Reviews (110)

Cast better than inept direction
While I don't have a problem with new interpretations of Shakespeare, I didn't find this all that new, just confused. Updating Shakespeare is also fine, if it serves a purpose, or at least doesn't interfere with the story, but those bicycles were ridiculous, and simply not funny. There was no point of reference, no reason for them to be there, no punchline. Likewise with Helena and Hermia's little mudbath...generally, the direction was absolutely horrible. The film is quite entertaining though, thanks to some very hard work from some of the cast. And that does not mean Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfieffer (C.F. is grating, and M.P. obviously not comfortable with the text). It means Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Rupert Everett among the stars, but especially to some of the secondary characters: Anna Friel as a grounded Hermia (mud bath excepted) Sophie Marceau as an actually likeable Hyppolyta, and the great Roger Rees, as the most memorable Peter Quince I've ever seen. The music is gorgeous, and the scenery is nice, although having actually taken the trouble to go to Tuscany, Hoffman decides to film the magical forest on a really horrible, cheesy, creaking sound stage. Watch it for the cast.

Ah the Tuscan Hills!
Wow, what a great movie! But of course if you're a traditionalist closed to new interpretations, lock yourself back in your room with your Turner Classic movies. And if you've never had an English class where you liked Shakespeare or if you've never read and enjoyed an Elizabethan comedy and/or tragedy, forget about this movie. The language will just confuse you too much.

But if you can get past your conservative views and are open to the language, then watch A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I think that after five hundred years, it's amazing that these plays are still around and can generate such mainstream attention. I also feel that after that long, a fresh adaptation is more than welcome, especially if you've been subjected to the less than glamorous BBC version.

I felt that the setting (the Italian Athens you've never heard of) and anachronistic props (bikes with lights) actually lend to the farcical quality of this movie. It is a comedy and it is supposed to be funny, so lighten up and enjoy the fantastic performances of Michelle Pfeiffer (my FAVORITE Fairy Queen), Rupert Everett (fairy king--pun intended?), Kevin Kline as Bottom (he makes an Ass of himself--heehaw), and the myriad of other wonderful actors and actresses that breathe life into an old play.

And before you take offense to a director's interpretations, you might inquire as to the reasons for them before you denounce his movie. And if you really want the Bard's opinion, Joseph Fiennes could probably give it to you.

All good things, JOE

Not perfect, but certainly worth watching
To make Shakespeare accessible, you have to make it entertaining. Not just entertaining to those who already know and love his work, but entertaining to those who have never picked up a Folger edition of anything in their lives.

I teach English to teenagers. Teenagers, who gasp in horror at the mention of Shakespeare. Teenagers, with their 30 second attention spans, faulty grasp of the modern English they supposedly speak, and affection for the physical comedy of the likes of "Jackass."

So, how do we make teenagers like Shakespeare? We edit. So, naturally, some of the best speeches are missing or drastically shortened (remember, 30 second attention spans); the physical, often silly humor is accented; and the women mud wrestle. So what?

This movie is entertaining. At times, it is enchanting. It is fast-paced, visually interesting, and funny. The emphasis is shifted away from the complexities of the language because it is the language, the very thing we love about Shakespeare, that makes these plays inaccessible to the majority of the American movie audience.

I use this film because it is easy to understand. The actors have faces my students recognize, and it gets them excited about Shakespeare.

What this film does is to put the content of the play within the grasp of its modern audience. Shakespeare himself would have done no less.

An occasional dream
One of Shakespeare's most beloved works finally gets a modern cinematic makeover, good news for all of those who'd rather not see Mickey Rooney's Puck again. Unfortunately the latest retelling leaves much to be desired. Though mostly enjoyable, this film could use a good shot of fairy dust.

The story concerns three sets of lovers - Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and fairy royalty Titania and Oberon. The first pair loves each other but cannot marry because Hermia is betrothed to Demetrius, the object of Helena's desperate affection. When Hermia and Lysander steal away, the second couple makes chase and all four end up lost in the woods where our third pair, the quarreling fairy king and queen, reside. Oberon, dissatisfied with all about him, enlists his servant, Puck, to make amends. Puck is to place a spell on Demetrius so that he will fall in love with Helena, but a case of mistaken identity causes Lysander to become smitten with her. Meanwhile, a traveling actors troupe, led by Nick Bottom, stumbles into the woods for a late-night rehearsal. They prepare a play for the Duke's wedding and soon become the object of the fairies' mischief.

With the shell of Shakespeare's original, this movie pulls of adequate amounts of wit and humor; clearly the script is better than most. Despite Puck's much abbreviated role, it remains a light comedy and surreal and magical in every sense. The costuming, makeup, and Italian backdrop add to the enchantment and are some of the most enjoyable aspects of an aesthetically pleasing film. I loved the energy of Monte Athena in turn-of-the-century Italy (punctuated by a soundtrack of renowned operatic talent), although it added little to the understanding of the story or the updated time period.

