Description

Oscar ® nominated director Dominique Deruddere’s film is a darkly disturbing fairy tale for adults. On its original US release, the film was championed by Madonna, Sean Penn and GODFATHER director Francis Coppola. But it proved too controversial for mass acceptance and never got the recognition it deserved.

Now reappraised as one of the most under-rated films of the 1980’s, Crazy Love makes its DVD debut in a stunning High Def transfer from the original negative, laden with extra features. The film tells the story of a man’s life through three crucial nights, spread over 20 years. From a love struck teenager to a down & out 30-something, we see him move from dreams to despair. How he changes his life in one final, transcendent act gives the film its title as well as providing us with one of the most unforgettable scenes in recent cinema history. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lost Masterpiece
When it exploded onto screens in the mid 1980's, first time director Dominique Deruddere's film CRAZY LOVE divided critics and audiences as few films before or since. Those who loved it, did so with a passion; those who hated it, thought it one of the most disgusting things they'd seen in a long time. On its US release, the film was championed by Madonna, Sean Penn and Francis Ford Coppola. But ultimately it proved too controversial for mass acceptance, and never received the recognition it deserved. Now reappraised as one of the most underrated films of the 1980's, CRAZY LOVE makes its DVD debut in a stunning new anamorphic HD transfer from the original negative.

Taking his cue from stories by cult American author Charles Bukowski, Deruddere's film tells the story of a man's life via three nights, spread over 15 years. We see his hero, Harry Voss, first as a romantic young boy of 12, then as an acne ridden teenager, lost in unrequited love, and finally as a drink sodden drop out, for whom no act is too dreadful to contemplate...with terrible and yet deeply moving consequences.

It's a film that, once seen, is never likely to be forgotten. A film with a unique, bitter sweet and poetic mood that manages to be funny and tragic at the same time. A minor masterpiece, ripe for rediscovery on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This terrific, heartfelt Belgian comedy won a much-deserved Academy Award® nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 2000. Jean dreams of giving his daughter Marva a better life than the endless slog in the factory for which he fears she's destined. He does everything he can to launch her to singing stardom, but Marva, shy and overweight, finds the contests she enters humiliating and can barely conceal her contempt for Jean (as well as the songs he composes for her). Then fate comes along in the guise of beautiful singing star Debbie and a few sleeping pills Jean has handy. For all its broad comedy plotting, Everybody's Famous has a shining, gentle spirit and offers a touching portrait of proud fatherhood, including moving little moments such as Jean sitting on the concrete and listening through a window just to hear his daughter sing. This movie is so charming you can't help but enjoy it. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Everybody's Entertained
"Everybody's Famous" is one of the best films released in 2000. It rightfully earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film(Belgium). Its plot is highly catchy and funny. Its highly creative scenes keep everyone's interest the whole time. Its plot about a father, whose family is in poverty, who will do anything to make his daughter famous keeps everyone's eyes wide open, especially while he's taking action. The plot of the #1 singing sensation's kidnapping builds to a fine climax and conlusion. In average movies, such chain of events would never work. The writer's brilliance makes every scene fit as one movie. The acting is wonderful. Everyone offers their own humor and seriousness in the right times. The song "Lucky Manuelo" has a great unforgettable rhythm that should have become a hit in real life. "Everybody's Famous" is a great comedy for those looking for something unique. This will please many during and after viewing.

Charming movie about following that dream
In looking at the blue-haired Debbie on the cover, one might think, "Oh great, a bimbo picture for teenagers and young people." Think again--this is a quirky but refreshing feature from Belgium, set in Flanders. And by the way, Debbie's actually a stunning brunette with a great personality.

As for our cover girl, that's Debbie, the #1 pop sensation who's sold more records than the Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson combined. Yet she seems more interested in car mechanics rather than singing, much to the chagrin of her promoter Michael.

