Reviews (76)

The queen of diaries
I've studied Anne Frank for a long time but this is what started me to take an interist in Anne Frank. The movie starts from where the nazis take over amsterdam to where otto finds the diary. I never thought that there was so much more to her story then what I already knew. Hannah Taylor Gordon looks exactly like Anne, they couldn't have gotten a better actor if they tried, not to mention someone who writes just like her. Jessica manley did a great job as Margot bu she was kinda of short to be Margot, and hopefully, Margot would have changed her mind about moving to palistien after all the suicide explosions they've been doing to the isralis lately. Ben kingsley looked exactly like otto frank and if I didn't know it was him, I'd say it was Otto Frank. Brenda Blythen loked alot like Mrs. Van Pels and was funny too. Joachim Krol looked a little like r. van pels except the real Mr. v.p. looked alot older. Jan niklas looked a little like Mr. Pfeffer but like Mr. v.p. Mr. p looked alot older. Lili Taylor looked kinda like Miep and sounded austrian just like the real Miep. Rob Das looked alot like Jan gies and was real good at his part. Tatjuna blacher looked a little like Edith and was bossy with anne just like anne discribed her in her diary. It was such a touching movie and I recommend this to anyone who's a big fan of anne frank.

Anne Frank A Truly Touching Miniseries
Anne Frank: The Whole Story is a movie that goes beyond what almost all Holocaust stories do. It is touching to the human spirit and how Anne's soul never gave up until the very end. Hannah Taylor Gordon, who was in Jakob the Liar, turns in a superb performance as the Anne Frank. She is able to show us how Anne reacted to everyday life and the inevitable death of her sister, Margot. Ben Kingsley is amazing as Otto Frank, a quiet subdued man who loved his family and was the only one to survive.
The most extraordinary part of this miniseries is the fact that the story keeps on going after they are taking to the Nazi concentration camp. We are seeing the unthinkable horrors and how fortunate we are to have not been a Jew prisoner in that camp. The pain and suffering of Anne and Margot is so well brought up that we feel sorry for these girls with dreams of the future. It is no wonder that this earned an Emmy nomination.

Superb - only the English language detracts from the realism
I wholeheartedly agree with the majority of reviewers that this is the best account of Anne's life ever made - and one of the best holocaust movies ever made as well.

The acting is top-notch and Hannah Taylor Gordon is a real find -it is amazing how she is able to bring Anne's character to life.

The only thing that could theoretically be improved upon is to do the movie in the language(s) used in the real events - that is, mostly Dutch. As a Dutchman, I may seem prejudiced in favour of my own language but that's not it.

Dutch movies that portray 'international' events or persons almost always use the appropriate language(s) even if that results in a multilingual movie. To me, the story becomes less believable if Dutch and German characters are speaking English to each other, or if they have an unconvincing accent.
The same thing bugged me when I watched "The Discovery Of Heaven", which is also mostly set in the Netherlands.

Anyway, this is all hypothetical because: a) I see that a movie in Dutch would probably not be competitive internationally so it could never be made with a similar budget; and b) that would mean that the great cast used in this movie wouldn't have been in it.

So I'm not really complaining; even if some aspect could theoretically be improved upon (at least according to my personal taste and preferences), it remains, in practice, one of the best ever made in its genre, and a must see for anyone seriously interested in that horrible episode in human history.

Anne Frank - The whole story is wonderful!!!!!
Just like the book in all the ways it explains all the details. This is as close to the book as you can get. The book was just like I visualised it on the DVD. Its a must see!!!!

Great movie!
This movie really put things into perspective. It was very moving and entertaining. I enjoyed it and this movie inspired me to do some reserch on the holocaust and anne frank, and through the movie and the research i have learned a great deal more of this horrible period of time. I enjoyed it and i think many more people will too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

inspirational
This video offers a wonderful "behind the scenes" look at the school wehere many of Russia's top ballerinas and premiere danseurs were trained. Some of the scenes appeared very staged, but I doubt that a Western director would have been given full leave to photograph most parts of the school and/or students. It was filmed in the 70s, when communism was in power, and therefore, the school was state supported. Though outdated in that respect, the film captures the timelessness of the Vaganova Choreographic Institute. The beauty of the ballet is one that never goes out of vogue, no matter who is in charge of the government. There are several fantastic clips of the Kirov Ballet that present themselves throughout the film. This video made me want to learn to speak Russian and move to St. Petersburg.