My main qualm for this otherwise fanciful retelling is the distracted acting, which ranges from inspiring to embarrassing. Shakespeare's language, archaic by our standards, depends on talented actors and directors to lift it and his beautiful stories from obscurity. Kevin Kline proves that you don't need an English accent to perform Shakespeare effectively. His Nick Bottom is the most rounded character in the film, wholly human and rich with emotions thick enough to dip your fingers through. Anna Friel's Hermia acutely defines the play's romance and innocence. Along with Kline, she seems the most comfortable in her role and possesses a grace and naturalness absent from the other female characters. Dominic West gives an amusing and (sometimes) smitten Lysander to Friel's Hermia. I also liked Roger Rees' affectionate Peter Quince. The remainder of the cast spirals downward. Calista Flockhart as Hermia and Michelle Pfieffer as Titania appear uncomfortable and rather unsure of their characters, as if they are too afraid of fouling up the Bard's work to dig deeply into it. Rupert Everett's Oberon is tired and melancholy to a point of boredom. I am still trying to figure out why David Strathrain, who lacks the nobleness of his character, was cast as the Duke. Poor Sophie Marceau should have stuck with Mel Gibson. Though I would not have picked Stanley Tucci for Puck, he provides a slightly amusing if ineffectual performance, as does Christian Bale as Demetrius.

Because of the spotty acting, the film never gels completely. An unfamiliarity with the play by certain actors interrupts otherwise fluid scenes. Those who act well in this film make it worth watching; the others leave us wanting more.

Kline and Flockhart shine!!!
3.5 stars. This is a moderately enjoyable Shakespearean comedy with only two stand-out performances. Calista Flockhart, of "Ally McBeal" fame, shows here that her range and understanding of the poetic language of Shakespear is both impressive and fluent. She steals every scene she is in. Speaking of scene-stealing, Kevin Kline, a veteran of the stage and Shakespearean theater, has the best performance here. He hams up the goofyness of his character and makes him ultimately hilarious and endearing. Many of the other actors are merely okay. Michelle Pfeiffer, often a great actress, seems to struggle here. She sounds like she understands iambic pentameter well, but fails to emote any feeling behind the words; except for her scenes with Kevin Kline, she is simply mediocre. Also, the character of Puck, played by Stanley Tucci, is traditionally portrayed as more mischievous and problem-causing than the lap-dog of Oberon as he is portrayed here. All in all, this is certainly above par, with great costumes and fine sets and scenery. It just doesn't come together as a whole. This film is fun in moments, but eventually feels incomplete. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Hilarious!!
This is a really funny movie about a soap opera, and the drama that goes on behind the scenes. Being a soap opera fan myself, I found this to be extremely funny as the movie pokes fun at the genre. The movie centers around a soap opera titled "The Sun Also Sets". Sally Field plays the big diva of the set, a real soap diva (a la Susan Lucci) who is friends with the show's headwriter (who is played by Whoopi Goldberg). The backstage drama upstages the drama that happens on screen each day, and takes a life of it's own. There's enough deceit, betrayal, backstabbing and other soap staples to occupy a lot of airtime on any soap opera! It's a very satrical movie, and it's quite funny how everyone's dirty laundry gets aired for everyone to see! I have to say that Sally Field is the scene stealer though, she has the soap vixen part down PAT and it's so entertaining to watch. I won't give away the plot, just watch the movie and enjoy the scandal. The movie also features Kevin Cline, Elizabeth Shue Robert Downey Jr., Cathy Moriarty, Teri Hatcher, Kathy Najimy, to name a few of the superstars. A really funny movie that you will watch over and over again.

SOAPDISH is a funny, wacky farce
Celeste Talbert is the Queen of Soap Opera divas. But after years of success on her show, "The Sun Also Sets," she finds herself beset with a wild assortment of wacky problems including jealous rivals, an ambitious niece, incompetent costumers, off-the-wall plots for the show, and the return of an old boyfriend who has his own ax to grind with his former sweetie. Needless to say, what happens ends up topping anything the soap opera could ever produce. SOAPDISH is a very funny farce that takes the excesses of soap opera and punches them up to a fever pitch level, poking fun at everything from TV networks to dinner theatre. The cast is top-notch, with Sally Field as the neurotic Talbert leading the way. She is matched by the hammy Kevin Kline as her old boyfriend with the big ego, while Whoopi Goldberg is delighfully droll as the show's head writer. Cathy Moriarty is pure venom as Talbert's rival, and Robert Downey, Jr., is perfectly befuddled as the show's producer with a yen for Moriarty. Nice performances are also turned in by Teri Hatcher (from TV's LOIS AND CLARK) and Elisabeth Shue, who both make one of their first film appearances in this flick. Overall, SOAPDISH is a wonderfully wacky film that should delight anyone who enjoys "behind the stage" type stories. Definitely recommended.

What if the real soap opera was behind the cameras?
"Soapdish" is a soap opera about a soap opera, which indulges in the appealing idea that what is happening behind the cameras is more sex, secrets, and scandal that what is happening in front. That is, until the end when, like "Tootsie," the dirty laundry is aired on live television. The focal point of the insanity is the legendary Celeste Talbert (Sally Field), the aging star of "The Sun Also Sets." When we first meet Celeste, accepting her umpteenth acting award, she thanks her co-workers, most of who are sitting there with frozen smiles muttering things that are not nice underneath their collective breaths. Clearly Celeste is a prima donna who needs to have a comeuppance.

