Description

Philip Kaufman achieves a delicate, erotic balance with his screen version of Milan Kundera's "unfilmable" novel. Adapted by Kaufman and Jean-Claude Carrière, the film follows a womanizing surgeon (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he struggles with his free-spirited mistress (Lena Olin) and his childlike wife (Juliette Binoche). An intimate epic, The Unbearable Lightness of Being charts the frontiers of relationships with wit, emotion, and devastating honesty. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Exquisite Film Was One of The 1980's Best
Phillip Kaufman reached an artistic pinnacle with this elegant translation of Milan Kundera's book about the 1968 Czechoslovokian crisis. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Tomas, a physician, whose life consists in seducing women, one of whom - an artist Sabina (Lena Olin) - is his sexual and spiritual soulmate. Into his life comes another woman, Terezina, (Juliette Binoche) who demands more of a committment to her than he will permit to any woman including Sabina. His crisis between the carefree artist and the more demanding Terezina mirrors the crisis of Czechoslovokia between the "liberation" of the Prague Spring and the Soviet repression of August 1968 although neither Kauffman nor Kundera crudely makes Sabina represent the one nor Terezina the other. Although these characters may lead apparently amoral lives, the film and novel are all about the moral consequences of their choices. Many American critics, similar to the one who provided the first customer review, feel that Kaufmann has simply made a piece of arty Euro-lite soft-core: intellectual and opaque enough to appeal to the high-brow crowd yet tittliating enough to strike at their lowbrow desires. While I'll concede that this judgement applies well to his follow-up film "Henry and June" (1990), it's grossly unfair to characterize this film as such. The narrative and themes are presented clearly, the cinematography is gorgeous but never in an overly-arty way like in "Henry and June", and his whirling direction keeps this film moving along at an effervescent 172 minutes. The actors - especially Day-Lewis and Olin - do phenomenal work and contribute mightily to bring Kaufmann's evocation of late 1960's Europe to life. In a strange way, the film compliments the book rather than adapts it and stands on its own as a fully realized cinematic work.

People conditioned to see sex on the screen as a smutty joke or leading to painful reprecussions had problems with Kaufmann's playful sensuality here. He compounded their discomfort by coating all these goings-on with a veneer of class, larding the film with literary references and putting Janacek on the soundtrack. And it was easy to dismiss the film as nothing but a bunch of amoral European sophisicates who make love in between bouts of literary discussions or fighting political repression. But the film pulls us into these character's lives in a much more impassioned and alive way than European art cinema does with its deliberate distancing effects and pretentious moralizing (good recent example: Lars Von Trier's interminable "Breaking The Waves"). The film weaves its larger concerns about freedom and responsibility seamlessly through the narration - we can follow the film without knowing all the allusions and references. Some may see the characters and their bed-hopping as shallow and affected but they are forced to deal with their country's politics and history and have to come to terms with their own lives in ways that Euro-fluff soft-core comedies like "French Twist" never have to. Indeed, the moral choices placed on these apparently frivolous characters gives the film its greatness.

In other words, "Unbearable Lightness" has a sophisticated air because it is sophisticated: in its ideas, direction, writing, and acting. Kaufmann's work since has generally disappointed but here he's made one of the richest and intelligent films of the decade.

the Prague Spring
If you've read the book you won't be disappointed with this film which doesn't try to convey all Kundera's philosophy but it does retain the spirit of the book. Really the book had what some considered to be too much philosophy in it which got in the way of the story which was not Kunderas main concern anyway as his characters were just actors he used to elucidate his ideas. For Kaufman the real heart of the book was not in its ideas but in the way Tomas and Tereza relate and how that relationship evolves within a very specific historical circumstance, the Russian occupation of Prague in 68. That moment in time is really brought to life both in the cafes as we hear a Czech. version of"Hey Jude" being played and in the streets when the actual invasion takes place at which point hand held black and white cameras are used to give an on the spot feel to it.
When we first meet Tomas(Daniel Day Lewis) he is involved with Sabina(Lena Olin)and what they share is an almost religious belief in the erotic and an equalllly strong belief in retaining their individuality and frredom. On a visit to a spa in the country to perform an operation however Tomas comes across the innocent waitress Tereza(Juliette Binoche) and his life after that is never quite the same. Sabina resents the intrusion at first but soon she and Tereza are friends, in fact the moment they become friends on a rainy afternoon taking pictures of each other is one of the best scenes in the movie. A lot is made of the historical happenings and how they affect each characters personal life. I found it a little hard to believe that they would willingly return to Prague under communist rule after they had made their escape to Zurich but you may feel differently. The use of the terms "lightness" and "weight" that so often appeared in the book always seemed to my ears rather vague, the movie gratefully only employs those terms on rare occasion. The last scenes in the countryside are some of the most beautiful cinematography I have seen, quite memorable images evoking the really valuable things in life.
Certainly one of the best adaptations of a novel.

Please read Kundera's book instead
Kundera's novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being is absolutely amazing, and this film falls so far short of it. Despite my almost-immediate dislike of the film, I actually stuck it out and watched the entire thing (hoping that Daniel Day-Lewis could somehow salvage it or that the film might actually express some idea from Kundera's book). But I was sorely disappointed.

But please read Kundera's novel, because it is wonderful. I can't help but think that Kundera was referring to this film when he wrote in his later novel Immortality: "The present era grabs everything that was ever written in order to transform it into films, TV programs, or cartoons. What is essential in a novel is precisely what can only be expressed in a novel, and so every adaptation contains nothing but the nonessential."

A nice historical fiction movie
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This movie is set against the backround of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in the 1960's It is about a doctor who has physical relationships with many different women. He then meets a woman whom he wants to pursue a romantic and emotional with. She wants him to be monogamous. The ensuing results are quite original.

The film is also a good history lesson about the Soviet invasion but is not appropriate for school age children. The film has a well deserved R rating for scenes of nudity and sex which I think were unnecessary and prevent a wider range of audience from seeing the film. I greatly hope that the producers would offer a version of the film witht he nude and sex scenes cut so that it could be shown in history classes in school.

There is also a scene that Beatles fans may like where the song "Hey Jude" is sung in the Czech language. It also has many pieces of music by Czech composer, Leos Janacek.

The DVD also has audio commentary by the director Philip Kauffman, Editor, Walter Murch, Co writer John Carrière, and Actress Lena Olin.

beautiful
This film, is one of the best screenplays I have ever seen (and I seen many). I had read the book before, and the film is just an extension of the beautiful superiority of the book.
I particulary enjoyed the mixture of 'real' footage of the occupation of Praque and the film footage. Very well done.
The reason I've only given this film 4 stars is because it didn't have a specific secene which I was looking forward to seeing.
But the reast of the film definatly makes up for it.
And by the way... the director is the director of Quills. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

open water
it is great. water. sharks. people. stranded. putt those together and what do u get. a great movie.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe...
If "Jaws" made you think twice about going back into the water, "Open Water" will keep you out of the water... for good.

Based on true events & the surprise hit of this years Sundance Film Festival, "Open Water" is a knot twisting, thrilling experience that you won't soon forget & will make you think twice about going into the open ocean ever again.

When a couple, on vacation, decide to finesse their way onto an overbooked deep sea diving excursion by way of the ship's captain, they wind up getting more than they bargained for, and pay for it with their very lives. After the boat docks and the divers hit the depths below, the couple, since they are both certified divers, decide to go it on their own. But when they call it a day and resurface to go home, the couple find out they have been left behind possibly due to a mistake made by the captain.