Very interesting
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It is the story of several Russian ballet students, and just how much work goes into becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Princess Grace does a great job of narrating this very interesting movie

How the Kirov produces great dancers
This academy award-nominated 1977 film is a co-production of western and Soviet film professionals, narrated by the late Princess Grace of Monaco. There are no subtitles--all translations are done by voiceover. It is one of three documentaries about the Kirov Ballet and its school, the Vaganova Choreographic Institute, in St. Petersburg, Russia (called Leningrad at the time of this film). The others--"Backstage at the Kirov" (1984) and "The Leningrad Legend" (1989)--are better in terms of production values and believable candid scenes. But "Children of Theatre Street" is the only one that focuses primarily on the students, and therein lies its great appeal.

Theatre Street is the popular name for Rossi Street, on which the entrance to the Kirov's school is located. Entrance exams are held annually. Thousands of children, aged 10-12, apply; only 20 are selected. Some of the rigorous audition process is shown--the children are chosen for specific physical proportions and natural physical abilities. As the narrator tells us, "Talent is considered worth measuring only when it occurs in the right body." Those chosen face eight years of relative luxury and privilege in the Soviet Union, but also a life of hard work and discipline.

Featured are an 11-year-old girl, a 13-year old boy, and two girls from the graduating class, with much of the focus on preparations for the upcoming graduation performance. The students are shown going to performances, a beach on the Gulf of Finland, and Petrodvorets, the tsars' summer palace near St. Petersburg. They are also shown in a meeting of the Pioneers, the first step in becoming a member of the Communist Party. Some of the activities and interviews with the students were obviously staged (such as a pillow fight when the boy "sneaks" into the girls' dorm) and many are suspect. I wondered how much of the purported closeness between the featured students was for the sake of the film. One real and touching moment, which the scriptwriters chose not to translate, was when the two graduating girls, who are roommates, have finished their much-anticipated (and dreaded) graduation performance and are congratulating each other, full of excitement and relief.

Marring the film is its frequent stage-iness, as well as one messy sequence which intersperses classroom scenes with performances of "Swan Lake," while the music of the ballet is superimposed over the classroom piano, and music from one part of the ballet is played while the dancers perform another part. However, there are plenty of views of beautiful St. Petersburg, and the scenes of the students in classes and performances are delightful, so I give this film four stars. One of the Kirov's illustrious alumni, Rudolf Nureyev, is quoted on the jacket: "...at the Kirov School, there will always be another vintage year, and 'Theatre Street' tells why."

Riveting video on professional ballet training in Russia
We were given this to view by my daughter's dance teacher when she was 8 years old and probably watched it 5 or 6 times that weekend. For the next two years my daughter wanted to move to Russia to train in this school. A very moving documentary of the intensive selection and training the students at this school went through before moving on to the professional world of dance in Communist Russia. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I love that everyone is really an actress, is really a singer," confesses the ever hopeful Susan Dey, a bartender turned singing strip-o-gram still waiting for her big break. So, apparently, does director Robert Dornhelm, an Austrian who brings a fresh eye and an easygoing sympathy to a familiar story. Dey's new roommate, pizza delivery guy/budding songwriter Tom Hulce, is hopelessly in love with her while she falls madly into bed with her delightfully deluded duplex neighbor Michael Bowen, an Austrian bodybuilder ("body sculptor," he's quick to correct) waiting to become the next Schwarzenegger. The modesty of this 1986 American indie is infectious: they may never get their break, but the little family they make will provide the support they need along the way. Cheech Marin costars as Bowen's training-gym boss, and that's Cassandra ("Elvira") Peterson as the gym receptionist. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A fun movie filled with quirky characters.
Echo Park is an extremely funny movie, filled with some classic humor presented by a trio of truly quirky characters. Perhaps Susan Dey's best movie of all time! The character that is an Arnold Schwarzenegger wannabe is terrificly funny! This film is more timely now than ever!

Incredibly offbeat, interesting, good lines, very funny.
I've only seen this thing once, but loved it. I cannot believe that a movie this good isn't released on video.