The person who wants to be that comeuppance is bombshell Montana Moorehead (Cathy Morairty), who plays Nurse Nan on the show. She is enticing the show's producer, David Barnes (Robert Downey Jr.) with promises of naked fun to write Celeste's character Maggie out of the show. Towards that end he brings back Dr. Rod Randall, the character played by Maggie's ex-lover Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline), despite the fact that his character was written out of the show after being decapitated by a tractor trailer while driving a pink convertible in the Yukon on his way to visit his brother, an ex-con named Frances. Fortunately there was a revolutionary two-day operation.

However, the monkey wrench in everybody's plan is young Lori Craven (Elisabeth Shue), who manages to worm her way onto the show and Celeste's dressing room. Those who actually watch more than television soap operas and were weaned on theatrical efforts along the same line should be thinking about "All About Eve" at this point, but, no, that is too mundane a plot line for this farce and Lori turns out to be the spark that starts a whole new round robin of the aforementioned sex, scandal and secrets.

With a script by Robert Harling ("Steel Magnolias") and Andrew Bergman ("The Freshman"), this 1991 comedy directed by Michael Hoffman ("Restoration") piles on the complications and tries to keep things going fast enough to keep the momentum going before it collapses. Fortunately "Soapdish" saves the best part for last, when it looks like the only thing that will save the day is an emergency brain transplant in a Jamican restaurant. Obviously everybody in the cast is trying to upstage everybody else, and the clear winner is Kevin Kline, who not only can figure out how to use his real voice when preparing for an important conversation but refuses to wear his contact lenses in scenes that require him to read off the teleprompter.

Also in the cast of "Soap Opera" are Whoopi Goldberg as Rose Schwartz, the writer who is Celeste's one friend, Teri Hatcher as actress Ariel Maloney, Gary Marshall as network head Edmund Edwards, and Kathy Najimy as the always perky Tawny Miller. Ultimately this comedy will appeal to those who like "Soap" and "Nurse Betty" more than "All My Children" and "As the World Turns," but there is nothing wrong with that, especially since sometimes this movie is as funny as it thinks it is.

awesome movie
clever, hillarious, goofy, great! this movie never got the recognition it deserves. it's a fantastic escape.

Very enjoyable
This movie isn't a laugh-riot from start to finish, but it does have some very funny moments, mostly when Kevin Kline or Cathy Moriarty are onscreen. Both of them rip into their roles with gusto, and steal the show from Sally Field, who is funny but only truly lets loose when she's interacting with Kline (i.e., an uproarious scene in Kline's apartment). Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Downey Jr. give fine comical supporting performances, as does Teri Hatcher (sporting extremely big hair) and Elisabeth Shue (though it's a little hard to picture the blonde Shue as the child of Kline and Field). Clever cameos by Garry Marshall, Carrie Fisher, Leeza Gibbons, and several soap actors round out the enviable cast, and sharp writing keep the whole thing afloat even in the weaker parts. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Americana Romantic Comedy
"One Fine Day" is a very light comedy with romantic overtones and as such it is indeed excellent - it is short enough, relaxing enough and funny enough to provide much needed entertainment. At the same time humor displayed in the film is not of the "thrown-in-your-face" variety, as is so common in American comedies. Most of the time, you will stay slightly smiling throughout, and that does feel good.

The character portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer is a typical modern woman, who obviously has the good side of her, but takes care to hide it deep enough for no one to discover. Independent to the point of absurd, a "control-freak", as her movie partner calls her, attractive, thirtyish, working all the time, and divorced, super-peeved about men - yes, she is indeed an adequate portrait of a modern American woman. Clooney on the other hand is a nonchalant, also divorced man who is not as modern as one might expect. In this highly improbably light comedy, these two different people find the way to each other's hearts. The hostile kevlar suit each of them wears falls off, or rather - dissolves, and of course... they lived happily ever after. "Almost", as Bob Reiner might add.

A Great Feel-Good Movie
I think I must have been one of the 2 or 3 people in the country who hadn't seen ER when I first caught this movie on one of the premium movie channels. I wasn't a major George Clooney fan--it's not that I didn't like him, I just didn't know much about him.

All of that changed after seeing this movie. I hadn't even been looking for it. I was just channel surfing one Saturday afternoon and caught it by accident. However, the other 99 times I've watched the movie have been quite on purpose, thank you!

Granted, it's not the most intricate of plots, but it is very well acted by 4 gifted professionals. Clooney and Pfeiffer as the single parents are quite believable and endearing, and the 2 kids are very skilled, even at their young ages. The movie has some of that Cary Grant/Jimmy Stewart sort of charm and the approach/avoidance of the developing love affair between the two parents is engaging. By the time George Clooney finally plants a kiss on Michelle Pfeiffer's lips, my toes were curling!

If you want a movie that will leave you with a little smile on your face, you can't go wrong with this one.