Anger turns to shock.
Shock turns to panic.
Panic turns to fear.

With daylight fading, and a lightning storm brewing not far off, the couple's worst fears come to light as they both start to realize they are live bait for whatever has started to circle below the water's surface.

This low budget film was shot in much the same way "The Blair Witch Project" was, with digital cameras and in the view point of the people and their doomed consequence.
Since this is low budget filmmaking, director Kentis had his cast sign insurance wavers in case anything tragic happened.
If you haven't guessed by now, the sharks in this film are very real, and although they are only Tiger Sharks these are one of the more agressive sharks in the ocean.
The cast & crew wore chainmail under their wetsuits, but, their hands, feet, & head were still exposed to the elements. Blanchard Ryan got bit on the hand by a barracuda on the first day of filming. She was hospitalized, with stitches, that morning and resumed filming that afternoon... in the water (talk about brass balls!).
"Open Water" works in the same way "Jaws" does, less is more and everything is viewed at eye level (no over head shots or any huge sweeping pan shots).

"Open Water" is a worthy successor to "Jaws" & is highly advised not to be watched while on a boating trip (even on a cruise ship).

the true story of jaws
open water is about two divers who dive down to the bottom of the sea and when they come back up their tour boat is missing.
they soon discover they're in shark infested waters with many dangerous creatures to keep them company.this movie looks even better than the blair witch project and was so low budget they had to use real sharks during filming.this movie looks really scary. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

Watch it several times...
Probably my favorite full length surf film. If you update "The Endless Summer", modify the plot and give the characters dialog that says what Bruce Brown narrates, you have "In God's Hand". This movie has some great surfing footage - and a who's who in big wave surfing. And it attempts to show what its like to be a surfer. The "actors" are surfers playing the role of surfers - more or less themselves. The dialog and some scenes come off corny at times. This is an attempt to put what is usually experienced or thought into a film format - visual and audio. I saw this movie before I started surfing and although I heard what was said, I still didn't get it. After I was surfing, it was - oh yeah, there right! Like Dorian says to his girlfriend in the film - "... if you understood what I was saying, I wouldn't be saying it". Great film. Even better when watched several times.

so hardcore
this movie is awesome.. and i like that it's REAL surfers in this movie and not just stupid little girls who can't surf and know nothing about it... like blue crush... it's another surfer movie everyone has to see! plus, shane shane shane... (we really need to see a movie totally on bruce irons though...

The Worst Surf Flick Ever. Really.
I bought this once, and watched it as many times. Live and learn, life is suffering. The short review is: this thing sucks. If you want truely great surf entertainment, stick to Jack Johnson's amazing work and, of course, The Everlasting Series. Okay, now the long version. The film quality is impressive, but there's nothing worth watching. I don't blame the surfers; they're not actors, after all. The entire concept is at fault here. It's like a psuedo documentary with delusions of dramatic grandeur. From the moment the movies starts with a guy (who shall not be named because it's probably not entirely his fault) and a girl, both on a train. The lame dialogue and cheesy camera work sets the tone. It's like the director is screaming: "This is dramatic, this is so intense -- but you gotta be cool with it, because this chick obviously wants you big time, so you gotta be cool. But remember: drama, drama, drama!" Another memorable moment is the fist fight in Bali. Anone who's actually been there and seen more than Legian bars and shirt-shops will surely shake their heads in utter disgust. There are a few (very, very few) good moments, like when the guys are in Hawai'i getting ready to paddle out. Intense. That's about the only part of the film that came off as honest, and for that very reason it stood out against the hokey story line, stupid plot "developments" (the fist fight in Bali -- ridiculous!) and absurd acting attempts. These guys just aren't actors. And the director (the term is used loosely) couldn't put togther a decent porno with Coppola's film crew and a year in a finishing school for sex maniacs. I'd rather sit through Beach Blanket Bingo. Seriously. At least then you expect any surf references to be insipid, insulting and irritating. Maybe next time the people who brought this sad piece of crap to life ought to concentrate on what surfing actually is, and leave the cardboard idiocy to Hollywood.

Amazing Movie
This movie was definitely one of the best surf films I've ever seen. This movie captures some truely amazing surfing that will make you want to surf for the rest of your life.

spirtual and philospical insight
this movie combines great surf with the realities of real life. even though a surfer can be from different cultures every surfer knows the surf and the thrill of the waves and especially the big ones. which is one of the more exciting thing in this movie is the big waves. the movie consists of three friends going on a surfers dream scoping the earth for big waves. the show the real aspects of this big wave threat.they show them going through the training and hurdles that get in their way. the only thing that i don't like about this movie is the tow surf but that's another subject. but it is also expressed in this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

A must! Movies like this can change your viewpoint in life
The first time I found this movie standing on the shelf of a videostore, I thought the cast was breathtaking... I knew Mr. Lawrence Kasdan for his work in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi", but that was about it.

The first 3 minutes sequence, really grabbed me. The music, photography, the subtle message, the edition... Instantly, I knew this was a piece of art... After watching it whole, I couldn't do anything else but to watch it again, sometimes while I worked at the computer... just letting the dialogues sink in.

The power of this film on anyone with an open mind, can be overwhelming. It's not a pretentious movie,it's a realistic one. I have placed it in the top 10 movies I've ever seen, and as a screenwriter on his beginnings, believe me, I've seen a lot... this one is unique. All the performances as well really stand out.

Miracles happen every day .
" Grand Canyon " came out at about same time, as" Parenthood "
and " Short Cuts ". All 3 movies deserves solid 5 stars . All 3 has wide variety of exellent actors . All 3 gives us story of very different people living in one city , but somehow connected to each other .
From my point of view , this film is about luck ... is it luck or may be , just may be , it is small miracles , happen every day ?
It is a story of Mac ( Kevin Kline ), emigration lower in LA , and people around him . People , who effect his life , and same people who's life he changes . Doesn't matter , if he wants to do so , or he doesn't .
Movie starts with the Laker's game . We se Steve Martin(Davis)on the floor court . Of cause we think , that he is a main character in the movie ( but in reality - he is only supporting actor ). We already know - this guy is Somebody ( floor court , Laker's game ?! ). But then , we se Kevin Kline with him and slowly acsent moves to his character , Mac . On the way home , he makes the wrong turn to avoid aftergame traffic . Bad decision . His car died in the wrong neighborhood . Mac in troubles , but towtruck driver shows up and , probably , saves his life . This is how we meet Simon ( Danny Glover ).
1. The story of Mac...
We like this guy . He is honest , likeble person . He is not just floating in the river . He is trying to change something ... for better . Only in the middle of the movie we found out WHY !? He tells this story to Simon ... He was standing on the curb ... and made a first step ... the stranger's hand grab him and pulled back , a split second before the bus pass by ... All he was able to say : Thank you ... and the stranger ? " My pleasure "... "She was wearing Pitsburg Pirates cap !? My favorite team since I was a kid - Mac said - was it LUCK ???Or something else ? He is trying to help Simon , the guy who saved him ones . He loves his wife and son . He is doing so many things right , but later we realise - it is not about him . It is about people around him .And no matter what you do , somebody will get hurt .
2. Story of his family ...
His wife is missing her son ( he left to the summer camp ). He grow up so fast ?! She has so much emptyness now .
His son ? We like him right away .
3. Story of Mac's friend , Davis...
Big time movie producer . Violent movies . This is his world . " I made more money this year , than my father in all his life"- he says . This is his Value ?! We think , he is going to change , after getting shot in the bright day lite in the middle of LA ?! This is what he said ... but nothing changes . He leaves us with his thouts , that his " art " reflect what is going on ??? And a HUGE studio door opens , he walks in and the door closes ... slowly . He looked so small ...
3. The story of Simon ...
I think , he is in reality the main character in this film . His wife left him ( but he is peacefull about it ). His deff daughter is in DC , and he speaks with her on one of those TDD machines . If Mac is just likable guy , Simon is smart from his life experience . We want to hear , what he has to say . I just cann't forget his words : My father died last year ... he was 81...very long time for a black man ... in this town . And story of his sister's family showes it well anouph . Remember , what spanish kids said , after they mooved ? Where he came from ? Beirut , or something ?
PS:It is so easy to say : I have a message to deliver , and I am going to do it ! But in reality , the question is : Do you really have anything to say ? Anything to say , what important to us ? Are we going to hear it?