I Like Echo Park - the neighborhood
The movie itself isn't bad, but what I like best is the locale. Echo Park is a neighborhood that, while it might not be the safest place, has a lot of character. I also enjoyed watching a younger Tom Hulce work with an offbeat script. The ending is too abrupt and the movie gets rather bizarre at times, but at least it is unique. And it is more unique in a good, rather than bad sense. ... Read more

Description

RFK focuses on the final five years of Robert F. Kennedy's life beginning with President John F. Kennedy's untimely death in 1963 to his own tragic death in 1968.From the transformation of the younger Kennedy as he moved out of the shadows of JFK to establish and define his own political persona. Golden Globe nominee Linus Roache (The Gathering Storm, Wings of the Dove, Hart's War) is riveting in his portrayal of the young Kennedy. Also starring James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential, The Green Mile) as Lyndon Johnson, David Paymer (State and Main), Martin Donovan (Insomnia), Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission Impossible). Written by Hank Steinberg (*61, Without A Trace) and Directed by Robert Dornhelm (Sins of the Father, Anne Frank). ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a standout performance by James Woods, Rudy: The Rudolph Giuliani Story is a warts-and-all portrait of New York City's lame-duck mayor, who rose from political disfavor to unexpected heights of heroism and leadership in the wake of September 11, 2001. Originally broadcast on the USA Network and based on Wayne Barrett's muckraking biography, it's a condensed, Cliff's Notes rendition of Giuliani's political career, with each commercial break serving as a chapter stop, beginning on the eve of 9/11 and alternating past and present highlights from Giuliani's rise to power. The film offers an unflinching portrait of a devoted public servant who's as fallible as he is competent: his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) understandably suffers while extramarital affairs and political fearlessness are all seen as byproducts of Giuliani's compulsion to improve the city he loves. As Robert Dornhelm's clunky direction combines actual news footage with exacting recreations of 9/11 and its aftermath, Woods's charismatic performance wisely avoids mimicry to show us a flawed but noble man who, in the final analysis, deserves our conditional respect. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Rudy as Abrasive Egomaniac
I recall meeting Rudy Giuliani at a book signing. The bookstore employees warned us several times that Giuliani will be unable to speak with us or personalize the signatures because the turnout was much greater than expected. When we got there, he very pleasantly asked us how we were, what our names were, gave us a personalized signature and wished us a good day. He struck me as someone who, generally, would be a decent person to work with. I realize he is a politician and politicians know its wise to be pleasant in public, but this side of Giuliani was missing from this documentary. The Giuliani of this documentary is an egomaniac who's abrasive 100% of the time. This documentary definitely gives you the feeling that you have to be obnoxious to get ahead.

The flashbacks between September 11 and the chronological depiction of his life were done unskillfully, at best.

Among the "special features" is a documentary on September 11 from the perspective of the photographers that was created with much more skill.

I can imagine some reasons to buy this DVD, certainly for a school library or as audiovisual material for a current events class. May be worth watching once. However, I doubt anyone would watch this more than once.

Woods is great but the film is a hatchet job on Rudy.
I have always liked James Woods and I always will. I did not much care for this film despite Woods' fine portrayal of Giuliani. The film is watchable, and more than watchable, that I'll grant. But it focuses obsessively on Giiuliani's marital problems and foibles, and only touches briefly on the truly wonderful things he did for New York. Golly, you don't suppose the producers were Democrats, do you? I mean, you could almost feel the pain of the producers of this film each time they were forced to discuss something intelligent that Giuliani did as mayor, and then of course the film would snap back to its main theme--that Giuliani was possibly a less-than-ideal husband or has other faults as a person, i.e. ego, ambition, vanity. What great man or woman lacks these traits, anyway? Nothing wrong with including this as part of the film, but I felt that the story lacked balance and shows an underlying hostility to what Giuliani set out to and did accomplish as mayor of New York.

I was disappointed in the film and the only good thing about it is James Woods. He makes the film watchable, but this movie falls far short of its potential. Then again, one cannot realistically expect Hollywood to make a movie about conservative politics rescuing New York City from turning into an ungovernable mess.

James Woods Shines
This is a fascinating portrait of a complex political figure. James Woods gives an incredible performance. That said the film suffers greatly from an abrupt and weak ending. I also didn't understand some the of characters...The people in his life. Some of their motives and their backgrounds just weren't clear enough. Worth seeing for the effective 9/11 sequences and for Woods'performance in the title role.

Good
James Woods actually looks pretty much like Guiliani and he acts beautifully as always but I must admit this movie could have been heaps better. Anyways, watching it means going back through september eleven again and it hurts just as when it first happened. It made me cry. Also there's things we never knew about Guiliani's life. According to the movie he made New York better than it was so...well done Rudy.

A good film but lacks some items
This film based on a book called 'Rudy' is sopposed to tell the inside story of 'Americas Mayor'. It does a commendable job. It looks at Rudy's early courtship of Donna Hannover. It looks at Rudy's role in breaking the mafia and wall street, which gained him fame. It looks at Rudies first dismall election campaign and the pogroms and upheavels of the Dinkins stagnation. It looks at Rudy's many quirks and his affairs with Christine Latigano and his subsequent affair that ended his marriage. The meeting with Ray Harding of the Liberal party is portrayed well as is the infighting on his campaign and his relentless crusade to cut useless jobs at city hall.