Jean Vereecken, a worker at a bottle factory in his mid-forties, has dreams of becoming a songwriter, and thinks his daughter Marva is a talented singer. He writes songs for her but his efforts are underappreciated by his down-to-earth wife Chantal and totally unappreciated by Marva, who is irritated. Part of that comes from a lack of confidence. She is nineteen, a bit on the portly side, isn't exactly fashion model pretty, and doesn't have much of a life. Consequently, she gets low marks at the lookalike singing contests.

A crisis comes when the bottle factory goes bankrupt and all the workers get the sack. What to do? Jean's unemployment will cause him to lose more face in the eyes of his family. Jean's younger co-worker Willy, is financially supporting his girlfriend Liz, who is going to college. Any genuine feelings towards him are conspicuous by their absence. His unemployment means Liz will have to pay her own way, and that's the last thing he wants.

It's only when Debbie meets the downtrodden Jean that things begin to click a notch, and sets into motion a hairbrained scheme that draws in Willy and Michael.

Of the stars, Josse de Pauw succeeds as Jean, trying so hard, maybe too hard to please his daughter and gain her love at whatever cost. His singing attempts are clumsy but given his enthusiasm and joy at finding what he thinks is a winner is so encouraging. And if genuinely pretty and pleasant women--as opposed to fashion-model pretty--like Thekla Reuten (Debbie) were in plenty supply, this world would be a better place.

Victor Low (Michael) does a great job as a savvy businessman who's a master at artist promotion and publicity gimmicks. And Werner de Smedt plays Willy as someone who's actually sensitive and that part of him is drawn out later involving Jean's scheme.

The homages to 80's music was fun for me, as well as the lookalike contests. And there's a funny bit involving (kind of) Michael Jackson. The songs done here (not by the original artists) are Vanessa Paradis's "Be My Baby," Queen's "I Want To Break Free," and Madonna's "Material Girl."

As for the title, it's a reference to why everybody wants to be famous. Yes, it is to escape an ordinary life, but what is the result? Part of the answer comes from Debbie and involves talent. She is talented, therefore she didn't have to sleep with any managers to get to the top. And for those real-life girl singers today and yesterday who weren't talented but made it to the top? I wonder how many of those there are.

An entertaining comedy-drama that also explores the importance of being what one wants to be in one's heart, but also fighting the odds to discover that one precious dream, trying to rise above an anonymous crowd. Jean, Marva, and Debbie do just that in this charming movie.

A Belgian Oddball Comedy/Drama about a Father and a Daughter
One of the nominees at the Academy Award for Best Foreigen Film category, "Everybody's Famous" gathered considerable attention of critics, but at the same time divided their opinions. That is only natural because this Beligian film is too light-weight and predictable for all its charms and sentiments. So, which side you take totally depends on your feelings.

The story is reminiscent of the underrated Robert DeNiro - Jerry Lewis comedy satire, "The King of Comedy." A Belgian father working for a bottle factory is desperate to make his 17 year-old daughter a star. But as the terrible performance at local talent show testifies, she is no talent (but she seems to have some potential, since she can really sing at a puppet show, without showing herself up before the audience). One day, however, an incredible chance visits him. He finds a super-star singer Debbie riding a bycicle alone on the road, and inspite of his better judgement, he kiddnaps her, to threaten the producer into making the much-coveted TV debut for his beloved daughter.

After these initial events, there are some plot twists leading up to the final moment. I don't know how Belgian people reacted to the film, but I, being a Japanese, found the Flemish humors (if there are) very strange and unique. Of course, that depends on you and your culture, but maybe, I am afraid, during the process of translation we have lost many things. I suspect that, whatever the reason may be, it is nearly impossible for most of English-speaking viewers to seek for the kind of laughs you find in regular Hollywood outings.

But you still can enjoy the film as it is, and the father's love for his daughter is a universal theme, which is possibly the best thing of "Everybody's Famous." The last sequence is certainly heart-warming, but I still am not sure whether I really appreciated the film in the right way. That is because the film's satires on show biz world and craze for 15 minutes celebrity are, for me, are too self-evident these days when we have so many "reality TVs" and instant celebrities around us. If only the director developed the initial premise, that's how I thought.