This movie defenetly has a message ! I am so sorry , that some of us didn't get it . This is only a movie ! And people in it are only the actors . Look around . You'll se the real people ... and may be YOU can do a little miracle for them ?

One of the true marvels in movie history
I have seen this movie shortly after it came out, and then never found it again in any video store. A short while ago I bought the DVD, and by watching it for the second time 13 years after I had initally seen it, it was just as wonderful as the first time.
It is not so much about the movie itself, it is more about the message it portrays. THis is how the world should be, with people helping each other, regardless of where they come from or what they are. Wonderfully intertwining the different characters, the movie appears like the little brother of Short Cuts.

high mileage!
The VHS tape I had forwarded to a friend was faded with use (she said.) Certainly not a commentary on this remarkable movie but a caution on the original sourcing of this tape.

This is a film
This is a movie about life, plain and simple. I saw this dvd on sale for $$$$ at my local best buy, so i thought i would give it a shot........from the first scene where Mack is on the verge of getting held up i was totally hooked - the whole movie was breath-taking , I have never seen a film quite like it, i know alot of people try to compare it to magnolia but i think that's ridiculous.....this film deserves to be recognized for what it is, a story about life and the fact that everybody is a little peon on this planet, but each and everyone of us dictates each others lives in a significant way when we are not even aware of it. I'm tired of reading negative reviews from this tree-hugging hippy new york times junkies, please watch this movie for yourself to form your own opinion rather than basing it on a media outlet. This film will resonate w/ you, it's not your typical friday night rental, it is the type of film that will be in the back of your mind right after you watched it......... ... Read more

Reviews (33)

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS KIM RICHARDS?
I must have seen this movie over fifty times since I was a kid. From the first time I watched Tuff Turf it was my favorite movie. I used to think that Kim Richards was the hottest woman I ever seen, but then again I was only a kid right? Wrong!!! I really haven't watched this movie in a while, mostly because my vhs copy was badly worn out, but since I got the dvd I have watched it a couple times. Kim is still as beautiful to me as she was when I was 15 years younger. She is definatly the perfect woman, I just wish I could see what she looks like now-a-days. I know, I'm rambling. I really don't have much to say about the movie or how great it is because the other reviewers all ready did that. Just a quick priase to James Spader and Robert Downey, they both were excellent in the film along with the rest of the cast. If anybody has seen Kim Richards in anything lately, please write a little note in a review here, and bee-bop, keep your eyes open for that rain from heaven.

At last this movie gets the recognition it deserves.
I almost made a hole in the roof when I saw that this movie is coming out on DVD format. It is my favorite movie of the eighties decade, and quite possibly of all time, heck I even have a webpage dedicated to it. This is truly an obscure and wrongfully forgotten gem. Amidst all those 80's 'Brat Pack' movies, out came this unique and very different movie, which, unfortunately, got lost in the shuffle and was quickly forgoten by many. It deals with 'rebel-without-applause' Morgan (James Spader) who has to get used to a new way of life, new neighborhood, and new 'friends', so to speak. Not only does he anger the local thugs, but he falls hard for the leader's girlfriend Frankie (Kim Richards). Nick (Paul Mones)has the taste of blood in his mouth and he won't give Morgan the tinsiest break. Meanwhile, Morgan befriends the class clown, Jimmy (Robert Downey jr) and Jimmy invites his new pal to see him play that night. A very special appeareance by punk rocker/poet/writer/performing artist Jim Carroll as the 'leader' of the band Jimmy plays with. (Carroll, sans weird make-up...a friend of his told me that's the only performance of his in a movie he enjoys, he even asked for the VHS copy as a birthday gift, I helped my friend get it for him, yay)Things keep getting worse for poor Morgan, leading up to a tense climax and ending in a bitter, bloody finale, where they will truly show who's the toughest of the turf. This movie is for all Spader/Downey/Richards/Carroll fans and for those who have gone through the whole standard list of 'teenie' 80's movies and want something different, I highly recommend it.

Hindsight is 20/20, People!
I used to love this movie back in the 80's when I was younger and easier to please. Ooh, James Spader was so cu-ute, so I overlooked the obvious until time made me all too aware of my transgressions. Now, I'm not Catholic, but I think you get put into purgatory for liking movies like this no matter what your background is.

I'm being as honest in all my reviews as I possibly can, so let me tell you what changed my mind. Here's my list of 8 simple reasons for avoiding this movie:

1. Most of us are 20 years older now. Go watch the Joy Luck Club.
2. Why is it that Nick listens to Frankie when she tells him to lay off, or else, when he tries to start something with her, yet later he's beating her to a pulp?
3. Awful love scene between James Spader and Kim Richards. Yes, she has pretty long hair. Too bad she has no lips and no chest. She looks like she did when she played Prudence in Nanny and the Professor, only taller!
4. Everybody in my high school danced like a cast member of Fame too. Yeah, right.
5. Bad music soundtrack. Jim Carroll and Jack Mack and the Heart Attack?
6. Jim Carroll, the actor.
7. The unbelievable plot.
8. The most unforgivable and insulting point: stupid dialogue! "I'm not tolerating any of your rooftop rock concerts" is uttered to James Spader's character by the high school principal. What is a "rooftop rock concert?" Oh, yeah, something cool sounding to say that's really not.
In another part of the movie, Spader's character asks Robert Downey Jr.'s character why he didn't join a gang like his older brother. Out of Downey's mouth comes, "My mom wouldn't let me." Even when I liked this movie it always made me laugh. Since when do you ask your mommy for permission to join a gang?

I must admit, if it was on TV at some point, I'm not so sure I wouldn't watch it. Everyone loves a train wreck and this movie chugs nonstop toward its impending doom with amazing velocity. Jack Mack and the Heart Attack singing "T-U-F-F, You're So Tuff" after Frankie just had the crap beaten out of her by Nick is pretty sad. Oh, well, the film's not a total loss. It reminds you of how stupid we all used to look so you avoid repeating the same offense and...well, Kim Richards could dance. One thing is definitely for sure; there's a reason James Spader never became a "singer."

Tuff Turf - VHS
This is an excellent movie and I recommended it because it is the only know time you're going to see Kim Richards' breasts. I personally have a friend who was part of the production company and the "breast" scene was shot both by Kim and a body double. She made the decision at the very end not to use the double, so those are her breasts you're are looking at. Keep in mind that it's the only revealing scene she has - and is very brief. The dance sequence she does is excellent and was included as part of an MTV video. Tuff Turf aired on cable many many years ago and is a must own for any Kim Richards fan.