It looks at his conflict with Bracken and the Amadou Dialo killing.

Yet the movies failure is in its odd portrayel of Sept 11th. Although the scenes are shocking the moves cinematography of the Sept 11th incident feels to much like a soap opera, rather then the 'real life' portrayel the directors were going for. I think the scenes could have been better. Nevertheless I loved the use of real footage from Sept 11th, soemthing we dotn see anough of.

I was dismayed not to see more of Rudys crusade against the Bums, against the honking and throwing Arafat out of the U.N as well as his attack on the diplomatic parking problems in N.Y.

Guliani was the biggest of the big mayors, like a modern day Laguardia. THis is a great film but it does lack somethings and does miss the boat in some scenes. The latigano affair was emphasized at the expense of losing coverage of some of the great quirks and crusades of the Guliani era which cleaned up the city. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Sizemore is best known for playing sleazy jerks (Natural BornKillers, Devil in a Blue Dress), but in Sins of theFather he gives a compelling performance as a man who turns from his hatred-filled upbringing and struggles to find another path in life. Sizemore plays Tom Cherry, the son of one of the men responsible for an Alabama church bombing that killed four young African-American girls in 1963. In 1998, the adult Tom builds a house to forge a peace with his dying father (Richard Jenkins), but his deepening friendship with a black man he's hired to help him (the ever-dependable Ving Rhames) stirs up memories of the brutality of his childhood and leads him to testify against the old man's criminal acts. This father-son conflict provides a unique window into the strife of the civil rights movement. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perhaps, if this one had been shown on HBO...
...or any other "prestigious" network, it might have attained the recognition it deserves.

Like the other reviewer, I can only praise the excellent script and the fine performances from Sizemore, Jenkins, Rhames, and Fiore. Closeups of Sizemore's agonized face bring this viewer almost to tears. Jenkin's intensity, seen in both the frequent flashbacks and present-time scenes, is awesome. Rhames provides the "conscience" that brings Sizemore to the realization that he must reveal his father's past. And Fiore is quite good as the FBI agent, determined to right the wrong of the death of the four little black girls, so long ago in Montgomery.

Also, in lesser yet pivotal roles, are Lachlan Murdock as young "Tom" and Brenda Bazinet as his cancer-stricken mother. The two actors bring conviction to their roles as persons caught up in an abusive home and the turbulent times of the Civil Rights Movement.

It is hard to imagine that this fine film didn't sweep the Emmy Awards of 2003 for its teleplay or the acting.

Underrated Masterpiece
This is one of the best movies I have seen in a while, an underrated engrossing little gem that is totally captivating.
While at first I was surprised why the film never got nominated for any awards,I was even more surprised to find out later that it was a TV movie! Well, films made for television can not get better than this, and it is unfortunate it did not get a theater release, for its style, script,acting and direction are way above average.
The plot mainly revolves around the racial tension divide in the early 60s, and most particularly the bombing of an African American church in Alabama in '63 by racists that killed innocent people.This incident resulted in a tug of war between the FBI and the main suspect that lasted nearly four decades, before he was finally put behind bars. Yet the film offers much more,it is also a look at a dysfunctional family and the difficult relationship between a father/the main suspect and his son who has carried the guilt of knowning the truth for too long ,but remained silent for years out of duty, uncertainty and love for his father, before his conscience, guilt and the memories of his childhood that haunted him, pushed him to cooperate with the authorities, and bring his father to justice. This is very powerful writng by John Pielmeier based on a short article in Texas Monthly by Pamela Collof. The quality of the writing is not unlike Paul Schrader's masterpiece Affliction.
Although the film, (directed by Robert Dornhelm whose best work was the underrated Echo Park back in '86), has many flashbacks, which normally can be annoying,yet in the case of Sins of the Father they are very well edited, and enhance the plot.
Lastly I want to say few words about the acting.
While Tom Sizemore gives his best acting to date, I was blown away by one particular actor: Richard Jenkins!! What a great performance!! His portrayal of the racist,hate filled,cold and strict father is mind blowing! Buying the film is worth it for Jenkins alone!
So Sins of The Father is an excellent drama, a film that will totally surprise and captivate you, a movie worthy to be in your collection.Do Not Miss!! ... Read more