BETTER THEN I REMEMBERED
I remember watching this movie when it first came out on VHS and being a little disappointed with it. I was excited to find a film starring Clooney and Pfeiffer but was feeling a little let down when it was over. Having recently seen George in ER reruns, I saw this DVD on the shelf and decided to give it another shot. I'm sure glad that I did as I thoroughly enjoyed watching it today. This will make a great addition to my DVD collection as it will for yours. A nice, lighthearted romance movie that doesn't star either Hanks or Ryan. Who would have thought that could have happened?

One Fine Day
My husband and I both watched "One Fine Day" and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of acting and plot. This movie had more depth than most people probably notice. There was the superficial romance, and comedy. Then the underlying story of the career chase at the expense of family.
I wasn't sure just how it would be resolved and was happy to see that in the end family won out. This is a must see in this day and age when parents of both sexes tend to put everything else before their home commitments. The consequences of power grabs was shown in a very realistic way. I know. I've seen it close up with people I know and maybe this movie would be a good gift, subtle hint, to someone you know who could use a little push to make wiser decisions of their own. Who knows, it might just be the impetus needed to save a family from the problems that happen when career trumps home life.
One of the best movies that I've seen George Clooney in, next to Perfect Storm. He can actually act. Michelle Pfeiffer brought more talent to this film than I've usually seen from her also. The best plots seem to bring out the best in actors. What a great vehicle for actors, and the improvement of family life in this day and age. It deserved a PG rating and will be part of my home collection.

One Fine Movie and One Fine Soundtrack!
Usually Amazon has the movies and the soundtracks seperate but for some reason they have combined the reviews for the DVD and video for One Fine Day with the movie's music soundtrack which has several reviewers confused and assuming that reviewers mistakenly reviewed the wrong thing. In my opinion Amazon should keep the soundtrack and movie reviews seperate. The movie is good, a charming romantic comedy starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheiffer who both do a great job and Mae Whitman and Alex Linz who play his daughter and her son are great too and adorable. I remember first seeing Alex Linz in a series of McDonalds commercials and thinking that he was quite good for a child actor. I recommend the movie and also the soundtrack, the music is very good! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

very long movie/not worth the time
If you're a Meg Ryan fan, she doesn't even appear until halfway through the movie, and then disappears somewhat near the end. Robert Downey Jr. is the main character here and he's always very good. He plays a man who is trained as a physician in the 16th century, but is afraid to use his "gifts", as everyone in the movie calls them, because he has seen so many people die and suffer. He adopts a carefree, indulgent lifestyle, much to the disturbance of his best friend who, in contrast to Downey's character, is a devoted physician. His friend prays for his return, and eventually, Robert (actually his character's name here) does return, by default. He has been banished from his lavish lifestyle by the king (Sam Neill), whom he has angered and disappointed by falling in love with the king's mistress (Polly Walker). Hugh Grant has a tiny part, as a snooty painter commissioned by the king to draw a portrait of his mistress. His character is a real nasty one, very unusual for Hugh Grant. Robert's character undergoes a major transformation, as the new harshness of his life forces him to grow and maximize his potential/his "gifts". The drawn out plot reaches an only slightly satisfying conclusion. Again, very long, and not worth the time.

Amazing scenery, very solid acting, strong story line
All I can say is this is an amazing story. I for one like movies over their printed counterparts - especially when the actors and directors interpretations tell a fantastic story. This is that type of movie. Sam Neill is extraordinary as is Robert Downey Jr. who is playing a character similar to his real life.

I think it is a stunning movie visually but don't believe others that tell you this overshadows the plot or character development, it doesn't. In fact the point of the movie is the Restoration of Merivel (Downey) from a sensualist bent on wine, women and song, to recognize his true talents of a physician and the support that those close to him have given him. This movie is a journey for Merivel through the ups and downs of his life, from drunken debauchery of Charles II's court to fighting the great fire of London and the plague that struck Europe.

All in all I think the scenery is enough reason to get this movie. But don't believe for a minute that there isn't a compelling story, a true character transformation and plenty of conflict and resolution that would have made this movie a winner were it shot in black in white in the mountains.

The rise, fall & restoration of the physician Robert Merivel
"Restoration" won a pair of Oscars for Eugenio Zanetti's Art Direction-Set Deocration and James Acheson's Costume Design, and there is a sense in which the spectacular sets threaten to overwhelm the story, which is based on the novel by Rose Tremain. This is a gorgeous film where the camera often takes time to focus on every detail as we are introduced to one spectacular set after another that presents the lavish court of King Charles II, who returned to the English throne following the restoration of the Stuart monarch. As far as period costume dramas go this 1994 film is virtually in a class by itself, and how it was made for only $18 million is beyond belief.

The reason that many viewers may not cotton to this film is that it is one in which we are repeatedly misled as to what the film is above. Even with the hint of the film's title, which is at face value the term used to describe the reign of Charles II, "Restoration" makes more sense retrospectively. However, I liked the idea that my idea of what the film was about kept evolving. After all the times I have sat through predictable films and been ahead of the characters and the plot, I can certainly enjoy trying to keep up with a story for one and being surprised by the twists and turns in the narrative.