"Great Film"
You'll love this movie, Kim Richards & James Spader dazzle the screen. I loved the 80's and this movie definitely defines a era. There's action,drama,romance and the good guy gets the girl. James Spader is gorgeous and the beautiful Kim Richards is at her best. I sure hope she goes back to making movies. Own this film for your collection it's waaaay cool!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

That delightful couple from The Awful Truth, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, revisit the world of marital confusion. Presuming his wife to be dead, Grant remarries--on the same day that his bedraggled spouse (that's Dunne) returns. Seems she's been stranded on a desert island for seven years (with strapping hunk Randolph Scott, too). The moment Cary spots his resurrected wife, as an elevator door slides shut, is one of the many funny gags in this comedy, and the final sequence is memorably wacky. Awful Truth director Leo McCarey prepared the film, but it was directed by author Garson Kanin. The two stars are so adept at farce, and so effortless in conveying their characters' mutual affection, that the movie triumphs over the whopper of a plot device. It was supposed to be remade as the ill-fated Marilyn Monroe film Something's Got to Give, and ended up Move Over, Darling with Doris Day. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (27)

VINTAGE SCREWBALL COMEDY...
This early nineteen forties film is a romantic and comedic farce. It centers on a married couple in which the wife was believed lost at sea and presumed dead. It turned out that she was marooned for seven years on a desert island with another man until finally rescued inadvertently. She arrives home on the morning in which her lawyer husband has had her declared dead and remarried another woman. Let the games begin!

Irene Dunne and Gary Grant are the star-crossed couple who find each other again. Cary Grant is excellent, while Ms. Dunne, who is usually sensational, palls a bit in her role, in part due to her difficulty in deciding what accent she should use when reciting her lines. She is still quite good in her role, however, due to her innate ability to charm the viewer. Gail Patrick is excellent as the second wife, giving an icy hauteur to her character. Randolph Scott is terrific as the hunky man with whom Irene Dunne was marooned. Ann Shoemaker is very good as the mother-in-law who warmly welcomes Irene Dunne back into the fold. Look for two absolutely marvelous performance by old time character actors, Donald MacBride, as the confused and outraged hotel manager, and Granville Bates, as the drolly funny judge. They practically steal the show.

The movie has its moments and can be quite funny, at times. The funniest moment is the pool scene in which Cary Grant views his rival for the first time. His reaction to his rival's attractiveness and athleticism at the pool is quite priceless. At other times, the scenes seem a bit forced. While this is not a bad vintage, screwball comedy, it is not the best. There are better ones out there, though those who enjoy vintage films should enjoy this one, whether in the original black and white or the colorized version. I myself prefer the 1963 remake titled "Move Over, Darling", starring James Garner and Doris Day in the lead roles.

I just love Carey Grant
Movies today just seem to a lot of "In your face" action, that is one of reasons that I so much enjoy older movies like "My Favorite Wife" with Carey Grant and Irene Dunne.
Lawyer Nick Arden (Carey Grant) is man with a serious problem. On the day that his first wife Ellen (Irene Dunne) was declared dead and he get remarried to Bianca (Gail Patrick), Ellen shows up a live and well after being stuck on a south pacific island for the last seven years. Needless to say comedy happens as Ellen tries to reclaim her husband and family.
Some viewers will relize that "Move over Darling" with Doris Day and James Garner is a remake of "My Favorite Wife" but let assure you "My Favorite Wife" is much better due the acting of both Dunne and Grant and should not be missed.

Amusing Farce.
Here is another fun DVD for fans of classic romantic comedies. I found it to be consistently amusing, although it is not in the same class as "Bringing Up Baby" or "The Philadelphia Story".

After seven years of grieving over the apparent loss of his wife in a shipwreck, Nick ( Cary Grant ) marries another woman, Bianca, ( Gail Patrick ), only to discover on his honeymoon that wife # 1--Ellen ( Irene Dunne ) is back, very much alive and kicking. Naturally, Ellen wants to pick up where she left off with her husband, as well as a young son and daughter. Nick is "dazed and confused"--as only Cary Grant can be--and makes the situation much worse through his reluctance to break the news to Bianca. At the same time, Nick discovers that his "first wife" spent the better part of the seven years on an island, alone with another man--a hunky, athletic guy named Burkett ( Randolph Scott ). How will this hilarious mess turn out ? Get the disc and see.

We have another superb comedic perfomance from Cary Grant. Irene Dunne is fine as Ellen, "returned from the dead" and determined, by any means, to win her husband back. Gail Patrick's performance is a nice contrast to her sudden "competition"--icy, haughty and seriously "not amused" !
Randolph Scott--usually quite stoic in his many westerns--seems to be having a ball here. In support, special kudos to scene-stealing Donald MacBride as the hotel clerk, who has to book separate suites for each of Cary's "women"--his incredulous face is priceless.

The DVD is black and white, and shows a fair bit of wear in places--not enough to spoil your fun though. Keep in mind, the film was made in 1940. The disc also includes a trailer for the film, a radio program with Ms. Dunne, and a funny short film starring humourist Robert Benchley on the perils of showing "Home Movies" to your "lucky" friends ! On the whole, a very nice package.

Bottom line--a witty script and a solid cast will give you a very pleasant hour and a half's entertainment. Good fun for fans of old-fashioned comedy.

I hate to say it...
...but this is a pretty weak movie. I'm a huge Cary Grant fan and think his charisma, versatility, and impeccable comic timing are justly legendary. My Favorite Wife just barely slides by on those strengths, along with Irene Dunne's charm. The writing is clunky, clumsy, and--worst of all--rarely particularly funny. The situations in this movie could have been flat-out hilarious but instead only manage to be mildly amusing. Unless you're a Grant completist, there's no rush to get this one. (Just wait until TCM inevitably airs it again.) There are many far funnier, better scripted and directed Grant comedies.

2.5 stars

BLACK & WHITE
Don't worry, I just bought it and the box says B&W/88 Mins. - that must mean Black & White. Fabulous movie! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Two comedy classics on one DVD!
-INTRODUCTION: The Revenge Of The Nerds films are comedy masterpieces. And finally, the first two entries in the series have arrived on DVD - together on a single disc! Read on for my review of the films, as well as the DVD itself.

REVENGE OF THE NERDS - 1984
Two lifelong friends (portrayed by Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards) have finally gone off to college. Unfortunately, these guys are two of the biggest nerds on the face of the earth. Combine that with the fact that they are freshmen, and you've got trouble. They meet with immediate resentment, getting thrown out of their dorm and being forced to live in the gym! Among the tormentors is none other than Ted McGinley of Happy Days and Married With Childen fame. Fortunately, they aren't the only freshman class outcasts. Joining forces with a loser (Curtis Armstrong), a black homosexual (Larry B. Scott), a Japanese exchange student (Brian Tochi), a dork with a bad haircut and even worse eyesight (Timothy Busfield), and a pre-teen genius (Andrew Cassese), the nerds plot revenge against their tormentors.

REVENGE OF THE NERDS II - 1987
Some time has passed since the first film (probably one year.) And everyone's favorite gaggle of nerds is chosen to represent Adams College at a fraternity conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Unfortunately, the Alpha Beta fraternity (the guys that tormented them in the first film) also have representatives at the conference, so the geeks must once again find a way to stand their ground.

