies on 1 DVD.Star Power, Exciting Genre with Extras on each DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Three Great Very Rare 1970s TV Movies A Must Have!
First: They Call It Murder (1970) with Jim Hutton. A fantastic whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very end. The music and characters are appealing and the plot moves at a perfect pace.
Second: Murder Once Removed (1971) with John Forsythe, Barbara Bain, Richard Kiley,Joseph Campanella and Reta Shaw. A very tense dramatic thriller with many plot twists. Make sure you are paying attention!
Third: A Tattered Web (1971) A tour de force for Lloyd Bridges in one his finest dramatic roles. The film is intense and very entertaining with fine suppport from Frank Converse, Murray Hamilton and Broderick Crawford.
Al in all a terrific package. The prints are quite watchable and I thoroughly reccommend this DVD to any fan of mystery films or ultra rare 70s TV Movies. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

'THE FLAMINGO KID'
MATT DILLON OFFICIALLY BECAME A SUPERSTAR AS HE SHINES IN THIS SURPRISINGLY EFFECTIVE 1984 COMEDY. DILLON STARS AS A COLLEGE AGED BROOKLYN YOUTH WHO AGAINST HIS FATHERS (HECTOR ELIZONDO) WISHES LANDS A SUMMER JOB AT AN UPPER CLASS LONG ISLAND BEACH CLUB. THERE DILLON MEETS A SUAVE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER (RICHARD CRENNA) WHO IS ALSO THE FAT CAT GIN RUMMY KING OF THE FLAMINGO BEACH CLUB. THERE ARE PLENTY OF LAUGHS AS WELL AS TOP NOTCH ACTING AND GREAT DIRECTING BY GARRY MARSHALL. LOOK FOR NICE SUPPORTING ROLES GIVEN BY JESSICA WALTER AND JANET JONES WHO WE DISAPPOINTINGLY NEVER REALLY SAW MUCH OF AFTER THIS SOLID PERFORMANCE.

Sweet Ginger Brown
Good coming of age movie set in 1963 about a guy, his Dad, and the bi wig aouto dealer and card shark. Plus you get to see one of the great butts in film history when Janet Jones in her film debut gets out of the pool.

"Dad, how many potatoes do you think you'll eat b4 u die?"
I fell on the floor with above line by Matt Dillon, to his father, perfectly played by Hector Elizando. And many other lines as well.

Dillon is a young impressionable kid from working-class Brooklyn who is in awe of the part played by Richard Crenna, a charming charlton. Dillon's character is swept up by wealth and the beautiful people and Crenna's character undoubtedly likes the attention. So Jeffrey hangs on to every word and goes home at night and repeats them. It doesnt take long for his true-to-his word father to catch on and call him on it.

The differences in class and values come to a head when Elizando and Crenna meet.

Funny and very entertaining.

Summer the way it used to be...
Whoa! Trip to yester year.... Matt Dillon is outstanding in one of his earlier and most memorable flicks. A great story well told, we learn that father really does "know best", and that the old-fashioned values are the only substantial anchor. Fisher Stevens as Hawk is awesome in his first "named" role. Also good is Janet Jones (better-known now as Wayne Gretzky's wife)--heaven only knows why she never received another significant role. Too bad the film was marred by a couple of iterations of the PG-13 word and a nude sex scene (sensitive body parts hidden...)--I would like to have shown this one to my kids.

Richard Crenna steals the show
Yes, Matt Dillon may "come of age" in this film, but Richard Crenna steals the show as a fat-cat owner of a car dealership who lies and cheats at gin and thereby teaches young Jeffrey Willis that all that glitters is not gold. A lovely bikini-clad Jessica Walter as Crenna's wife not only brings her impressive acting talent to this film, but also holds her own (at the age of 43) against the younger bathing beauties that populate the Flamingo Club. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

a classic and a must for race fans
John Frankenheimer broke new ground when he filmed "Grand Prix", putting cameras on single-seater cars and thus creating some of the most amazing footage ever shot of cars from that era. The movie is on the light side as far as the story development goes, and while James Garner is very convincing as an American grand prix ace, one has a harder time buying this sort of act from Yves Montand who plays the aging Ferrari driver. Eva Marie Saint is cast as a magazine journalist following the grand prix circus around Europe, trying to get a story - a storyline that was recently successfully resurrected in "Driven". Her lovestory with Montand is not exactly hot, but the highly dramatic race action in Monte Carlo, Spa, and Monza (they still used the famous banking of the autodromo in those days!)more than makes up for that. The film features cameo appearances of some of the era's greatest drivers like Graham Hill. Letter-boxed on a larger screen is the only decent way to completely enjoy the breath-taking cinematography of this classic.

Grand Prix starring James Garner
Grand Prix, the film, is an amazing documentary portraying grand prix racing in the late 1960's. James Garner plays an outstanding role as American driver Pete Aaron. With little dialogue and plenty of authentic race footage, Grand Prix can eaisly be quoted to be the best racing movie ever produced. John Frankenheimer took the racing fans image of early grand prix racing to it's greatest extreme and and made it into one of the first auto racing films ever to be produced. A production of this quality will never be recreated because of the manner in which it was made. The footage is real racing, not acting. Helicopters were flown down the straightways 15-20 feet above the cars during races. The FIA these days wouldn't let an aircraft within miles of the circuit, making a film with the action of Grand Prix impossible to duplicate.

Grand Prix
Having recently rediscovered Formula 1 racing on the Speed Channel, I went looking for the finest movie ever made concerning the Grand Prix, the movie of the same name. I was fortunate to have seen it in Cinemascope in a theater especially designed for just such movies - humongous curved screen, as fine a sound system as then available. I've watched the movie several times on the little box but it's never duplicated the original experience. I CANNOT BELIVE it is not yet available on DVD. If ever a movie deserved the DVD treatment this is it. The very finest movie of its kind - it accurately captures the essence of Formula 1 racing and is every bit as timely and viable a viewing experience as it was 38 years ago. If we pull together it will soon be available - I have no doubt.

Grand Prix, Grand indeed!
It has been said that this is the best racing movie ever made. It is.

No movie before or since has been able to capture the feeling and essence of racing in the 60's or any other era.

What director Frankenheimer does in this movie is still exciting even by today's standards.

Even though I am a huge Steve McQueen fan, Le Mans definitely takes second place to Grand Prix.

I was really excited to see the movie Driven with Stallone, until I saw it. All I kept saying to myself was "This is not even close to Grand Prix". Grand Prix has not only raised the bar, but has set it as well.

Do yourself a favor, don't rent, but rather buy this film and get ready for an education on how great movies were made and should be made.

Beware: Pan and Scan
Be aware that this is a Pan and Scan version of the film, a fact that is omitted in the product description. As a result, many scenes that were thrilling in Cinemascope and awkward here. Nonetheless, I fully concur with other reviewers - this is a must have film for car buffs and racing fans. ... Read more

Product Description

Made for TV Movie depicting the improbable win of the US Olympic Hockey Team over the Soviets in the 1980 Lake Placid N.Y. Winter Olympics ... Read more