The story is about Robert Merivel (Robert Downey Jr.), a young physician of great promise who is summoned to court to attend to a patient at the command of the King (Sam Neill). Merivel succeeds, albeit more through luck than skill, and is appointed to a position in court. Seduced by life in the palace Merivel accepts the position, which means turning his back on his studies and his best friend John Pearce (David Thewlis), a Quaker. However, the King finds another use for Merivel and marries him to his most spirited mistress, Lady Cedlia (Polly Walker). After the lavish wedding Merivel gets a knighthood and a huge country estate, but the one thing that is denied him is sex with his "wife." Having been ordered not to fall in love with Celia, we believe we know what this film is going to be about. However, in that regard we are both right and wrong.

Despite the glamour of Merivel's rise in the first part of this film, it is his fall that produces the true drama. It is a long fall, hard fall, set against the backdrop of two cataclysmic events in the London of that time: the Black Plague and the Great Fire. It is not that Merivel finds himself during these trying times, but rather than he remembers himself. Downey's performance covers a lot of ground. When he is the fool he embraces the role wholeheartedly, but at the end when he has restored to him the most precious thing that he has lost the look on his face is a moment of transcendent joy. Of course, it is impossible to watch this film today and not wish the actor had taken its moral to heart.

I have enjoyed watching this film several times and one of these days I am going to have to read Tremain's novel. I suspect that the screenplay by Rupert Walters is being extremely faithful, but I would also think that Tremain has all sorts of marvelous period details that I would enjoy. Another thing that impresses me about Michael Hoffman's film is that it has Ian McKellen and Meg Ryan in what are essentially small, but pivotal, roles. "Restoration" is a film where you just go along for the ride, enjoy the pretty pictures, and be surprised at the end to discover how far you have come from where you started.

A fantastic period piece
Some of Downey's best work, I believe. There isn't a single piece of acting in this film that didn't impress me, and of course as a period piece the costuming is gorgeous. It's a well-made statement about what was going on during the Restoration period, as well as being a moving story about an intelligent and talented man thrown into the world of court intrigue, and failing to deal with it very well.
I could wish for more extra stuff on the DVD, but I almost always can. ;-)

Poor DVD Transfer
I am very disapointed. I loved the movie enough to get the DVD only to find that for one of the most beautifull movies ever made it is one of the worst DVD transfers I have ever seen. First, I don't know why Hollywood cannot get it screen format act together. This movie is not wide screen animorphic ( to fite wide screen TV's) nor is it surround sound, as it says on the back under special features. You have to look closer to see the word "Stereo" after running time and color. The first release of The Last of The Mohicans had the same screen format problem but thank God they came out with what they then called an enhanced widescreen version that fixed the problem. Please Mirimax restore Restoration to true wide screen dolby 5.1 surround sound and I will give it an easy 5 stars ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Inspirational
I have wanted to be a teacher for years now and watching movies like The Emperor's Club make me dream about teacher even more. The Emperor's Club is about a group of affluent teenagers at an elite private school with a teacher better than one can imagine. Kevin Kline is this teacher, and once again delivers with an amazing performance. Unfortunately after giving these students a year of his life, and making decisions based on favorites, he is struck with the harsh reality that some people, one student in particular, are ruthless and greedy. This reality strikes him on one more occasion as a slap in the face to him that some people never change. The Emperor's Club is not a movie just about how people cannot be trusted, but how people make mistakes, and how other people can forgive them for their mistakes. It is about learning, even teachers learning, lessons of life that everybody learns at some point. The Emperor's Club was fascinating film from pretty much every aspect. Although it reminded me of Dead Poets Society, the best film of this genre ever, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

An engrossing tale, well acted by Kevin Kline
The Emperor's Club was one of the best films about a teacher that I've seen. It was a refreshing and rewarding movie because the story kept my interest without ever slipping into Hollywood's normal excessive sentimentality or easy plot turns. Kevin Kline was perfectly cast as a history teacher at an exclusive boy's school (Mr. Hundert, not "Herdunt"), and his struggles with a difficult student (Bell) didn't always unfold the way I thought they would.

Hundert faced various moral dilemmas during the story. The situations that led to those dilemmas and the teacher's decisions were both presented in realistic ways. Who knows how any of us would have have handled similar decisions? In fact, I saw the film with a teacher friend who remarked about the movie's accuracy, that indeed sometimes teachers must decide whether to grade a student higher than merited (to inspire) or give the appropriate grade and risk de-motivation.

The best thing about The Emperor's Club was the gracefulness and subtlety in how the story was told, epitomized by its untidy yet still satisfying conclusion. It's a movie that will lead to active discussions between moviegoers after leaving the theater.

Reaches for greatness--and misses
Finally, someone makes a movie like Dead Poet's Society! Well, no, not exactly. I'm a sucker for Kevin Kline, and it's hard to argue with his performance--or Emile Hirsch's--in this film. But the script screws the actors. This isn't a terrible movie--it's a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours--but the promise of the obvious comparisons to the Robin Williams hit makes it a disappointment. And just wait for the whammy that hits ten minutes from the end--a total repeat of the plot from the first half of the movie. The lesson, apparently, is that some folks never learn from their mistakes. Including Hollywood folk who tag good actors with a bad script...