FILM OPINIONS:
The first film is a comedy classic, no questions asked. Honestly, who WOULDN'T laugh at a fraternity full of nerds doing a panty raid on a sorority house? However, the film does question reality - there's NO WAY a college would force its freshman class to move into the gym and give its dorm to jocks. Likewise, many of the actions you see in this film would get students expelled. And do you see anyone getting expelled in the film? Nope. Likewise, it's a movie about college life, but there's only ONE SCENE in the entire movie that takes place in the classroom! The second film is really more of the same, but it's not quite the masterpiece the first one was. Still, it's worth watching.

DVD:
The DVD is nice, but it's severely lacking in the extras department. All you get are the trailers for both of the films, and the trailers for both of the Porky's films. I guess you can't expect to have a whole lot of extras, since it's two films on one disc.

OVERALL:
Eighties comedy films are the best comedy films of all time, and this collection beautifully demonstrates that. If you sit down and watch these films, I guarantee you - it will be impossible not to laugh.

Nerds on DVD
While the first of the Revenge of the Nerds films helped to breathe new life in the struggling teen film market and moved the genre back to college all the while helping to create a newer "hipper" version of the "nerd" character in teen cinema - the same cannot be said for its sequel. Still, it's refreshing to see Jeff Kanew's first successful feature film, as long as it doesn't make you wonder how a director with a gift for great comedic direction managed to lose his way with such dismissable tripe as 1989's Troop Beverly Hills and the flabby Kathleen Turner pic V.I. Warshawski. Nevertheless, Revenge of the Nerds still works as a triumph in teen cinema with a talented cast (led by Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, and a delightfully evil Ted McGinley - before Happy Days, The Love Boat, and Married With Children turned him into a one-dimensional acting joke). Even the normally noxious Timothy Busfield has fun with his role as the violin playing Poindexter. With a story that celebrates (however problematically) diversity in class, race, and sexuality - the film succeeds on a level beyond merely making the audience laugh. Add to this a touchingly heartfelt final speech by Anthony Edwards, and there is only one way that the sequel could have gone - down.
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise has neither the sensitivity nor the humor of the first film. Directed with heavy handed excess by Hollywood uber producer Joe Roth (you have probably stumbled into a few of his sequels - most notably Young Guns II and The Exorcist III - not to mention his directing work which includes 1990's passable Coupe DeVille and last years America's Sweethearts), Roth manages to strip mine the first film of its humor and originality and replaces its gentle approach to T&A with a hamfisted collection of fart jokes. It does have some grin worthy moments (such as the memorable zen loogie), but its otherwise a xerox of the first film, faded and uninspired. It may please die hard fans of the series, but I was disappointed at the young age of 14 - and 14 year olds aren't hard to impress.
Still, the DVD is worth picking up if only for the beautiful transfer of the first film, which is both impressive in its visual design - taking the production beyond the sitcom modeled standard for eighties comedies. I believe that the second film is packaged with the first because Fox knew that people were unlikely to buy it on its own. I know I would be.

movie
Follow the nerds through life. They try to act cool and hang out with the popular kids but are never accepted. So they hang out together and get into some crazy stuff. Fun pointless movie that has had way to many movies dedicated to them.

Revenge of the Nerds
I watched Revenge of the Nerds hundred times, they really awesome. Before there was American Pie Kevin Meyers, Jim Levinstien, Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher, Paul Finch, Michelle Flaherty, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Xander Harris and Willow Rosenberg their was Revenge of the Nerds. Ted McGinley came from Happy Days,The Love Boat, Married With Children and Hope & Faith became their enemy and their friend three and four made him a great actor. Anthony Edwards came from Top Gun and ER made Gilbert the leader of Tri-Lams into a great actor. Bradley Whitford came from The West Wing into people love to hate. Revenge of the Nerds were like the American Pie Guys of the eighties. They always said Nerds always Rule in the eighties, Ninties and the millenium.

funny
Revenge of the nerds is one of the funniest movies ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!***** stars
Ive never seen number 2 but im gona see it soon ... Read more

Reviews (636)

EYES WIDE SHUT KEEPS YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN!
Tom Cruise plays Dr. William Harford, who plunges into an erotic foray that threatens his marriage - and may even ensnare him in a lurid murder mystery. But only this starts to happen AFTER he is told by his wife, (Nicole Kidman) of her desire for a navel officer.

I liked 'Eyes Wide Shut' from the moment I saw it! It was the first DVD I brought. I was compelled by the story. Totally absorbed from the moment I put it on. It is also the first Stanley Kubrick movie I've seen. I was very impressed. The minute it finished, I wanted to put it on again.

Time has said - "Kubrick's haunting final masterpiece, vivid, brilliant, unforgettable."

Chicago Sun-Times has said: "a worthy final chapter to a great director's career."

I agree with all of that.

Yes, this film creates a lot of controversy. There are some sex scenes but purhaps not as many as some people would like to believe, from the previews.

It is a film full of rich well defined colours. It has an opera-like feel to it, with haunting, startling piano cords, and other beautiful music.

Two years spent making it. It is worth it.

With many interesting and mysterious characters, it is worth more then one viewing.

An ultimately uplifting film
In the end, Kubrick's last film displays the most positive view of the human condition ever seen in one of his films. This is in sharp contrast to most of his other work, where Kubrick consistently portrayed the less attractive aspects of human nature. Eyes Wide Shut, on the other hand, is exhilarating in its final affirmation of the value of trust and love. Listen to Alice's closing monologue, which basically sums up what this viewer suspects what Kubrick was trying to say about living a meaningfully adult life.

Visually, the film is stunning, and SO characteristiclly Kubrick; fans will delight in the precise composition of scenes, the tracking shots, the use of saturated primary colors, the use of light and shadow.

My only quibble with this DVD edition is that it is presented in a full-screen format. The statement on the package suggests that the director intended the film to be presented in what is described as "the original aspect ratio of the film negative," or something very close, whatever that means - but I have a tough time swallowing that when the film was presented in wide-screen in theaters. Knowing Kubrick was meticulous about the elements presented in every single frame, I can't help but think we're missing something in this edition. But this shouldn't deter you from contemplating this profoundly moving film.

one of the best from Kubrick
It's no surprise to me that 'Eyes Wide Shut' was instantly rejected by mainstream audiences, who were probably expecting a soft porn movie along the same lines as 'Basic Instinct.' There is nudity and sex in the film, but it is Kubrickian nudity and sex - in other words, it's cold and vaguely off-putting, and we suspect that it is not a celebration of the procreative act. Kubrick is far to classy a director to allow a movie 12 years in the making to be a piece of erotic titillation.

This is a very rich, visually lavish, and deep film; Kubrick shows an expertise with expressive colors that we haven't seen so full-blown since his 'a Clockwork Orange.' The giant ballroom, with its bright red carpet and robed occupants, is destined to become a legendary Kubrick set piece, along the same lines as the Korova milkbar, the War Room, and the deep space victorian bedroom.

Kubrick's use of music here is unusual but compelling nonetheless. He masterfully uses Ligeti's minimalistic piano music to set the mood and heighten the tension, and the ceremonial chants of the orgy sequence are sublimely haunting.

Perhaps the only drawback is Nicole Kidman's performance; a limited actress in the first place, it doesn't help that she's required to act half asleep or stoned through most of her screen time. She pauses, draws out sentences, stammers, uses body language excessively, and in general annoys the heck out of me. Surprisingly, I have no complaints about Tom Cruise. He has proven, in Magnolia and Eyes Wide Shut, that he is a real actor.