The father is played effectively by Josse De Pauw, and also good is Debbie played by Thekla Reuten (if you are looking at a mysterious blue-haired girl on DVD jacket, that is her). But the father's daughter, key character of the film, is played by a newcomer (auditioned for the role, I read) Eva Van der Gucht, who clearly needs more training as a professional. She is no Toni Colette, who could have easily raised the credibility of the film several notches higher.

"Lucky Manuelo!"
What happens when a father's love for his child brings him to commit abduction? This Belgian film is an extremely accessible film as the themes are universal. A father has such strong love for his daughter, but his daughter sees him as unsupportive and his wife plays the middle of the fence. So, when he loses his job, he gets desperate and takes illegal action to get his daughter a record contract. But who is blackmailing whom? This film is extremely enjoyable with a similar flavor to the equally charming THE FULL MONTY. The DVD has very little to offer other than the widescreen film. Well worth the Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination from 2000.

Those amusing Belgians......
In Europe, the Belgians are generally held to be the butt of jokes, especially by their French neighbours, in the same way that the English are always making Irish jokes. However in recent years there have been a number of films that have come from that little country which have shown a dark and wicked humour. This film, while not quite as original as the hilarious "The Carriers are Waiting" does have enough camp humour to keep viewers entertained.

Working at a bottle factory, Dad has dreams for his not-so-talented daughter, who is forever coming last in the local talent contests. He also believes he has a pop hit on his hands, with a tune that he has been humming. As chance would have it, he comes across .... What follows is a mostly funny, sometimes cruel look at the notion of celebrity and the lengths people will go to in order to achieve it - a natural bedfellow, though not in the same class as Scorcese's "King of Comedy".

The humour is not terribly subtle but scores in the talent show scenes, especially the Michael Jackson lookalike and the blacken-faced man who does Otis Redding and also with Marva, the daughter, ....

That aside, it is an entertaining diversion in the same way as "Muriel's Wedding" was, and I dare you not to hum 'Lucky Manuelo' days after watching this! ... Read more

Description

When you sell your body...your mind pays the price. One trick turns to murder, leaving a handsome young hustler, Chris, trapped in the luxurious suite of a wealthy businessman, Grover (Pete Postlethwaite). Together they seduce sexy young women in a game of voyeurism that leads to murder! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An all-time-favorite
Antonie Kamerling is GREAT as Chris. Every time I show this film I am told by the people present that they are completely taken by this film. It can be difficult to sit through bacause of the manipulative way Chris is treated... but it is a frightening look into shady characters of the under-world.... It`s daring... it`s haunting... it`s great...

How NOT to Transfer a Motion Picture Film to DVD!
The technicians who did the telecine work on this DVD product should be sent back to video school. Not only is the widescreen movie framed to 4:3 (cutting off the left and right sides), but the picture is "overscanned" (cutting off the top and bottom portions) as well. At least 30% of the widescreen frame cannot be seen--hiding some of the subtitles. For those movie lovers interested in an absorbing European erotic thriller, may I recommend the VHS form of "Suite 16" distributed in Canada by Norstar Entertainment/Malofilm. Their widescreen transfer is properly done. Perhaps these Canadians can produce the DVD product sometime soon.
Note: There are at least three different "cuts" of this film: 106 minutes (European version), 98 minutes (Canada R-rated version), 93 minutes (U.S. R-rated version).

techincal problems
I found it hard to watch. The movie is in a language other than English which comes as no surprise. The problem is that the subtitles are partially cut off in the lower half of the second line of dialogue. It was too difficult to determine what was happening since I don't speak the language and the subtitles were largely illegiable. I never finished the movie. This applies to the DVD version

EXCELLENT MOVIE
One of the best movies I've ever seen! and it's not because of the erotic content, it's because it is a smart movie for smart audiences. Pete Postlethwaite Glover plays an awesome role: Calm and to the point. Great film with a twisted plot and the ending is just...well, you have to see it!

GREAT EROTIC THRILLER
Antonie Kamerling and Peter Postlethwaite excell in this haunting erotic thriller, containing manipulation, deceit and love/ hate releations. A film impossible to ignore. ... Read more