Kevin Kline is a teacher
An excellent plot "with a twist", plus illuminated acting of Kevin Kline and a well chosen cast makes this movie a rewarding entertainement.

A DIFFERENT SHADE ON THE TEACHER-STUDENT THEME
For the first 15 minutes, I felt that the movie would walk that oft-tread road of teacher-student movies such as Holland's Opus, Finding Forrester, Dead Poets Society etc.

But in the end, it takes on a different contour than what I would have imagined through its course, so that was a welcome denouement.

The finishing twist is delivered with a flourish, and although I felt that the writer didn't quite have the guts to follow his story to its natural, cynical conclusion, the end was surely a bit unpredictable.

The story line, admittedly, is on a diet. But the script is taut. What really shimmers though is the acting. Kevin Kline is, as always, in top form, he neither underplays nor overplays his professor role getting everything just right, from his quiet, guilt-ridden introspection to the light comedy that results from a frivolous baseball game. And as the counterpart protagonist Emile Hirsch displays the arrogant bravado one expects from a bad seed student rather well.

All in all, I probably wouldn't see this movie more than once, but it's a worthwhile rental. Especially to watch with kids for some decent messages about morals, discipline, friendship, respect. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Inspirational
I have wanted to be a teacher for years now and watching movies like The Emperor's Club make me dream about teacher even more. The Emperor's Club is about a group of affluent teenagers at an elite private school with a teacher better than one can imagine. Kevin Kline is this teacher, and once again delivers with an amazing performance. Unfortunately after giving these students a year of his life, and making decisions based on favorites, he is struck with the harsh reality that some people, one student in particular, are ruthless and greedy. This reality strikes him on one more occasion as a slap in the face to him that some people never change. The Emperor's Club is not a movie just about how people cannot be trusted, but how people make mistakes, and how other people can forgive them for their mistakes. It is about learning, even teachers learning, lessons of life that everybody learns at some point. The Emperor's Club was fascinating film from pretty much every aspect. Although it reminded me of Dead Poets Society, the best film of this genre ever, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

An engrossing tale, well acted by Kevin Kline
The Emperor's Club was one of the best films about a teacher that I've seen. It was a refreshing and rewarding movie because the story kept my interest without ever slipping into Hollywood's normal excessive sentimentality or easy plot turns. Kevin Kline was perfectly cast as a history teacher at an exclusive boy's school (Mr. Hundert, not "Herdunt"), and his struggles with a difficult student (Bell) didn't always unfold the way I thought they would.

Hundert faced various moral dilemmas during the story. The situations that led to those dilemmas and the teacher's decisions were both presented in realistic ways. Who knows how any of us would have have handled similar decisions? In fact, I saw the film with a teacher friend who remarked about the movie's accuracy, that indeed sometimes teachers must decide whether to grade a student higher than merited (to inspire) or give the appropriate grade and risk de-motivation.

The best thing about The Emperor's Club was the gracefulness and subtlety in how the story was told, epitomized by its untidy yet still satisfying conclusion. It's a movie that will lead to active discussions between moviegoers after leaving the theater.

Reaches for greatness--and misses
Finally, someone makes a movie like Dead Poet's Society! Well, no, not exactly. I'm a sucker for Kevin Kline, and it's hard to argue with his performance--or Emile Hirsch's--in this film. But the script screws the actors. This isn't a terrible movie--it's a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours--but the promise of the obvious comparisons to the Robin Williams hit makes it a disappointment. And just wait for the whammy that hits ten minutes from the end--a total repeat of the plot from the first half of the movie. The lesson, apparently, is that some folks never learn from their mistakes. Including Hollywood folk who tag good actors with a bad script...

Kevin Kline is a teacher
An excellent plot "with a twist", plus illuminated acting of Kevin Kline and a well chosen cast makes this movie a rewarding entertainement.

A DIFFERENT SHADE ON THE TEACHER-STUDENT THEME
For the first 15 minutes, I felt that the movie would walk that oft-tread road of teacher-student movies such as Holland's Opus, Finding Forrester, Dead Poets Society etc.

But in the end, it takes on a different contour than what I would have imagined through its course, so that was a welcome denouement.

The finishing twist is delivered with a flourish, and although I felt that the writer didn't quite have the guts to follow his story to its natural, cynical conclusion, the end was surely a bit unpredictable.

The story line, admittedly, is on a diet. But the script is taut. What really shimmers though is the acting. Kevin Kline is, as always, in top form, he neither underplays nor overplays his professor role getting everything just right, from his quiet, guilt-ridden introspection to the light comedy that results from a frivolous baseball game. And as the counterpart protagonist Emile Hirsch displays the arrogant bravado one expects from a bad seed student rather well.