Kubrick's final film is the work of a filmmaker who knows everything about film; watch it and be awed by his effortless command of the camera.

a real spine tingler
another gem in the bracelet that is the stanley kubrik discography.this was his 13th film.3 bad things happened.one-it was his last film because 2-he died and 3-nicole kidman and tom cruise[the stars] divorced shortly thereafter.anyhow,tom and nicole are hitched.they dont spend much time together and thier marriage is on the rocks.tom is given someone elses invitation to a very sexual and wierd party.thats when everything begins to unravel.this has way too many female parts in it for the kiddos.this movie is a psycological thriller.i was very involved in it.any guy whose staight will like it.at the party i was as confused as a baby in a topless club.it is also very emotional for the chicks if thet can get past seeing thier own parts.chicks are so silly about stuff like that!this is tom and nicoles best movie ever.hands down.bar none.it is very long but worth every second.

What A Pity
This movie calls for a review. While having brilliant ideas, it fails its potential to become an all-time classic.

Mrs. Harford (Nicole Kidman)'s dreams of sexual encounters with strangers interrupt a seemingly happy marriage with Dr. Harford (Tom Cruise). The director (Kurbrick) is successful, maybe even unintentionally successful, in creating the ambiguity of her intention: at times she seeems to be driven by the urge to confess, other times she seems to do so out of a secret desire to humiliate the husband. The ambiguity keeps the audience in suspense as Dr. Harford sets out to examine not the reason for his wife's confessions or her sexual fantasies, but his own inner demon.

Mrs. Harford's dreams haunt him as he hits the streets of New York, as if in a blurring of realities he could become the lover in her dreams. Not seeking revenge, he is simply possessed by a reality where the dark forces of sex lurk, lure and destroy. The dream world now invades the real world, not otherwise.

Dr. Harford stumbles upon a secret sex club in which masked members conduct rituals and initiations like the Eleusian Mysteries prior to an anonymous orgy. Sex is now the prince of darkness, omnipresent and omnipotent. Dr. Harford soon finds himself involved in someone's death, with his own life and his family threatened. The movie ends abruptly as he seeks reconciliation with his wife.

However, the movie leaves several subplots unanswered and underdeveloped. The identity of the dead hooker is not made clear, and if she is the same person that Dr. Harford ran into on the street, the point of her self-sacrifice is unclear. The music, a too obvious imitation of Angel Heart, gets annoying after about 10 minutes. The scene of the mask on the pillow comes straight out of the Godfather. Most importantly, The pace of the movie -- a great deal of time wasted on slow, dry, unnecessary dialogues which actors speak one. syl.la.ble at. a. time -- is slow enough to kill any suspense the viewer might have felt. It seems as though the director decided to take out the final development of the movie and therefore had to slow down all dialogues to make up for the time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Diane Keaton brings a tender touch to Wildflower, a Lifetime cable-TV movie showcasing early-career excellence from Reese Witherspoon and Patricia Arquette. Witherspoon's big-screen debut in The Man in the Moon had premiered shortly before this movie's original broadcast in 1991, and a year earlier, Arquette had starred in a Keaton-directed CBS Schoolbreak Special, The Boy with the Crazy Brother. These rising talents are well served by Sara Flanigan's teleplay, closely adapted from her popular juvenile novel Alice. Set in the mid-1930s, the story follows two compassionate teens (Witherspoon, William McNamara) who discover and essentially adopt a partially deaf epileptic (Arquette) who'd been locked away by her psychotically abusive father. Beau Bridges and Susan Blakely provide different parental perspectives, and while Keaton doesn't always avoid Flanigan's tear-jerking sentiment, she handles it with delicate grace. Aiding her are a gifted cast and the fine cinematography of Janusz Kaminski, who would soon begin an enduring collaboration with Steven Spielberg. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

WOW-Gotta see this film! You'll never forget it....
This movie is so dramatic and moving. The rollercoaster of emotions that you experience while watching this film is AMAZING!
My children 6 and 4 learned so much about lifes cruelties and blessings. They also learned about peoples differences and sharing them NOT hurting them. This movie just WOW's me every time. It is an AMERICAN CLASSIC in my book.

A heart-warming tale....
Well, I first saw this movie on TV when I was a little girl... it made such an impact on me that I checked the TV Guide for years to come waiting for it to be shown again. Finally, about 5 years later, it was and I managed to get it taped on VHS. This week, 10 years after I first saw it, I now have the DVD.
I love this absorbing film with the old-fashioned story-telling and the way the movie un-folds. We watch the characters develop as they grow within themselves (the acting is absolutely superb by everyone). There is a lot to learn from this story - which is a heart-warming gentle story about love, passion, friendship and family. There are a lot of sad moments yet this film also makes you laugh out loud at times too. This film is quite powerful in a naive sort of way. The ending is satisfying and you feel like you have also grown-up with the characters - in this romantic adventure of human spirit. A family film mainly directed towards girls - it'll make you want to go and hug your loved ones when you've finished watching it! I even love the music to this film and wish they would release the entire motion picture soundtrack on CD. Fantastic! Go watch it (especially if you're young at heart).....this is a truely lovely story that deserves more credit than a TV film.

A definite classic!
I recently found this movie once again in my video store. I had seen it at a young age when it first came out, and I recall it making as much of an impact on me then as it does now. The beauty of the love story and Alice's personal triumphs are so poignant, not to mention her interactions with Ellie and her father. The symbolism of the roses in relation to Alice was beautifully thought out. I laughed and cried throughout the whole movie. I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of the book that this movie was based on from Amazon, and it was fantastic! If you loved the movie, get your hands on the book! Both are definite keepers!

Awesome
I just recently watched this movie and I totaly loved it. I'm a big fan of reese witherspoon so I knew that I'd enjoy it but I loved her brother sammy and how he fell in love with this abused girl. It showed that Handicapped people are just as smart as anybody else. Everybody should see this film and learn the meaning of True Love and Friendship.

Reese and Patricia, and how
There were a couple of aspects of this movie that were a little too neat and packaged, like how Reese'es character's dad changes overnight and such. But I have to say that this movie was riveting to me. I have never before seen Patricia Arquette and I was just astounded. Her performance is absolutely superb. To me, a book or movie is great, when I literally feel like I have become a person in the story, and feel everything that person feels. That is why this movie is so great. Patricia's character is that person in this movie, at least to me. I am an absolute fan of Reese Witherspoon, so I couldn't be too objective as I love everything about her and she is great in this movie as always. Her character really shows the love of a true friend to the abused girl. I cannot imagine anyone watching this movie and not enjoying it. It is a truly heartwarming story. I will watch it again and again. If you like it, check out "The Man in the Moon." ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Smashing Through All Obstacles...
I'm a railfan -- i try to go to virtually every "train" movie that i hear about. I've seen some mediocre films ("Breakheart Pass"), some Awful Films ("The Cassandra Crossing") and some Pretty Good films ("Silver Streak") that way.

And i saw "Runaway Train" -- an Incredible Film.

With Jon Voight nominated for Both Oscar and Golden Globe (which he won) as Best Actor, and Eric Roberts nominated for both Oscar and Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor, and featuring Rebecca deMornay in a decidedly UN-glamourous role, this is obviously not your standard action film.

And when one adds that the original screenplay was by Akira Kurosawa, one realises that this is NOT the usual Golan-Globus production at all, at all.

In brief, the story is simple -- two cons, one old and experienced and dangerous and one young, cocky and ignorant, break out of a max security prison in Alaska, hop a train headed for the Lower 48, and find themselves (along with a female railroad worker) on a hair-raising ride to nowhere on a runaway train with no brakes and no engineer.