All in all, I probably wouldn't see this movie more than once, but it's a worthwhile rental. Especially to watch with kids for some decent messages about morals, discipline, friendship, respect. ... Read more

Description

Four hot young stars - KIEFER SUTHERLAND, MEG RYAN, JASON GEDRICK and TRACY POLLAN - star in this intimate look at rites of passage in small-town America.With high hopes of even higher dreams, basketball star Davey Hancock (GEDRICK) eagerly anticipates high school graduation and continuing his legacy in the challenging "adult" world of college.But the future holds many surprises and no guarantees for Davey or for his classmates - the all-American cheerleader Mary (POLLAN) and the off-beat "Senator" (SUTHERLAND).Mary is college-bound, but discovers deeper ties at home.Senator is adrift, until he meets the wild-tempered Bev (RYAN), who fills his life with dangerous excitement.As these four young adults hurtle through life's unpredictable turns and harsh realities, they discover that adulthood on the edge of the American Dream is a far cry from the "promised land" they had come to expect. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not what they thought it would be...
I got a copy of the film 'Promised Land' from a friend. It is set in a small midwestern town where high school basketball is king. Sounds rather like Indiana, doesn't it? This gave the initial appeal to me, as films like this can help me understand the people in the area better -- at least, this is my hope, since I am not an Indiana native.

The actors are all very young. The film stars a very young Keifer Sutherland (Danny) and Meg Ryan (Bev) as a rather unlikely couple. The real 'star' of the film, the one who gets top billing, is Jason Gedrick (Hancock), whose career has been rather less prominent than Sutherland's or Ryan's. Tracy Jo Pollan (Mary) also stars in one of her few starring film roles. Pollan is now much better known through her marriage to Michael J. Fox.

The plot is a rather simple one. Four characters -- a high school basketball star (Hancock), a cheerleader (Mary), a dropout (Danny), his wife from a western state (Bev)-- all get tangled together in a final blow-up in the small hometown. The film opens during the all-important last moments of a basketball game. Of course, our guys win; the basketball star announces he's leaving for college, and the dropout announces he's leaving town. The cheerleader is left behind, but has hopes of her own.

Fast-forward two years. The basketball star is back home, working as a policeman. We slowly discover during the course of the film that he didn't make it as a college basketball star, and couldn't stay in college any other way. Mary, meanwhile, has gone off to another college, but has come home for the Christmas holiday, and as Hancock tries to rekindle old feelings, probably largely derived from hoping to recapture feelings of past glory, she feels pressured.

Danny, in the meanwhile, has gone out west and married Bev, a strange and wild woman. We learn that Danny has spent time in jail, and has never had a steady job or stable life. We don't learn as much about Bev through her speech, but can assume as much is true for her through her behaviour. Danny and Bev marry is a bizarre Las Vegas wedding ...and begin the long trek back home so she can be introduced to the family for Christmas (something that takes Bev by surprise).

Danny comes home and, in the course of various strange happenings, ends up with Bev in a convenience-store robbery. Hancock is the officer called to the scene, and ends up shooting Danny dead.

There are many unrealistic parts to the plot. Few high school jock stars are as likely to be friendly toward the dropouts as Hancock is toward Danny, for instance. When Danny returns home and goes to a bar, his friends wave hello, calling out 'Hi, Senator!' Apparently, Senator was his mock-ironic nickname in high school. One of his friends asks if he has become a senator yet; I hope that small-town folk aren't this unaware of the ways of political reality!

However, many of the emotions and situations ring true. Hancock's frustration with having reached the pinnacle of his life's glory at age 18 are very present; Mary's resistance at being drawn back into that life, yet still being attracted to Hancock is understandable. Bev is a strange character overall. She possibly represents the wildness that was lacking in the sombre (read - boring) small town environment.

'In a small town like that, you only get to make about one mistake.' Danny says this to Bev, and that is a real insight. Small towns are the same the world over -- those who don't leave remember everything for generations.

The production quality of the film is fairly good, but as one of the earliest of the Sundance productions, it lacked a budget for the final, Hollywood polish. The director, Michael Hoffman, does not have an extensive filmography, but has directed such diverse films as Soapdish, Restoration, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. A little editing. The acting is good, but not great. The script is sometimes lacking, but passing fair. The characters are people who begin to spark an interest, but are ultimately unsustainable. Had there not been the emotional and violent ending (very uncharacteristic for the town, one imagines), there would be little memorable.

This is a slice of American life in the middle; not the top, nothing glitzy or glamourous here, but not the bottom either. A very different view of high school and college-age years than typical Hollywood fare -- hopes have been dashed, if there were hopes at all, and the future stretches out in front, but as a rather bleak picture of sameness.

The film does not have a happy ending. Perhaps even without the shooting at the end, there would not have been a happy ending. Does one want a fast death in a blaze of glory, or a slow death by mediocrity? Sometimes that seems like the only two options for many people, and not just those in small towns. Ultimately, there is no Promised Land here. It is something these characters aren't permitted to enter, because it has been defined beyond their abilities to attain.

This film is largely overlooked, and has many points in which improvement can be made. Ultimately, it hangs together adequately, but not superbly, and perhaps that is ultimately its downfall.

Nearly 15 yrs later, still the worst movie I've seen
Agree that it was beautifully filmed, but.... there must have been a great deal lost in the translation.

The American Dream
The American Dream is something different for everyone and cannot easily be defined. This film does a pretty fair job on debunking the generalized commonly accepted myth of the standard American Dream theory, espeially as it is based on true events. James Newton Howard was just starting back then and his brilliance shines through magnificently in his score. The film craft itself beautifully rendered, well acted and is to me well balanced and paced for the subject matter. I have to dust it off every once in awhile to remind myself what the potentials and pitfalls of being American is all about.

Gorgeous junkfood.
Alas, the whole is less than the parts. Promised Land is a beautifully filmed, well acted, heartbreaking story with an absolutely fabulous score by the always excellent James Newton Howard. Its just that the material--the story itself--isn't worthy of such gorgeous cinematography and fine performances. Storywise, its pretty much junk but what raises it up are some really (visually) beautiful scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Americana Romantic Comedy
"One Fine Day" is a very light comedy with romantic overtones and as such it is indeed excellent - it is short enough, relaxing enough and funny enough to provide much needed entertainment. At the same time humor displayed in the film is not of the "thrown-in-your-face" variety, as is so common in American comedies. Most of the time, you will stay slightly smiling throughout, and that does feel good.

The character portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer is a typical modern woman, who obviously has the good side of her, but takes care to hide it deep enough for no one to discover. Independent to the point of absurd, a "control-freak", as her movie partner calls her, attractive, thirtyish, working all the time, and divorced, super-peeved about men - yes, she is indeed an adequate portrait of a modern American woman. Clooney on the other hand is a nonchalant, also divorced man who is not as modern as one might expect. In this highly improbably light comedy, these two different people find the way to each other's hearts. The hostile kevlar suit each of them wears falls off, or rather - dissolves, and of course... they lived happily ever after. "Almost", as Bob Reiner might add.

A Great Feel-Good Movie
I think I must have been one of the 2 or 3 people in the country who hadn't seen ER when I first caught this movie on one of the premium movie channels. I wasn't a major George Clooney fan--it's not that I didn't like him, I just didn't know much about him.

All of that changed after seeing this movie. I hadn't even been looking for it. I was just channel surfing one Saturday afternoon and caught it by accident. However, the other 99 times I've watched the movie have been quite on purpose, thank you!

Granted, it's not the most intricate of plots, but it is very well acted by 4 gifted professionals. Clooney and Pfeiffer as the single parents are quite believable and endearing, and the 2 kids are very skilled, even at their young ages. The movie has some of that Cary Grant/Jimmy Stewart sort of charm and the approach/avoidance of the developing love affair between the two parents is engaging. By the time George Clooney finally plants a kiss on Michelle Pfeiffer's lips, my toes were curling!

If you want a movie that will leave you with a little smile on your face, you can't go wrong with this one.

BETTER THEN I REMEMBERED
I remember watching this movie when it first came out on VHS and being a little disappointed with it. I was excited to find a film starring Clooney and Pfeiffer but was feeling a little let down when it was over. Having recently seen George in ER reruns, I saw this DVD on the shelf and decided to give it another shot. I'm sure glad that I did as I thoroughly enjoyed watching it today. This will make a great addition to my DVD collection as it will for yours. A nice, lighthearted romance movie that doesn't star either Hanks or Ryan. Who would have thought that could have happened?

One Fine Day
My husband and I both watched "One Fine Day" and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of acting and plot. This movie had more depth than most people probably notice. There was the superficial romance, and comedy. Then the underlying story of the career chase at the expense of family.
I wasn't sure just how it would be resolved and was happy to see that in the end family won out. This is a must see in this day and age when parents of both sexes tend to put everything else before their home commitments. The consequences of power grabs was shown in a very realistic way. I know. I've seen it close up with people I know and maybe this movie would be a good gift, subtle hint, to someone you know who could use a little push to make wiser decisions of their own. Who knows, it might just be the impetus needed to save a family from the problems that happen when career trumps home life.
One of the best movies that I've seen George Clooney in, next to Perfect Storm. He can actually act. Michelle Pfeiffer brought more talent to this film than I've usually seen from her also. The best plots seem to bring out the best in actors. What a great vehicle for actors, and the improvement of family life in this day and age. It deserved a PG rating and will be part of my home collection.

One Fine Movie and One Fine Soundtrack!
Usually Amazon has the movies and the soundtracks seperate but for some reason they have combined the reviews for the DVD and video for One Fine Day with the movie's music soundtrack which has several reviewers confused and assuming that reviewers mistakenly reviewed the wrong thing. In my opinion Amazon should keep the soundtrack and movie reviews seperate. The movie is good, a charming romantic comedy starring George Clooney and Michelle Pheiffer who both do a great job and Mae Whitman and Alex Linz who play his daughter and her son are great too and adorable. I remember first seeing Alex Linz in a series of McDonalds commercials and thinking that he was quite good for a child actor. I recommend the movie and also the soundtrack, the music is very good! ... Read more