But the performances and the nuances make this film Something Special Indeed.

Voight's portrayal of Manny, the man so dangerous that for three years his cell door was *welded* shut, is scary, compelling and sympathetic by turns. "Anything that doesn't kill me makes me stronger" is his motto.

Eric Roberts's performance as the cocky young loser, destined to spend major parts of his life inside, who can't even recognise good advice when Manny practically rubs his nose in it, is at almost the same level, and honestly deserving of the "Best Supporting" nominations he earned for it.

John P. Ryan, as Assistant Warden Rankin, Manny's antagonist and would-be nemesis, is adequate, but not up to the level of performance of Voight and Roberts.

In the end, after all of the incredible stunt work and amazing train work, after all of the violence and emotion, it comes down to two big men (Manny and Rankin) finally confronting each other, in one final test to prove which is the stronger.

Along the way, Voight, playing the existential monster to the hilt, gives us a view of a man who knows all too vividly that he long ago chose the wrong road, but also knows that there is no turning back for him.

When the girl screams at him that he is an animal, he replies "No -- Worse! Human!"

He tries to set the kid straight -- tells him that if he's smart he'll find a job flipping burgers or scrubbing toilets, and do it well and earn his pay -- "...and, if you could do that, you could be President of the United States." But the kid knows better -- he wonders why this big tough guy is talking such nonsense; and he doesn't hear the longing in Manny's voice.

And the final confrontation and the end -- after one last, horrifying and exhilirating stunt sequence -- is exactly what the film needs for its perfect conclusion; as exhilirating and appropriate in its way as the end of "Thelma & Louise" or of "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid".

Be warned -- this is a brutally, horrifyingly violent film (i spent a lot of time wincing and cringing, reacting in a way that most film violence doesn't bother me), and the language used, while probably somewhat less graphic than actual cons would use, is not for Little Old Ladies.

Add in the Almost Perfect portrayal of railroading (there is one major departure from the way a real railroad would Do Things, but it's necessary for the film to work, and it *could* happen, i suppose), some incredible cinematography, and generally perfect design and execution of sets and costume, and you have got one incredible film experience; a thrill ride you will NOT soon forget.

((Knowing that Kurosawa wrote the original screenplay and had intended to make this film himself, i kept trying to guess whether Manny or Rankin would have been played by Toshira Mifune...))

Entertaining From The Get Go
when i first heard of this movie i thought a movie that is an hour and fifty minutes that is based on a train i thought i can get pretty boring after awhile, but as it turns out i was very wrong. Jon Voight plays a man just released from the hole (inside a prison) after three of being in it and is accompanied by Julia's brother Eric Roberts in this thrilling tale about two men breaking out of prison and catching a ride on a train which quickly becomes out of control. Voight is amazing as the title role and really shows his acting skills in this all out preformance. Roberts plays his part well but no comparison to Voight. Some memorable lines i feel came out of this movie such as when Rebecca DeMorney says "Your an animal" Voight replys "No, Worse. I'm Human." an outstanding movie with some violent scenes definatly worth watching

High drama and intensity
Jon Voight's riveting performance and his battle onboard the train with a prison warden are the most compelling moments in this otherwordly movie about escaped convicts and a railroad employee on a runaway train headed for disaster in the Alaskan wilderness. This film begins with a prison riot -- filmed at an actual prison in Alaska -- and the white hot pace never lets up for a moment...until the closing scene where Voight takes the engine to oblivion.

Along the way, viewers are treated to one of Voight's best performances since "Midnight Cowboy". The cast is comprised of character actors Eric Roberts and John P. Ryan in significant roles with sexpot Rebecca De Mornay playing the railroad employee on board the runaway with convicts Voight and Roberts. They stir up a lot of mayhem running through a red light and crashing with another train and going over a rickety bridge about 100 MPH before facing the inevitable when they are pushed onto a siding with only a fatal end in sight.

This movie has an extraordinarily high intensity level comparable to another great train movie, 1974's "The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three". The intensity and drama never relents throughout the 111 minutes of screen time. The script isn't much and the plot is lean but the action, violence and high voltage footage will keep you locked to the screen during this most exciting movie.

A MUST-SEE!!!
A beautiful movie - this is beyond action...

Childhood memories.....
I remember watching this movie when I was 10/11 years old. It was mesmorizing then, and it still is now. While I do not yet own the DVD, today I was able to catch this wonderful film on cable...and it was so good! John Voigt and cast put in such a great performance. The drama is very riveting and the final scenes of the movie make one actually shiver. It's a haunting and chilling tale....and an albeit sad one. There are so many good themes riding along throughout: the meaning of freedom, friendship, the beauty of winter. I highly recommend this movie. You won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Australian Beauty
When Australia tackle a movie subject such as homesexuality they either totally miss the plot, as in "The Sum of Us" or make a film that sets the benchmark for all others to follow.
Head On falls into the later.Alex Dimitraides performance is brilliant as the Young Gay son of Greek imigrants that cannot accept his place in modern Australian society as a gay man.
His rejection of his own sexuality leads to his sexual gratification without emotion,the end result being that he misses a chance of a meaningful or at least caring relationship.
A comment made by the director in thanking Alex for his performance was "he gave every inch of himself to the role"
A challenging, disturbing but brilliant film from Australia

The Angry Young Man Down Under
It's wonderful to be able to recommend a gay-themed movie that doesn't pour on a lot of pc platitudes about the nobility and martyrdom of misunderstood gays. Or that doesn't try to envelop us in propagandistic sickly sweet sentimentality that attempts to show how the gay world is one big happy, touchy-feely family of "normal" types. Reality, as this film shows, proves the opposite to be true.

The star of this independent film, and really the only reason for seeing it, is Alex Dimitriades. He plays a darkly handsome, heavily sensual male gigolo waiting for his sugar daddy. He's so believably screwed up, however, that he never gives anyone a chance to get near him. You can see the angry edginess in his eyes--he's too smart to accept the bourgeois dream of marriage, a serious work ethic, and life in the suburbs that his traditional Greek parents wish for him--he won't even bother to get a job. He'd rather spend his days stoned and sated by the furtive, sleazy sexual encounters, usually in alleys, he indulges in. The rest of the time he rails at everyone within reach for their shoddy dreams and for selling out to conventional morality. And yet he's traditionally macho in spite of himself--when his sister's virtue is compromised by a rival Lebanese youth, he tries to beat him up--while at the same time being ashamed of his Greek background and particularly his traditional strict father, who won't even bother to speak English. And when Alex finally does get a chance to be with a guy who wants more from him than anonymous sex, he screws that up too. He turns his back on family, friends, and love. He's committed to the shadowy, superficial life of gay sex in the fast lane, even though deep down he wants something more but he can't bring himself to be open to it. He's a romantic in spite of himself.

Unfortunately, the movie surrounding Alex Dimitriades' performance falls short. None of the other characters seem to be as believably fleshed out as he is, and some scenes just seem unnecessary. The director may have been trying to do too much. She does pull off a few bravura effects, including a striking finale with Alex miserably consigning himself to a life of promiscuity on the margins of society followed by his performance of a traditional Greek dance. It's lyrical, romantic and despairing all at once. This character is fully tragic--he realizes his limitations all too well and yet can't stop wishing for more. He's too smart to hope. Alex Dimitriades' performance rings so many bells about what it's like to be young, gay, smart and going nowhere and hating yourself for it that it puts all other so-called serious gay cinema to shame.

This is NOT for everyone
I must admit to being sadly dissapointed in this movie! I had been told a lot of good things about it by people, and read a number of reviews for it before finally purchasing it. Having watched it I must say it was not good, but not terrible. I gave it three stars just for the good acting, and because I love a good Autralian accent. lol The plot is, to say the least, lack luster, and is just as muddled and pointless as the main characters life. It was downright boring at times, and that is never good, when the viewer feels compelled to pick up the remote and fast forward. Yikes. While the main Character is attractive, he's on the cover of the box, that is not enough to carry the film, and his taste in men is apparently for the unattractive. The ending is just insane, I mean maybe I've been acclimated to happy endings by U.S. films, but this ending was neither happy, sad, nor even poignant it was just ended. I would suggest not buying this movie. Rent it then buy it, that is the safe bet.
Denzil

An Excellent Must See Movie
Rent it, buy it - borrow it. This is an excellent movie.

WELL CONCEIVED FILM
i ordered this movie on a total hunch having no idea what it was really about or without having heard anything about it. i would like to say that my gamble paid off. this movie is very interesting because it reaches out in so many levels. first you have the main character, ari ( i hope i spelled that right), who is a young man in a strange place. he is a greek living in australia b/c of immigration. he has grown up there but the culture does not accept the greeks. he is gay and a drug user and likes to have anonymous sex. he, in his view, is living his life the way he wants. he has no apparent direction to his life, but he has high plans for the future. he has a friend who is a drag queen and they go out and have an interesting night. ari does not get along with his father, loves his mother and his family. all of these aspects come into play throughout the movie. it is a brief glimpse into his life, but the glimpse is very vivid and telling. he is closeted to all but his family, but acts like he could care less for them to find out. he never thinks clearly mostly b/c he is usually high on some sort of drug. the movie moves very fast b/c it is supposed to be an effect, like seeing the movie thorugh his eyes as if you were watching the film on drugs. in the end you ultimately feel sorry for ari because he does not know what to do with his life. he is a lost soul with no one to help lead him. he desires love and affection and above all acceptance, but the contradiction is that he will not let anyone near enought to offer him the support he desires. this is a very good coming of age film and is useful in showing how a life can spin out of control. great film, i highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More Humorous Than Erotic - Manara's Butterscotch on Film
This movie is sort of a sequel to the Butterscotch graphic novels by Milo Manara. An aspiring actor finds an invisibility formula in a home where he is hired as a waiter. Clumsy fingers result in him being covered in the formula and becoming invisible.

Having been dumped by one girl earlier in the day, he finds himself being thrown together with a new girl right away (another actress). Little does he know that someone else has discovered the formula and become invisible.

The story starts in LA btu then moves to London and finally Italy. Sex, ghosts, auditions, and a meeting of the invisible men fill out the story.

(...) Many are viewed through scenery such as cobwebs and wine racks. The wine cellar is interesting as it starts in LA and winds up in Italy. But despite all the naked flesh this is really a comedy and fails in its attempt at an erotic atmosphere. Sure, some will find the volume of flesh erotic but not all. ... Read more

Description

Armed with a copy of a harvard student's thesis, a homeless man makes the desperate student an offer: in exchange for food and a place to stay during the harsh winter, he will return the thesis one page at a time. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

With Honors - English Review
I know I was supposed to write a summary but that's boring so I'll tell you what I got out of it! Lately I have been told a quote that I thought had no use for my life. It was "don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive". After watching this movie in English, I see where that is true. I might not have gotten the whole message out of this movie, or even what I was supposed to see, but I saw that quote. Monty (a Harvard student) was comsumed with writing his thesis and once he lost it he thought his life was over. After spending time with Simon (a homeless man) in order to get his thesis back, he saw that there was more to life than a thesis. Monty learned not to take life too seriously and enjoy what was around him that he didn't see in the past. Another thing I learned was that in life you have to roll with the punches. Monty had his whole life figured out but as soon as his computer crashed (something as simple as that) his whole plan for his life was out the window. I guess what I can take from this movie (which I thought was really great even though it was kinda old) enjoy the people around you and life, and make the most of life, even in bad times.

With Honors
When this movie first started, I was a little skeptical. But "With Honors" turned out to be a touching movie about a young college student who learns a great deal about life. The college student Monty (played by Brendan Fraiser) meets a homeless man Simon (played by Joe Pesci), and although they don't exactly hit it off at first, they eventually gain respect for one another as people and become great friends. Simon ends up teaching Monty a lot about life, most importantly that you should enjoy life while you have the chance. Although a predictable movie, it certainly touched my heart, and pointed out the more important things in life.

Tries WAY to Hard.
Joe Pesci's character in this movie tries WAY too hard. He is wise and all-knowing while the rest are narrow-minded and shallow.

Food for the soul...
The human spirit is such a vast yet complex thing that help us understand BReath taking films such as this one! Films like "with honors" come a dime a dozen. Films that show the reality of everyday life and the humanity and everlasting love of a friendship... old or new! It makes you weep of sadness and cry happy tears. Cause we've all experience it. We've all had or known a father who left his son/daughter and we've always hated that figure. Yet we've never known it from their perspective which can be very harsh... This film is eye opening and witty! The plot is ingenius yet heartwarming. With a great cast and great production this film shows the ways of the spirit in many ways. It truly deserves 5 stars. Buy it feed your soul

"prince of pop"

what, no baseball bat?
Although I believe that a Joe Pesci movie in which he does not viciously beat someone is bordering sacrelige, WITH HONORS was somewhat commendable. This movie follows a Harvard student (Brenden Fraser) as he loses his thesis and must obey the bidding of a remarkably cultured bum (Joe Pesci) to get it back. Anyone could predict the outcome; the two fall for each other (in a dissapointingly heterosexual way) and-believe it or not-Joe Pesci is revealed to have a critical illness just as the two become close. Though it was a hackneyed plot, this movie delivered a few laughs and also includes a glimpse of Fraser's hot young buns. I would reccomend this movie to anyone who has two hours to spare, and quite frankly, nothing better to do. ... Read more

Description

A surprisingly moving retelling of the Bard's famous romantic tragedy in fine Troma fashion, complete with a Manhattan setting, gratuitous violence, body-piercing, and a hard-driving alternative soundtrack. Winner of the Raindance Audience Award.Tromeo and Juliet features the work of Scooby Doo and Dawn of the Dead screenwriter James Gunn and more tromatic obsessions than one can shake a nipple-ring at!In director Lloyd Kaufman’s hands,Will Keenan and Jane Jensen provide an intoxicating screen chemistry that has garnered critical acclaim from critics everywhere.Featuring All the body-piercing, kinky sex, and car crashes that Shakespeare wanted but never had, Tromeo and Juliet is a modern classic!Features a showstopping turn as Lemmy from Motorhead as the narrator. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

They found a peanut, all right...a peanut of DEATH!
I've always had this fantasy that some thoroughly disreputable quick-buck movie would end up being brilliant. Like, what if some soft-core "Erotic Thriller" ended up having gutsy, breakthrough performances and a riveting plot? What if "Police Academy 12" was Oscar-worthy?

My fantasies came through with "Tromeo & Juliet." The very concept of a punk "Romeo" is brilliant - they conceived this before Baz Luhrmann's movie - but seeing as how this is Troma we're talking about, Lloyd Kaufman could have steered this in a very wrong (read: conventional) direction. Fortunately, they managed to find a young mad ge